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Breaking 80 : Multiple choices - Brief Article

Golf Digest, Sept, 1999 by Jack Lumpkin

To break 80 you need to broaden your short-game possibilities. That means adding the high lob (or flop shot) to your repertoire. Of course, just because it's on your short-game menu doesn't mean you have to use it. Use your imagination and your discretion.

Lob: Open face, big swing, big risk

The lob shot can be useful, but it's often a low-percentage shot. As for tech-nique, here are five keys:

(1) Open the face of your sand wedge so the face points slightly right of your target.

(2) Aim a little left of your target.

(3) Open your stance.

(4) Because you're contacting the ball with a glancing blow, you'll need a longer-than-normal swing, similar to the length of swing you'd make if you were in a bunker from the same distance.

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(5) Never swing "at the ball," but to the end of your follow-through.

Play for a good miss

It's obvious where not to miss your iron shots when there's a hazard, but learn to aim so a miss doesn't end up leaving you little green to work with.

Even the best have to get up and down

If you're not convinced the short game is the way to lower scores, consider this:

The average tour player misses six greens per round and still manages to shoot 71.

The 60-degree solution

Lob wedges are not right for everyone, but if you're a better player and your home course features elevated greens, you should at east give one a try.

The most direct route may not be the best

In this situation, the high handicapper's smartest play might be a safe chip away from the flag or an even safer putt, while the better player might be tempted to throw a high lob all the way back to the flag. Of course, he might get it just as close or even closer with a simpler pitch that lets the green contours filter the ball back to the hole. A good rule of thumb is to think about trying a shot only if you can execute it more than half the time. The lob shot is nice to have in the bag, but unless it's the only option, it should be at best your second choice.