| Without doubt we have all hear the expression in | | | | ball within easy putting distance of your target most of |
| golfing "Drive for show and putt for dough. Nothing | | | | the time. Pitching for about an hour at a time, it should |
| could be truer. In golf as in life - all shots in the end | | | | not take long before you should be able to place most |
| count the same. A lost putt counts the same as the | | | | of your practice shots to within a six foot circle. Even |
| long drive. How many times have you made a good | | | | though the grass surface near the circle may not be |
| long drive off the tee, another second shot just short | | | | exactly the same as a putting green, easy |
| of the green , and then for some reason the pitch to | | | | adjustments can be made in your stroke to |
| the green is either too short or too long ?. In the end | | | | compensate. All in all for all of your efforts to practice |
| you may well have ended up taking three putts to put | | | | your short game you will improve your pitch and run |
| the ball unto the cup. Four shots have been made | | | | shots greatly. Chip shots can also be practiced in this |
| from the pitch shot to putting the ball in the cup, which | | | | manner. When you place your ball within a six foot |
| are twice as many as it took to get from the tee to | | | | circle you will have only a three foot putt or even less |
| the near edge of the green. For a par four hole this | | | | to the golf cup. The full hit backspin or the cut shots |
| means a double bogey. Have too many of these and | | | | are more difficult, and perhaps should be tried at the |
| your golfing score is more than ruined. Contrary to this, | | | | practice range of the golf course. You may well |
| if you can learn to pitch and chip the ball reasonably | | | | damage your own lawn. These are valuable shots in |
| close to the flag stick, you stand a good change of | | | | hitting over trees, out of heavy rough or sand, or to |
| dropping the golf ball for a par score. On the shorter | | | | pitch over a trap where there is little room for the ball |
| par four holes and most of the par five holes, a well | | | | to run on the green to the cup. Playing out of sand |
| placed pitch shot, close to the flag stick, affords the | | | | traps is a harrowing experience for most high handicap |
| golfing player an opportunity to birdie the hole. One of | | | | golfers, and is the place in the golfing game where |
| the most certain ways to improve pitching ability is to | | | | more shots are wasted than any other place on the |
| practice the shot from various distances to the target. | | | | golf course, except perhaps the putting green. Even |
| From such practice it is soon possible to learn the | | | | though these trap shots are more difficult for the |
| range for each club used, and get the idea as to the | | | | average player than some others , they can be learn, |
| length of the backswing necessary for the needed | | | | when one develops the proper coordination of mind m |
| distance. The best first step is to always learn from | | | | muscles and nerves which control perfect timing. |
| the Pros. Why waste much time and effort | | | | Finally, all the excellence of good pitch shots, chips and |
| afterwards unlearning bad habits picked up along the | | | | sand play will all be of little consequence if one cannot |
| way. Proper form and technique in putting is everything. | | | | putt the ball into the cup with reasonable regularity. |
| Next practice the stroke in your own backyard or on | | | | With proper initial professional instruction and a little |
| the driving range putting area until you can place the | | | | regular practice anyone can learn to put well. |