The foundation of any good short game starts with solid fundamentals and clean contact. But to really lower your scores, you need to master remote control – and that comes from to touch.
Touch is the ability to control distance through feeling and instinct. It takes time to develop and it is a skill you will consistently see in better players. Here are five ways you can start sharpening yours.
1. Develop your hands
Feeling starts with your hands. They control the loft, face angle and speed of the club – all of which affect distance and direction.
Practice moving the clubface and shaft angle, using only your hands and arms, to better understand their role. Becoming aware of how subtle changes affect the ball is the first step to true ball feel.
2. Let your eyes guide you
Watch any experienced player practice short games and you will notice that they spend most of their time looking at the goalnot the ball.
With experience, your eyes tell your hands and arms what to do. The same principle applies when putting: your distance control improves when your focus shifts from the ball to the target.
3. Match your swing length to the distance
In addition to the choice of club, the length of your swing or stroke has the greatest influence on the distance. That’s possible calibrate this through structured practice – here is a link to my short game calibration course. Over time, through repetition, you will begin to instinctively feel the correct swing length for each shot.
4. Feel how the club “drops”
As your backswing lengthens, you store more energy, which naturally increases speed and distance. If your hands and arms remain relaxed, you will feel the club head “falling” toward the ball. That softness – combined with the club’s natural weight – improves both feel and distance control.
5. Learn your release
Different release patterns create different ball flights and rollouts. A body-driven release is usually shallower, creating lower flight and more roll. A hand-and-arm release, like a true pitch shot, launches the ball higher with a softer landing. Learning to switch between the two will allow you to refine trajectory and distance on command.
#keys #developing #ball #feel #greens