Claude, I tend to have the ball check when I want it to roll out and then roll out when I want it to stop. What drills will help me achieve my shot making?

Aloha Andrew, Thank you for your questions. I will believe your difficulties is related to over using your hands at the moment of impact. Of course we need to use the hands. When some people say take the hands out of the swing. I am asking, how would you hold the club? The hands need to be educated. When you have selected the club. The loft will be a the most important factor to influence the roll and the stopping of the ball. I will suggest selecting a landing zone on the green and use different VOKEY wedges attempt to land the ball in the zone and see how it react on the green using a standard limited flip to the wrists and the same motion. Then get more action with the wrists to experience the difference. Be aware of the difference. Warmest Aloha!

Claude: How do a I stop digging the lead edge of my sand wedge into the turf on uphill ship shots?

Aloha Rick, Thank You for your question. There are multiples reasons you do that. I will suggest you always start by checking your set up. If you push your hand too far forward at the address you take the bounce out. Like BOB VOKEY, likes to say. The bounce is your friend. So make sure the hands are in the middle of your body. The next thing is you MUST adjust your shoulders and hips angle in the same direction of the slope. Lastly avoid the tentation of lifting the ball with a scooping action. Your swing should be following the slope. Warmest Aloha.

Claude, I noticed in your set up you go from at 23° hybrid to a 28° 6 iron, yet (as a right handed golfer), you carry a lefty 56° sand wedge.... any particular reason why? I have a friend who is ambidextrous and plays golf ever so slightly better right handed, not to mention it's easier to get right handed clubs, but I have tried to convince him to get one lefty 7 or 8 iron to add to his set.

Aloha Brett, Thank you for your question. I believe your friend should add a 8 left iron to is set. Here is my "motto"; "WHEN YOU ARE THE BEST, YOU ARE NOT LIKE THE REST!"

Here is the background of my 2 left handed clubs in my Titleist bag.

When I started golf, I was putting right handed. However, didn’t like the feeling and couldn’t see the line very well. I am a left eye dominant and I have played hockey left handed. So after only few rounds, I switch left handed. I saw the line with ease felt very efficient and I never and look back. I am a GREAT putter. Probably the stronger part of my game.

Chipping lefty is an other story. I have been to a teaching summit and a very famous teacher suggested a new way of chipping. I was attracted to the new fashion. Since, my chipping when downhill. I was a fairly good chipper prior the session with the teacher. Then a period of 5 to 7 years, I was working a LOT and had no time to practice. The chipping stroke became a “Yippy” stroke. It is very frustrating because I have the intellectual knowledge how to do it.

I have coached European Tour players, Chalenge Tour players LET players, European Tour Senior players andy severals collegial players with great success to improve their chipping. However, I couldn’t do it for my own game. Look at my swing on video, saw other teaching professionals have received many advices and still didn’t improve. I was loosing 6 to 8 strokes per round. It was so bad, sometime I will turn the club head of a right handed sand wedge upside down, hit lefty and did better than with the full club face right handed. Crazy! I will chip with only my right hand on the club and do better than when I use my 2 hands.

My wife suggested, 5 months ago, I should start chipping left handed. It did and I am doing fantastic. Today in 15 minutes of practice I have chip in 3 times. Every day in a session of 15 min., I will chip in at least once. Now I do up and down at the very high %. I use the left handed club only up to 15 yards from the beginning of the green. I save so many pars!

So this situation, taught me to keep my mind open to find solutions for all golfers. Sometime, it is necessary to go far from the common path.

Warmest Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka!

Can you offer suggestions for consistent contact on short shots.

TT

Aloha Tim, Thank you for your question. I believe you need to have a clear efficient concept of the impact position. You can watch my videos on www.golfchannel.com just type my name in the magnifying glass. I have a few exercises like the 2 tee exercise I call Keep the chicken in the kitchen, + simulation of impact position that will help you. The quality of the set up has a LOT to do with the quality of the contact. Warmest Aloha!

Claude,
What is your method for short sided bunker shots? What’s the best way to get the ball up quickly and have it stop quickly as well?

Aloha James, Thank you for you question. There are few adjustments you can do. In my book page 103-104 you will find information about it.
I recommend using your most lofted wedge. Then add bounce by turning the club clockwise. I will also suggest opening your stand slightly more than the regular bunker shot. It is essential you are swinging in the same direction your shoulders are pointing. Lastly you need to increase the speed of the swing. You can also feel your swing finishing higher than normal. You want to take a small amount not sand. I you take too much sand you have less control on the ball. Warmest Aloha.

Is there a different chipping process when the ball is in the rough, versus short grass?

Thank you!

Aloha Jon, Thank you for your question. Yes. It is more challenging to strike the ball first then the ball is in the rough because the grass will get between the club face and the ball. You have to accept you have less control on the distance and trajectory. As a golden rule, I suggest playing the ball slightly more back in the stance when you are in the rough. The swing itself will be pretty much the same. You need to select a different landing zone. Out of the rough the ball will roll more on the green. You will probably use a more lofted wedge. The rough as the tendency to close the club face. You will have to adjust your aiming/ alignment. I recommend a firm grip out of the rough. Warmest Aloha.

Claude, what is your favorite drill for 7-12 footers?
J

Claude, what do you like, and use, for wedges in your short game? Any tips or tricks you'd like to share? Thanks!

Aloha Ralph, Thank You for your question. I like to use multiple wedges. Your motto should be limit the variable. The player have one brain, one body and 14 clubs. The most efficient/effective way to change the distance and the trajectory of the ball is by changing the club. It is a lot easier than changing your brain or body.
I am using the best wedges in the industry. Vokey SM6 52, 56 & 60 degrees. I also use a 56 left handed wedge. I suggest you order my book if you dont' win the drawing. It is full of super advices on the short game. Many great quality pictures with just the correct amount of text to make the learning experience pleasurable.
Warmest Aloha.