Even the world’s best golfers miss greens with approach shots. PGA pros average only about 12 GIRs per round. That’s not a lot when you’re talking about the world’s best players. Chances are good, then, you’ll miss some greens during your next round. But that don’t how to hurt your scores. Saving par not only shaves strokes from your scores and golf handicap, it also builds confidence in your game.
Many weekend golfers don’t often practice the key shots than can help them save par. They would rather buy a bucket of balls and work on hitting bombs off the tee. While hitting bombs is great, it won’t cut as many strokes from your golf handicap as mastering par saving shots. As we say in golf lessons, a good chip or pitch can turn three strokes into two. And when you’re looking to save strokes, the more ways you know to save par, the better. Below six proven ways to save par.
1. “Chipping” From The Short Side
With the ball in the rough on the short side, there’s no room for error. You don’t want to chip or putt it from there. Instead, do what we teach students to do in golf lessons when faced with this shot: play a miniature bunker shot. Open the face of your sand wedge as much as you would on a shot from a greenside bunker, which lowers the shaft closer to the ground. Keep the clubface open. Now, swing. Allow the trailing edge to slide through the grass on a shallow angle behind the ball. Accelerate through the shot. This shot pops the ball on to the green without a lot of roll.
2. Pitching High Over Trouble
Many weekend golfers can hit a high pitch shot. But put a bunker or water hazard between them and the green, and they forget all the key golf tips on hitting this shot. The mistake we see the most in golf instruction sessions is trying to scoop the ball in the air. Instead, play the ball center to slightly forward in your stance, lean the shaft of your sand wedge slightly away from the target, and then swing your right forearm (left forearm for left-handers) in a straight line with the shaft through impact. Leaning your shaft away helps you pop the ball up.
3. Beating An Elevated Green
The key to beating an elevated green is distance control. If you don’t hit the ball far enough, it can trickle back to you. Here’s a golf tip that will help you conquer this challenge: hit a bump and run. Take a less lofted club than normal (nothing higher than a 7-iron). Set your weight and the clubshaft leaning forward. And maintain this hands-ahead position through impact. The ball bounces a couple of times and rolls onto the green.
4. Lagging A Long Putt
With lag putts, you need to get the ball close enough to leave an easily makeable shot. The key is keeping the butt end of the putter pointing toward the same spot on your abdomen throughout the shot. To do that, you need to hinge and release your wrists, back and through. You’ll be surprised how much power you can produce with a flick of your wrist. Another tip we give in golf instruction sessions, imagine a three-foot circle around the hole and focus on getting the ball inside the circle.
5. Escaping A Downhill Bunker
Accept the fact that you can’t get a lot of loft on the ball with this shot. At best the ball will come out low and roll. Since you must get your ball on the green anyway you can, match your shoulders to the slopes’ downward angle as best as you can. That will tilt your body forward. Also, play the ball back in your stance. Swing down the slope, skimming the sand, and finish low. If it helps, step down the slope as you swing.
Hitting greens in regulation chops strokes from your golf handicap. But even the best players in the world miss greens, as we tell students in golf instruction sessions. So will you. But that doesn’t have to cost you par. The shots discussed above are proven ways to save par. Practice the golf tips we’ve provided and you’ll boost your chances of salvaging par next time you play.
