Players with high golf handicaps are often wild off the tee. They may also be wild from the fairway. Inaccuracy costs golfers a lot of strokes during a round. If this is you, you can overcome this flaw by mastering your short game. This includes learning to “nip” your wedges from just off the green. Nipping a wedge lets you drop a shot on the green and stop it quickly.
Below are five keys to this shot:
1. Set up with a narrow stance
2. Play the ball in the center
3. Place your hands slightly forward
4. Keep your back hip quiet
5. Firm up your hand action
To nip a wedge, you must make clean contact with the ball before the club meets the ground. That can be tricky to do.
Start by setting up with a narrow stance. Your heels should be about six inches apart with your ball should be in the center of your set up. Your hands should be either even with the ball or slightly ahead of it.
As you swing back, work on keeping your right hip quiet. You won’t be able to keep it perfectly quiet, but keep it as stationary as possible. This keeps your lower body still throughout the shot. Now come down into the ball. Try to make clean contact just before your club meets the ground.
A good way to practice this shot is to practice with a hard surface, like a piece of card-board or a range mat. They are hard enough to give you the feedback you need without damaging your club.
Learn to nip your wedges. It’s a short game shot that can bail you out of a bad situation. Mastering your short game can make up for being wild off the tee.
