You hit a lot of good short-game shots. Sometimes you don’t. The inconsistency is that while you may have good technique, you’re not adjusting for the lie.
Doing this makes all the difference in the world.
On tight lies, like fairway and hardpan, rotate your lead wrist a little clockwise so that, in your release, the clubface points toward the sky. This adds loft, enhances the bounce and gives you shot-stopping spin.
On fluffy lies, like when you’re in the rough or the second cut, you want to keep wrist action to a minimum, to the point that you get the toe of the club to point toward the sky, not the face. This guards against sliding too much under the ball.
Work on both releases and you’ll always get up and down.
Dom DiJulia is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher who teaches at Jericho National GC in New Hope, Pa.
