Instagram/Kathy Kim Golf
One of the best ways to give yourself shorter strokes and more chances for birds is to hit softer shots on the green. Of course, that is always easier said than done.
I can’t tell you how many times I know exactly what I want to do around the green but fail to actually get it done.
Sometimes it’s because I fail to use a wedge club bounce. Other times it’s because I’m using the wrong wand – using a knuckle wedge instead of a mounting wedge or even a 9-iron. Then there’s always the issue of improper setup, which can cause huge problems like the trigger on fire.
Since I’m not a professional golfer (yet?!), it’s always helpful to get simple tips from coaches like Kathy Kim.
In the video below, Kim not only highlights common mistakes many amateurs make, but also how to correct them—resulting in smoother shots on the court and better chances of going down on the scorecard.
How to produce smooth footage
In the video above, Kim says producing smooth shots requires understanding the angle of your shoulders and hands. These are two things that many hobbyists seem to struggle with, and often (mistakenly) apply the same setup with their wedges as they would with, say, a 7-iron.
The image below shows common problems.
“Number one, the shoulder angle shouldn’t be as extreme as a 7-barbell. Number two, you shouldn’t press your hands forward,” she says. So if your shoulders look like this, it’s a no.
“You want to make sure your shoulders feel level at the end.”
So instead of doing the above, check out the image below – which compares the wrong way to the right way to do things.
If you struggle with wedge shots, doing the simple adjustments Kim suggested above should help. And before you know it, more putts will fall softly on the green, leaving yourself with a much easier putt to finish the hole.