Dear Sneaky Short,

Your problem is one I’ve seen many times and from many good players. Unfortunately, looking to change or alter your fundamentals to cure the dreaded “blade runner” is probably not the best solution. Instead, it’s time to pull out that extra club in your bag…imagination!

Most good players rely too much on that 60 degree wedge to pop the ball onto the green and have it “check up” about two feet from the hole. This is not a bad play with those plush, carpet like fairways we see most of the year on the better courses. However, when things get a little firm and you’ve got to “nip” a shot off a tight lie, you had better start using your imagination. By this I mean, get the ball on the ground as soon as possible. Use a 6,7, or 8 iron or even a fairway metal to “bump and run” the ball onto the green and close to the hole. These shots should be played like basic chips to reduce the margin for error. Use your imagination to read the contour of the hardpan area leading up and onto the green. These type of shots can be a lot of fun and are very easy to execute. The high lob should be used sparingly as it can often lead to disaster when the conditions are less than optimum.

Don’t get trapped in a box and become “one shot, Willy” around the greens. Use your imagination and play a higher percentage shot to the hole. You may lose a little of that “wow” factor, but you will certainly feel better posting lower scores at the end of the day.

Good luck and thanks for golfing with Jeff

You sound like a guy i know that shot back to back 60’s in the Memphis Open. I think this is good advice and Don Whitt would certainly agree. I have been questioning my skills and I think that all I need is some better course management to avoid leaving myself in a position to have to flop one over a bunker to a tight pin. Good to hear that those shots are a little sketchy for you too!

Thanks for the advice.