Learning Short Game Creativity from Two World Class Players
Learning Short Game Creativity from Two World Class Players
Welcome to Copper Golf Company, where we dive into the short-game expertise of two renowned golfers, Phil Mickelson and Justin Thomas. In this article, we will explore the principles and techniques that these two players utilize to excel in their short game around the greens. From Phil Mickelson's decision-making process and setup to Justin Thomas' creative and artistic shot-making abilities, there is much to learn from these golfing legends. So, let's dive into the insights and strategies that can help amateur players improve their short game and elevate their golfing skills.
Player 1 - Phil Mickleson
The first player that we will start with is short-game wizard Phil Mickleson. Phil’s short game expertise was instilled in him at a very young age as his father installed a green in their backyard which allowed a young Mickleson to work tirelessly around the clock learning the nuances of the short game. Through trial and error of learning different shots, even one time blading a flop straight through a neighbor’s window, Phil learned some principles that hold true for any amateur player looking to improve around the green. These principles that we are covering from Phil today are the decision of what shot to hit, setup, and execution.
The Decision and Setup
The most important principle that Phil talks about when he is around the green is the decision of what type of shot, he wants to hit and his setup. This decision is a very simple one but often overlooked. Phil decides whether he wants to go high or low with a shot and either sets up with the ball in the front of his stance or in the back of his stance.
Most Amateur players do not consider this as thoughtfully as they should. Because of this, they play most shots somewhere in the middle of their stance which Phil says is not an ideal option. Setting up with the ball in the middle of your stance makes it very difficult to commit to the shot you want to play. It also makes your low shots come off too high, and your high shots come off too low.
Also, with the decision and setup, Phil says that it is vital that you accurately read the lie that you have. A fluffy lie will lead into more of a high-lofted shot, whereas a thin bare lie will lend itself to a lower one. Also, something that we learned while doing our research was that Phil’s weight distribution between his feet is 50/50 on fluffy lies and 80/20 towards his front leg on thin lies. The reason for this is Phil talks a lot about getting the leading edge of the wedge under the ball. On fluffy lies, you do not need a steep angle of attack to achieve this but on thin lies you leaning into your front side allows you to get steeper and slip the leading edge under the golf ball.
Execution
Now that you have decided your shot type and setup correctly, it is time to learn how Phil expertly executes his short shots around the green.
Whether Phil is hitting a high shot or low shot, his action and execution remain the same; he calls it, “The Hinge and Hold.”
This technique is the exact same on high and low shots as we mentioned earlier. On a high shot, playing the ball up in his stance with an open face, Phil hinges the club back and holds the angle on the way through. The same thing applies to low shots, the only difference is that he plays the ball back in his stance with a closed clubface. Phil makes sure that the angle between his club shaft and lead arm never changes; you will never see Phil’s clubhead pass his hands which helps him consistently hit the ground the same place every time. Hitting the ground in the same place consistently is the most important part of the short game.
Player 2 - Justin Thomas
A lot of the same principles above apply to JT’s short game as we discussed above for Phil. From our observation of him around the green though, there are two things that set him apart.
Justin is one of the most creative and artistic players around the green in this generation. He plays very similar to Tiger and really paints the picture and is not scared to try new things. This includes hitting cuts and draws around the green; you heard that correctly, for the best players in the world, working the ball is not reserved for full shots.
Cuts
Justin hits cuts around the green when he wants to get a little extra spin. Cuts shots tend to land a bit softer and check really hard. Big cuts with the wedges are reserved for shots where you either want to hold the ball straight on a big side slope or if you are trying to be very precise and fly the shot back onto a small tier to stop it quickly. The best way to execute cut spin on your chips is to cut across the ball with an open club face. You will be amazed at how spinny and soft the ball comes off.
Draws
This shot, as you can guess, is the exact opposite. The shots are typically reserved for low runners and are a great way to get the ball to climb up a slope or get through and into the grain section of the green. To execute these shots, you will want to hit the shot with a slight in-to-out motion and release the face. You will love how the ball hugs the ground and gets running very quickly.
Get creative and don’t just think high or low; think cut or draw. It is important to practice these things and experiment with what works for you, so you too can paint the picture just like Justin Thomas around the green.
In conclusion, the short game is a critical aspect of golf that can make or break a player's performance. Learning from the techniques and strategies employed by professionals like Phil Mickelson and Justin Thomas can provide valuable insights and tips for amateur golfers looking to elevate their short game. From the importance of decision-making and set up to the creative shot-making abilities of players like Justin Thomas, there is much to gain from studying the short game of these golfing legends. So, take these principles and techniques, practice them, and experiment to find what works best for you, and you too can enhance your short game and elevate your golfing prowess on the greens. Remember, the short game is where champions are made, so hone your skills and watch your scores improve on the golf course. Happy golfing!