Short Game Tiger Woods: See Ten Possible Shots
In Episode 4 of "My Game" for Golf Digest, Tiger Woods offers a glimpse into his short game. He talks about his role models, his open-minded approach to every shot, and how he practices using landing markers, and demonstrates a cut chip and a draw chip.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Tiger Woods, the short game is above all, creativity: shaping the shot you want to play. He learned from Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal, who spent hours around the greens in the worst lies. Their strength: see several moves that work and knowing which one to use. He keeps his options open on everything: whether or not to grip the club lower, to tighten or loosen his grip, to hold his hands high or low, forward or back, and whether or not to tilt the club. He even changes his grip depending on the shot—interlock, Vardon, reverse overlap, or baseball grip.
With plenty of green to work with, he could use a putter, a 4-iron, a 6-iron, an 8-iron, or a sand wedge. During practice, he places clubs on the ground like landing markers, because he's a “spot chipper.” For the cut, with the ball forward, he aims to the left and holds it with his left hand. For the draw top, he steps back, closes his stance, opens his face, and turns his face. He feels the blow with your hands, not with his body. When putting, he takes 20 to 30 putts with his right hand before switching to his left.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Look at the flag and list the possible shots and the clubs that can be used for them.
- Choose a specific landing site.
- Place a club on the ground during practice to illustrate this point.
- To hit a cut shot, move the ball forward, aim to the left, and keep your left hand through the swing.
- For a high draw, take a step back, narrow your stance, open the clubface, and rotate it.
- When putting, start by hitting a series of shots with just your right hand.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Believing that there is only one way to play a move.
- Always use the same club around the green.
- Copy a technique that doesn't match your address.
- Practice the short game for just a few minutes.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Chips placed on top of a club lying on the ground as a marker
- The same shot played with several clubs, from the putter to the sand wedge
- Chip in a cut shot, then a draw shot toward the same flag
- Puts using only the right hand, then both hands
Your Questions
What is the key to Tiger Woods' short game?
An open mind. When faced with a shot, he sees about ten possible options; the challenge is choosing the right one—something you learn by practicing them all.
How does Tiger Woods practice around the green?
He places clubs on the ground to mark the edge of the green and its landing area, then plays various shots over them. He describes himself as a player who chips toward a specific spot.
How does he play a chip-and-run shot?
With the ball positioned far back in his stance, he aims slightly to the left, swings to the left, and keeps his left hand through the ball.
Is he thinking about the body or the hands?
In the hands. Tiger Woods says he loses the feel for the shot when asked to play with his body; he visualizes the shot with his hands, which are his connection to the club.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Tiger Woods). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.