Sergio Garcia's short game: committing to a shot
On a green at Liberty National, Sergio Garcia plays a short par 3, an approach shot on firm ground, a bunker shot, and a shot from thick rough. Each time, he comes back to the same idea: choose a shot and stick with it.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Sergio Garcia, the most important thing around the green is to to take a shot and to trust him. Hesitating between two or three options leaves room for doubt, and the move becomes less fluid. He considers himself creative: he likes to see a play differently than most players. On a tight approach, he shows Two ways to play the same shot with a 58° club: a ball he hits into the air, which bounces on the green and stops due to spin, or a ball hit with a slightly closed clubface, resulting in a slight draw, which bounces short and rolls toward the hole.
In the bunker, he describes himself as a player who hits the ball hard with a lot of spin: open face, the ball flies close to the flag and comes to a stop. He emphasizes the importance of trusting his wedges: if the club looks right to him and he feels the ball on the clubface, everything becomes easier. One last example: a downhill shot, in the tall grass near a bunker, which, according to him, is successful only two times out of ten from a distance of less than two meters. He can feel how the grass grips the club and adjusts the force of his swing accordingly.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Watch the shot, choose a trajectory, and then stick to it.
- On a close approach, decide whether the ball should fly and stop, or bounce short and roll.
- For a high shot, hit the ball onto the green and let the spin bring it to a stop.
- For a rolling shot, close the clubface slightly, play a slight draw, and make the ball bounce short.
- In the bunker, open the clubface and swing through the ball firmly to send it flying toward the flag.
- In tall grass, feel how the grass resists your practice swing and adjust your swing strength accordingly.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Hesitating between several moves when it's time to strike.
- Knowing only one way to play an approach shot.
- Playing it safe in the bunker instead of taking a bold shot.
- Play the same way in the tall grass as you do on the fairway.
- Expecting to succeed every time on a very difficult shot.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- The same approach shot—hit high and then rolled—using the same wedge
- Bunker shots, with the ball flying all the way to the flag
- Test swings in tall grass to get a feel for the resistance
- Announce the chosen shot aloud before each ball
Your Questions
How does Sergio Garcia play an approach shot on a firm course?
He demonstrates two options with his 58°. Either a ball hit high into the air, which bounces on the green and stops due to spin, or a ball with a slightly closed clubface, hit with a slight draw, which bounces short and rolls toward the hole.
Should you play bunkers with spin or by letting the ball roll?
Garcia describes himself as a player who hits the ball hard with a lot of spin: with an open face, the ball flies close to the flag and stops.
How do you gauge the power of a shot into tall grass?
He feels how the grass catches the club as it passes through, then hits the ball a little harder or a little softer depending on that resistance. He realizes that this is a shot that rarely lands very close to the target.
Why limit yourself to just one shot?
Hesitating between two or three options creates uncertainty, and the movement becomes less fluid.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Sergio Garcia). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.