OLD SCHOOL SHORT GAME

WHEN I’M PLAYING IN a pro-am or an outing for a sponsor, I usually struggle to explain my short-game technique if I’m put on the spot.

- Shane Lowry

I stand there and have to think really hard about what I do. People say I’ve got all the shots around the green anyone could ever need, but I’ve been hitting them over and over since I was 10. The motions are second nature. But I still want to be helpful, so I’ve figured out two main things I can say about my chipping.

First, I’m trying to hole every chip shot. That might sound silly, but that’s the mindset golfers should have when they walk up to their ball to take a look—even a beginner. It focuses your attention and gets you seeing the slopes and how the grass is growing all the way to the cup. You’ll be thinking about what you want the ball to do rather than the club. When you’re under pressure and thinking about the club, it rarely turns out well. At least that’s the way it is for me.

Second, I’m a big believer in doing things the way you’re most comfortable. I hit 99 percent of greenside shots with my lob wedge, which is a 58-degree with 6 degrees of bounce. Americans come over for the Open Championship and think they ought to start chipping with longer irons. But if a bump is a new shot to them, that isn’t the one they’ll see under the gun. I’ve heard countless pros claim their method for a shot is the best, but if I’ve learned anything in my career, it’s that there are a lot of ways to play this game. As long as your technique is halfway decent, you can play great. (Which is why I recommend taking one lesson from an instructor to get some fundamentals right. And sorry, I’m not your man for that.)