Martin Hall Short Game DVD series

Question 1

Martin Hall Short Game DVD Series

Bunkers: Tips and information

• Sand: Club must hit UNDER the ball. Lowest point of swing is directly under the ball.
• Your feet MUST be lower than ball. Shuffle then dig in.
• Have a slight knee flex

Which club to use?

Hard Sand: Club with little bounce

Soft sand: Club with BIG bounce. Sand wedge has big bounce.

Clubs have two edges:

1. Leading edge “Digging Edge”
2. Bounce edge “Skidding edge”

Answer 1

Most times you want to use bounce edge. Most times you want to splash club under the ball.

Stance:

1. Wider stance (helps you get under the ball)
2. Play ball more FORWARD.
3. Open Clubface

BS SB 0900 with leading arm, not a full swing.

[MN: Remember to finish high, high, high!]

My swing path SB left of the flag.

My swing speed in sand should feel like I am striking a match! [Gary Player]

* Visualize 2 walls and a tabletop in the sand bunker. On swing [palms to wall, table, wall] go between the walls and along tabletop.

[MN: Visualize making shot out of a bathtub]

Question 2

Pitching Heuristics 2018

Setup for pitching:

1. Use closed stance by half my foot.
2. No fwd press. We are using bounce of club.
3. Low angle to impact. We do not want to dig, chunk or bury leading edge in the dirt.
4. MOST IMPORTANT is to form and hold the wrist cock throughout the swing.
5. At address, the club heel is on ground and the club toe is in the air looking like it is pointing upward at 45 degrees. [Number 4 and 5 are what gets the ball high in the air]
6. Keep CF square to the target line on pitches with BS 0900 and less. [Still need to figure out which method to use to open and close CF on longer pitches.]
7. Golf swing will be minor inside to out. Do not exaggerate this.
8. Hit smooth with karate extension [Tom Watson]

Answer 2

1. Back Swings up to 0830 can be pendulum putting stroke motion. Back Swings greater than 0830 feel more like a regular golf swing.
2. Chest leads the swing.
3. Right hand is my support hand to keep the CF square through impact. The precision grip I use is wonderful but weak. If I do not support the back of the shaft on longer pitches, the impact will twist the CF spraying balls off target.
4. My gloved hand will only be gripping the club with the pressure of gently starting to squeeze the water out of a sponge. THIS IS IMPORTANT. Do not use gloved hand to grip the club, just the first three fingers with gentle squeeze on the sponge to start the water to come out of the sponge.

Question 3

SHORT GAME PITCHES

New info from wedge short game special 2016 saved on DVR:

UNDER REACH Hover

Tired of chunking shots? Do not setup to ball with sole on bottom of grass, you will hit it fat. Instead use UNDER REACH hover. Hover the blade just above the ground. Now keep your arms fully extended and make your shot. Unless you bend your knees, you cannot chunk the shot. Make a couple of practice shots just hitting the grass next to the ball then setup and shoot.

Also, when you are in the grass, you can slightly lift the heel of the CF just off the ground on your setup to prevent a chunk. Works great on its own for SW pitches.

TIP FROM TIGER ON IRONS:

Swing hard as you want but be able to stop with your chest facing the target. This may work well with my 6 and 7 irons for preventing pulls.

Answer 3

SAND BUNKER SHOTS

1. Using an open CF invites a hit on the hosel, so address your ball in the sand completely off the toe on the club. The CF does not need to hit the ball, just move the ball with the sand!
2. Keep your arms fully extended and sit on the bar stool with your knees bent and still.
3. BS left hand to wall behind you, palm to wall.
4. Now wipe off the table under the ball.
5. Finally, Left palm to opposite wall. This throws the ball way up high in the air to get it out!
6. Remember to end the shot with the grip pointing to your belly button.

On a longer sand shot, power the shot with your right shoulder to thrown the ball out further.

Question 4

Buried Lie:

Use DIGGING EDGE.

Ball back in stance.

[MN: Notice in sand ball is never in middle of stance]

* Club Face square to target. [do not rotate on BS]

* Hands and weight forward.

* Cock wrist sharply – Do not open face on BS.

* Swing is stabbing motion. Explosion shot dig. No FF!

Note: You determine sand type by digging your feet in your stance.

Types of sand

Soft sand [powdery] SWING HARD!

Hard sand – Swing SOFTLY

Answer 4

Here is Martin Hall’s favorite sand bunker drill:

Draw two lines facing inline with you about a grip length apart. Now make 5 dimples in the middle of the lines in the sand.

Next, practice your sand shots taking the low points of the dimples out of the sand.

More tips:

Place rear foot on tip toe to move most weight on forward foot. This forces me to hit weighted shot in the sand.

Gary Player drill: Set leading edges of both feet forward on sand shots, just like leading edges of your skis.

Tom Watson tip: Keep lead forearm going throughout your shot. [MN: This works great on all shots, especially my pitches.]

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