Roll the ball….don’t fly the ball….

By Tom Ream, PGA Head Instructor at the Pinewild Golf Academy in Pinehurst, NC.

It is always easier to roll your ball than to fly it!  Whenever the opportunity presents itself you should chip or putt your ball from off the green.  Always think first about flying the ball just on the front of the green and choosing the club that allows it to roll the rest of the way.  If the turf is cut low enough (fringe height or even dormant Bermuda), consider your putter, hybrid or even a fairway woods.  This allows for a stoke that is very simple and consistent like your putting motion. 

When using this motion from off the green rely on your visual and athletic instincts to get the ball to go the correct distance.  This technique is especially useful when negotiating slopes with pins that are cut close to the front.

For information on schools and lesson plans available with Tom Ream please call or email at 910-235-9191 or academy@pinewildcc.com