How to Stop a Golf Ball
After a golfer learns the basics of the game, the education does not stop. You want to learn the finer points to score better and demonstrate your improvement. One of the most important aspects of winning golf is executing well in the short game. That includes hitting your pitch shots close to the pin and having them stop when they land
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Instructions
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Use your 9 iron when you are 100 to 120 yards from the green. Square yourself to the flagstick and make sure your left shoulder is pointing right at the hole. Bend your knees and make sure you are in an athletic position. Rotate your hips to the right and when you have turned as far as you can go, rotate back through the left and take a full swing. Once your hips have cleared the hitting zone, bring your hands through and finish with your hands high. That high finish with your hands--at about shoulder height--will help you stop the ball when it lands.
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Use your pitching wedge when you are 80 to 100 yards away from the hole. Open your stance a few degrees. This will help you emphasize your hip turn when you come through the ball. This will allow you have a better view of the target. Once again, you must finish with your hands at near shoulder height to put backspin on the ball to get it to stop.
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Pick up your gap wedge when you are 60 to 80 yards from the hole. This club has more loft than the pitching wedge and will get the ball higher in the air than the pitching wedge. Again, use a slightly open stance and come through the ball by rotating your hips and finishing with your hands high.
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Use a lob wedge when you are less than 60 yards from the hole. This club will have a loft of 60 degrees and will not get much distance but it will get the ball high. When it comes down, it will land softly and stop within a foot or two if it is struck correctly.
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Work with your 9 iron and your wedges when you go to the practice range. Hit 10 shots with each club as you learn how to finish high with your hands and put stopping action on the ball.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your head down when you swing if you want to hit the right spot on the ball to make it stop.
