Super Lob!
To play a super lob shot—the kind that you might see Tiger or Phil pulling off with ease—you need some basic setup changes. With your most lofted club and a centered ball position, begin with a wider stance and an open clubface. Now, lower your body and the handle of the club, as if your posture was being “compressed” into the ground. Finally, pull the handle of the club slightly away from the target (above). Then, make a big swing with a revved-up pace, allowing the clubhead to pass the handle through impact.

Lower your body and the club’s handle, as if your posture was being “compressed” into the ground.

Yardstick Drill
If you struggle with low- or medium-trajectory pitching, this is a great drill to try. Simply take two yardsticks and place one through your belt loops and the other on the left side of your grip. Make sure the second yardstick runs up the shaft under your left arm. Take your setup and try pitching some balls with the two yardsticks in place, all the while concentrating on getting your left hip rotating open and keeping your left wrist flat through impact. The yardsticks should clearly indicate whether or not your technique is sound. Make extra-sure the yardstick in your belt loops doesn’t collide with the one in your left hand.

Maintaining a flat left wrist through impact while properly rotating your hips open are keys to solid pitching.

Ball Above The Feet
To execute a shot when the ball is above your feet, begin by moving the ball back in your stance. The more severe the slope, the farther back the ball should be positioned. Also, the more severe the slope, the more the ball will hook to the left, so adjust your aim to the right accordingly. When you assume your setup position, make sure you place more weight in the front of your feet (to help stay balanced and prevent falling backward), and concentrate on keeping your chest “on” the hill during the swing. By trying to keep your chest moving over the hill, you’ll be more likely to maintain your spine angle. Make sure to swing from the inside, or you’ll lose the ball way left.

When the ball is above your feet, the tendency is to go way left.  Compensate by making sure you aim well to the right.

Forehand 
Golf and tennis have a long history together. Those who play one sport often play the other; in fact, some teachers emphasize that the two strokes are pretty similar. For this drill, I’m going to use a tennis ball to help convey the importance of keeping a triangle formed between your shoulders, arms and hands. It’s vital that these three body parts work in unison, as they encourage your larger shoulder muscles to do most of the work. Unfortunately, many golfers rely too much on the smaller hand muscles to make a putting stroke, and that only leads to jabs, stabs and even the yips. Place a tennis ball in just the right place, and you’ll isolate the muscles that matter.

Place a tennis ball between your forearms so your shoulders, arms and hands can work as one.

The Putt-Chip Shot

If short chips around the green aren’t your specialty, consider a shot that resembles a putt rather than a chip. If you look closely at this photo, you’ll see I’m holding both an iron (a 9-iron) and putter. I’ve taken the iron and lifted the heel and choked down on the grip so it sets up like a putter. Try this, then when you get a feel for how a putter stacks up with the iron, ditch the putter and get ready to make a putting stroke with the iron. On the opposite page, all I’ve done is “putt-chip” from just off the fringe by using my regular putting grip and stroke. This shot is very effective at getting the ball rolling quickly off tight surfaces, all the while avoiding a flubbed or thinned shot.

When hitting the putt-chip, let your arms hang naturally and use a shoulder-driven putting stroke for solid results. Using a wedge, all you have to do is raise the heel and simulate a putting move. it’s a very effective shot off tight lies.