Golf.com

How a simple grip change can fix your bunker shots

Parker McLachlin, with Maddi MacClurg — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 21:35:25 +0000

Overthinking can wreak havoc on your game, especially when facing a seemingly tricky lie — like a greenside bunker shot.

While I don’t want to add another voice to the peanut gallery that’s likely already in your head, there is one key that’s worth remembering when navigating sandy lies: stop gripping down on the club.

It’s simple, yet effective, and according to Parker McLachlin, a short-game guru and GOLF Teacher to Watch, something as simple as adjusting your grip position will boost your sand game almost immediately.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Parker McLachlin (@shortgamechef)

Instead of choking up on the club, McLachlin recommends placing your hands lower on the club, towards the butt of the grip. While it might feel counterintuitive, to go against instinct on shorter shots around the green, McLachlin explains that doing so creates more leverage in your swing, and, as a result, helps you generate more speed through impact.

“If you’re gripping way down, down to the shaft, you’re not creating as much leverage as you possibly could and aren’t getting as much speed as you possibly could,” McLachlin says.

That additional speed will not only help the club glide through the sand effortlessly, but it will also allow you to execute the spinny sand shots that most amateurs struggle to hit.

To get comfortable with this new grip position, McLachlin suggests a simple drill: remove your lead-hand pinky from the grip and make a few swings. The goal is to feel the weight of the clubhead and how it’s meant to move through the swing.

This drill, McLachlin says, will help you feel the weight of the clubhead as you swing and help you understand how the clubhead needs to swing.

ShortGameChef.com, created by PGA Tour winner Parker McLachlin, provides golfers with a comprehensive resource to improve their short game. Through personalized tips, drills, and expert insights, Parker helps players of all levels gain more confidence and a deeper understanding of their short game to lower their scores. You can browse membership options here.

Get 30% Off Short Game Chef Now

Ready to take your short game to the next level? Join me, Parker McLachlin, and gain access to 300+ exclusive videos packed with tips, drills, and strategies to help you play your best golf. Start improving your game today and make every shot count.

Buy Now from shortgamechef.com

The post How a simple grip change can fix your bunker shots appeared first on Golf.

Use this technique to easily hit a wedge when your ball is in a divot

Parker McLachlin, GOLF Teacher to Watch — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 14:41:48 +0000

Finding your ball in a divot is about the worst bit of luck you can imagine. Relax — you can do this!

First things first: Check how much green you have to work with. If it’s ample, throttle down to your gap wedge, position the ball a bit farther back in your stance, set the majority of your weight over your front foot and lean the shaft toward the target.

These setup changes will almost ensure ball-first contact and negate any problems with the ball sitting down in a divot. The ball will come out low and fast but with enough backspin to hold the green.

If, however, you’re short-sided, opt for your sand or even lob wedge. Stand closer to the ball, keep the shaft more upright, open the face and make more of a “cut” stroke.

Job done.

Parker McLachlin is a GOLF Teacher to Watch and short-game expert. Learn more from McLachlin at shortgamechef.com. For more great tips from McLachlin, sign up to become a Short Game Chef member below.

Short Game Chef membership

Expert advice from one of the top short-game coaches in the world.

Buy Now from shortgamechef.com

The post Use this technique to easily hit a wedge when your ball is in a divot appeared first on Golf.

Hit higher bunker shots with this drill from a short-game expert

Parker McLachlin, with Maddi MacClurg — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 14:37:22 +0000

Every golfer wants to be able to hit that high, soft bunker shot on command. Not only does it look good coming off the face, but it’s also a handy option around the greens —and it’s easier to master than you might think.

According to GOLF Top 100 Teacher To Watch and creator of Short Game Chef Parker McLachlin, you just need to remember one important concept: add loft with the club, not your swing.

Increasing the loft of the club with setup adjustments allows you to add height to your bunker shots without manipulating your swing — a common mistake among amateurs.

By using the same swing every time, you can accurately predict when your club will enter the sand, which boosts your contact and consistency.

Like anything in life, the more you work at it, the better you’ll get. And, McLachlin says one of the best ways to practice adding loft with your club, is to hit bunker shots with a low-lofted wedge. He explains that this drill will help you understand the set up adjustments needed to maximize loft at address and avoid altering your swing.

To try it out, grab a gap or pitching wedge and use McLachlin’s set up keys below.

Set up keys for higher bunker shots

1. Stand further away. Between a half and full step back from the ball.

2. Lay your clubface flat at address.

3. Lower your hands. McLachlin’s hang around knee-height.

4. Set your hands slightly back. This will expose more of the bounce.

5. Drop your trail foot back slightly.

Once you’re set, make a committed swing. McLachlin says that your only goal while hitting this shot should be to hit the ball higher than the flagstick. Remember, this drill is designed to teach you how to pre-set loft, so the outcome doesn’t matter as long as the ball launches high. And, with enough practice, you’ll be splashing these out like a pro.

ShortGameChef.com, created by PGA Tour winner Parker McLachlin, provides golfers with a comprehensive resource to improve their short game. Through personalized tips, drills, and expert insights, Parker helps players of all levels gain more confidence and a deeper understanding of their short game to lower their scores. You can browse membership options here.

Get 30% Off Short Game Chef Now

Buy Now from shortgamechef.com

The post Hit higher bunker shots with this drill from a short-game expert appeared first on Golf.

Short-game expert reveals the key for hitting a knockdown shot

Parker McLachlin, with Zephyr Melton — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 17:37:22 +0000

Being able to hit a towering shot into the greens with an iron is a premium skill. However, if you really want to become a shot-maker, you’ve got to know how to take a little something off your shots, too.

Case in point: Rory McIlroy on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass during his playoff against J.J. Spaun at last weekend’s Players Championship.

With winds swirling and the margin for error slim, McIlroy hit a knockdown safely onto the green to set up an easy par. Shortly after, his opponent hit a much higher shot that got into the jet stream and sailed the green. Advantage McIlroy.

Pros make these knockdown shots look easy, but for recreational players, mastering it can be tough. For some quick tips on how to hit the shot like McIlroy, we turn to GOLF Teacher to Watch Parker McLachlin, aka the Short Game Chef.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Parker McLachlin (@shortgamechef)

How to hit a knockdown like Rory

If you watched the playoff at TPC Sawgrass, you saw Rory McIlroy pull off a high-stakes shot under extreme pressure.

Standing on the iconic 17th hole — an island green with wind in his face — Rory hit a three-quarter 9-iron from 130 yards to a back pin, controlling his trajectory perfectly.

His opponent, J.J. Spaun, played a full 8-iron, sailed it long into the water, and lost the tournament. This is where precision matters.

You’ll notice when pros want to hit the ball high, they finish with the club high on the follow through. The same principle applies for hitting a lower knockdown shot.

When you take it back, only take the shaft to about shoulder height. Then, when you make your follow through, finish with the club about shoulder height as well.

By doing this, you’ll be able to take a little distance off your shot and keep the trajectory a little lower. It’s a perfect shot for when you want to keep the ball out of the wind.

Get 30% Off Short Game Chef Now

Buy Now from shortgamechef.com

The post Short-game expert reveals the key for hitting a knockdown shot appeared first on Golf.

Stop making this 'death move' from inside 100 yards

Parker McLachlin, with Maddi MacClurg — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:41:06 +0000

How many times have you crushed a drive, only to have your excitement fade when you realize you have to hit a pesky wedge shot into the green?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Many amateurs find these feel-based wedge shots anxiety-inducing, and it’s often because they make a common mistake in their follow-through that kills their control and consistency inside 100 yards.

The move? Stopping their follow-through just after impact. In the video below, Parker McLachlin, creator of the Short Game Chef, breaks it down.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Parker McLachlin (@shortgamechef)

It’s a habit most amateurs develop when something is going wrong in their backswing. Whether they have too much verticality, a shut clubface, or something less noticeable, many players instinctively hit the breaks too early to compensate for the mistakes they made earlier in their swing.

However, this is counterintuitive. Stopping at impact only forces you to make more compensations in your swing.

Instead, try to work on rotating through completely. To try it out on your own, make a few practice swings finishing with your chest up, pointed at the target. Then, try to hit a few balls with this new follow-through.

Learning to rotate properly in the through-swing will boost your consistency and improve your distance control. It will also help players who are creating too much speed in their backswing learn to shorten their backswing instead of their follow-through, which will make those nerve-wracking shots a little easier.

Get 30% Off Short Game Chef Now

Buy Now from shortgamechef.com

The post Stop making this ‘death move’ from inside 100 yards appeared first on Golf.

Short Game Chef: How to handle mudballs around the green

Parker McLachlin, GOLF Teacher to Watch — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:32:05 +0000

Your burning short-game questions are answered by Parker McLaughlin — aka, the Short Game Chef — in every new issue of GOLF Magazine.

Dear Chef, I get a lot of mudballs around the green at my local course. Is there a strategy for success with these? —Taylor K., Seattle

The key to success with mudballs is minimizing the time the ball spends in the air, since the mud can create a lot of ballflight uncertainty.

Luckily, on shots around the green, you have some options. If there’s nothing in front of you requiring carry, go with a lower lofted club and hit the trusty bump-and-run to minimize air time. If you do need to carry the ball over an obstacle, don’t forget to release your hands to add some loft to the club at impact.

Short Game Chef Membership

Get access to over 280+ videos, live streams and community.

Buy Now from shortgamechef.com

For more short-game guidance from the Chef, read on …

Dear Chef, I’m short on nearly every shot within 100 yards. How can I improve my distance control?” —Kyle M., Phoenix

Technique is even more critical on shots inside 100 yards since you need to generate a consistent trajectory to control distances.

A good drill I use with some of my high-level players is to take three balls and hit from a variety of yardages. Start at 20 yards, then move back five yards until you get to 50. Simply chart your distance control and see how far the ball is carrying from each location.

The post Short Game Chef: How to handle mudballs around the green appeared first on Golf.

How to decide which wedge bounce is right for your game

Parker McLachlin, GOLF Teacher to Watch — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:43:55 +0000

What is bounce? I’d say bounce is a tough thing to precisely define, but, generally speaking, it’s the angle between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sole of the club.

To visualize it, place your wedge upright on a flat surface. The bounce is the angle created between the club’s leading edge and the ground. The closer the leading edge is to laying flat, the lower the bounce.

The difference in bounce is evident when you place two wedges side by side on a flat surface. Michael Williams

Bounce lofts range from 4 degrees on the low end to 14 degrees on the high end. So, which bounce is right for your game? There are two main factors to consider: where you play and your swing style.

If you typically play in soft, wet conditions, wedges with more bounce will help. On firmer conditions, less bounce is usually the way to go. If you have a shallow swing, you’ll want less bounce. Steep swingers, on the other hand, tend to benefit from more bounce.

Titleist Vokey SM10 Oil Can Custom Wedge

Vokey Design unveils its new, limited–edition Oil Can finish, a modern update to the classic Vokey Oil Can look, now available with the performance and technology of Vokey Design SM10 wedges. The finish, newly refined and highly durable, is a nod to Vokey’s popular Oil Can finishes of past generations, which date all the way back to the Vokey 200 Series wedges. The new limited–edition finish is applied through a PVD treatment, which helps achieve a rich copper color while minimizing reflectivity and maximizing durability. Distance and trajectory control: Vokey Design SM10 wedges feature optimized, progressive CG positions to achieve precision in distance and trajectory control. In the 46-52° models, the CG is lower for a better transition from the iron set and more consistent distance gapping. The CG is also pushed out closer to the center of the face, helping to eliminate excessive draw movement and provide a more solid feel, based on tour player feedback and testing. Maximum spin: Vokey’s patented Spin Milled groove cutting process provides a scoreline that delivers higher, more consistent spin, wedge after wedge. A parallel micro-texture between grooves helps maximize spin on partial shots, and a high frequency heat treatment is applied to the impact area, doubling the durability of the groove edge compared to untreated grooves.

View Product

If your swing style and conditions recommendation don’t line up, let conditions take precedence. But, at the end of the day, getting custom fit is always a good idea. Test your wedge from different lies and bunkers to see what works best for you — you might find a middle-ground bounce that’s perfect for your game.

Learn more from McLachlin at shortgamechef.com.

The post How to decide which wedge bounce is right for your game appeared first on Golf.

Cure your chipping yips with this clever trick

Maddi MacClurg — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:42:37 +0000

When you’ve got the yips, smoothing out your short game can feel like an impossible task. But, with this clever trick from Parker McLachlin, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher to Watch, you can cure your game of those jerky, inconsistent strikes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Parker McLachlin (@shortgamechef)

According to McLachlin, tapping your toe is a great way to cure your chipping yips. In the clip below, he explains that this hack works because it helps you “turn off” your mental side and shift your focus away from the strike.

And it’s not just good for your mental game. McLachlin says his toe-tap move will also help improve your weight position while chipping.

“If your weight is positioned too far on your front foot, and you try to toe tap, it’s really difficult,” McLachlin says.

Think: back, tap, go

To try McLachlin’s toe-tapping trick, get into your normal chipping setup. Take the club to the top, tap your lead toe, and then continue with your downswing. Make a few practice swings, playing around with different tempos to find the right fit for your game. Then, put it on a ball to start making crisp, solid contact.

For more great tips like this one, sign up to become a Short Game Chef member below. Use promo code: GOLF50 for $50 off an annual membership.

Short Game Chef Membership

Access to over 280+ Videos, Live Streams and Community

Buy Now from shortgamechef.com

The post Cure your chipping yips with this clever trick appeared first on Golf.

The 'master recipe' for hitting a high spinning pitch shot

Parker McLachlin, GOLF Teacher to Watch — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:24:18 +0000

If you’re looking to spin your pitch shots high and soft, I’ve got the master recipe. Spinning it like the pros is fun in theory, but to actually do it requires having great fundamentals.

Here’s what I mean.

Short Game

This 1 swing thought will help you add spin to your pitch shots

By: Zephyr Melton

First, you’ve got to keep the shaft lean fairly neutral, and the clubface must be slightly open at setup. Second, the length of your backswing has to be a bit longer than normal. I also recommend using some wrist hinge, which allows for a little bit of release down onto the ball.

The key to this is using softer grip pressure, so take it down from a 10 to about a four.

Finally, to get that funky action you’re looking for, you need to deliver some speed at about one foot before impact, which will allow you to pull off the high spinner you see on Tour.