Titleist Tips: Get Creative to Improve Your Short Game

"You have to try things," says Titleist staff member Tom Patri. "I tell my ... students that the two greatest short game teachers are Dr. Trial and Mr. Error. Experiment with your wedges – open and close the club face, move the ball position up and back in your stance, adjust your grip and move your hands up and down the handle – that's how you build an arsenal of shots to address any challenge you face around the greens."

In any short game situation, the first step is to determine what type of shot is called for. Can you hit a stock chip or pitch shot or do you need to adjust the height or spin on the shot? Is the green firm or soft? Into the grain or down-grain? Are you facing a tucked pin or do you have plenty of green to work with? Do you have a clean lie or will grass get between the ball and your club face? These are just a factors you need to consider as you plan out your shot.