Tip no. 16 - The Lob Shot
with Pachesham Golf Academy

You might not become Phil Mickelson overnight, but these few tips will help you add this vital scoring shot to your short game repertoire. Confidence, trusting your swing and letting the club do the work are all essential here, so practice it well before you try it on the course!

• Today players have a selection of different lofted wedges to choose from, with the 60 degree wedge often referred to as the lob wedge. This club is capable of getting the ball up quickly and stopping almost as soon as it lands. • The lob shot however is a high risk shot. The first thing you must assess is how is the ball lying? To play a lob shot successfully the ball needs to be "sitting up" as this enables you to slide the club under the ball. • The key to playing these shots is to open the clubface before taking your grip; you will have your thumbs on what is normally the left side of the handle/grip. This grip enables you to keep the clubface open throughout the swing. • Hinge your wrists early and accelerate through impact, trust that the club will pop the ball in the air for you.

THE COMPLETE ONE MINUTE TIPS, WITH   No. 1: Common Ball Flights - your golf ball is your teacher! No. 2: The Set Up - grip, stance and posture No. 3: The Straight Shot - getting the basics right No. 4: The Fade - for a gently-curving, soft-landing shot No. 5: The Pull - trees down the left? No worries! No. 6: The Hook - commonest fault in lower handicappers No. 7: The Pull Hook - eliminate this destructive shot No. 8: The Draw - for a penetrating, powerful ball flight No. 9: The Push - water to the right? No problem! No. 10: The Slice - cure this curse of the high handicapper No. 11: The Push Slice - fix it and keep out of the thick stuff No. 12: The Swing - backswing and downswing explained No. 13: Distance - tips for hitting it further No. 14: Pitching - master this basic scoring shot No. 15: Chipping - turn three into two around the green No. 16: The Lob - loft it and stop it close - like 'Lefty'! No. 17: Bunker Shots - no need to fear these any more! No. 18: Putting - tips and drills to end those three-putts No. 19: Awkward Lies - uphill, downhill and sidehill shots No. 20: The Thin or Top - fix this infuriating fault No. 21: The Fat or Duff - cure it and hit the ball clean! No. 22: Plugged Lies - don't give up, get out! No. 23: The Shank - how to cure 'the unmentionable' No. 24: Club Selection - some distance guidelines No. 25: Basic Rules - every golfer should know these No. 26: Course Management - learn to play the percentages For more help, see your PGA pro, or contact: Pachesham Golf Centre, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BP For all Lesson Enquiries Email: lessons@pacheshamgolf.co.uk Tel: 01372 843453 - Web: www.pacheshamgolf.co.uk Copyright ©Pachesham Golf Centre 2011, reproduced with permission