Golf has one undeniable advantage: unlike other sports, which can only be enjoyed for a number of years, golf can be practised throughout your life. And, as with most activities that you practise for many years, your technique will improve over time. If you love golf, if you’ve played the world-class courses in the Costa del Golf or you’re planning to in the future, check out these tips provided by golf pro Noemí Jiménez on how to perfect your approach.
What is an approach shot?
Approach shots, also known simply as approach, is the movement in which the golfer tries to get the ball as close as possible to the hole. Approach shots are those less than one hundred metres from the hole and tend to be played using a wedge club, which is specifically designed for your short game.
Given that golf revolves around getting the ball in the hole, approach shots are some of the most important in the game. But before doing so, you need to get the ball closer to the hole, which is no mean feat. One of the most common mistakes in this type of shot is lack of consistency. We hope to be able to help you with this with these tips. So now that you know what an approach shot is, let’s take a look at how to improve it. You ready? Get warmed up!
1. Use your body, not your wrists
If you want to improve the consistency of your approach shot, you need to learn how to control the way you move your body and not overuse your wrists, which is what tends to happen. The reason for this is simple: controlling and directing the shot with your wrists will generate more inconsistency in the direction and potentially give you a worse approach. After slightly bending your knees, your torso and hips should move in the direction of your approach. Instead of directing the ball with your wrists, your body will give more precision and a better arch to your swing.
2. Hands in front!
In addition to moving your body, instead of directing your approach shot with your wrists, where you place your hands is key. As Noemí Jiménez explains, your hands should always be in front of your body. Grip the club firmly with both hands before turning into your backswing.
3. Don’t let the club hit your hip
Though controlling your approach with your wrists is intuitive when you first start playing, you will probably find that the stick will hit your hip. This is uncomfortable, it reduces your concentration and has a negative impact on your approach. Turning your body therefore not only helps make your approach shot more consistent, it also avoids distractions and injuries.
Extra tip: control the weight in your feet
An additional tip to improve your approach shot in golf concerns controlling where you place the weight in your feet. This takes constant practice and training. The tendency is to shift more weight into the right foot, when the correct thing to do is to shift it to the left. By putting more weight on your left foot, you are putting yourself in a better position for the shot so you can hit a backswing with the perfect amount of turn.
If you found these tips useful and want to put them into practice, why not visit the over 70 golf courses in the Costa del Golf. From Marbella and Benahavís to Estepona, Mijas and Antequera, the range of options and green fees is vast.
Boasting the best hotels and other accommodation options, golf classes so you can practise and an extensive range of family activities so you can have a great time in beautiful surroundings, the Costa del Golf awaits. Grab your clubs, choose your destination and put everything you’ve learned into practice.
