6 Short-game Solutions for Saving Par

Chipping from the short side

Pitching high over trouble

Lagging a long putt

Escaping a downhill bunker lie

Executing the half-wedge

Related articles appeared
in January 2009 issue of
Golf Digest

How to get out of the worst greenside jams

Lagging a long putt

You might not make a lot of 40-footers, but you can give yourself a chance by getting the ball to the hole. The tendency on a long putt with the standard shoulder-driven, quiet-hands stroke is to come up short because it lacks power. But if you use some wrist action, you generate enough energy without a big stroke, which could cause poor contact.

How to: Focus on keeping the butt end of your putter pointing at the same spot on your abdomen, as you would if you had it anchored like a belly putter (right). You'll have to hinge and release your wrists, back and through, to keep the shaft pointing at that spot. Try it, and notice how much more power you can produce with a little flick (release) of the wrists.

Golf Digest January 2009