Best Way to Play an Approach Shot with a Half Swing in Golf

This is a typical approach shot from a good lie on the fairway with a straight line to the green, and some 70 – 90 yds (65 – 80 m) to the flag. Accuracy is what you need here, and your big fear is that you will hit the ball too hard and send it bouncing over the green. But by carefully choosing the club – here, the No. 9 iron is the best bet – and by drawing on what practicing the half swing with this club has taught you concerning height, bounce and roll, you can play this shot confidently up to the green and close to the flag. (Because you are using the No. 9 iron, the ball will not bounce and roll as much as it would if you chose a No. 6 or 7 iron. The steeper trajectory will make it stop more quickly.)

• At address, stand with the ball back in the stance. Keep your hands firm on the shaft and in front of the ball.

• A wide, controlled backswing, created mostly by the arms, approaches the ten o’clock position. Both feet are firmly on the ground.
• Just after impact, the arms are swinging towards the target and the ball is on its way. The upper body is relatively still, while the club moves back to the inside of the target line.
• A controlled finish, with the weight on the left foot and the right heel leaving the ground late in the follow through and the arms ending in the two o’clock position.