The document provides advice on how to improve one's short game, specifically the difficult 40-yard shot. It recommends practicing drills that focus on maintaining connection and body sequence through the swing in order to generate acceleration at impact. The "Hold Drill" involves making practice swings and halting the downswing at different points to focus on feel. Keeping the hands connected to the chest with a ball placed between the elbows also helps train the proper motion. Mastering these drills can help golfers develop a repeatable swing path that allows them to reliably hit targets from 40 yards.

1. Let’stalkabout howto take the fearoutof thisshot:
The equipmentside of me istellingyoutocheckyour wedges.Because of moderngolf ballsandcourse designthereisa
needformore wedgesinthe bag.I have posedthe questionmultipletimesonhow manywedgesshould youcarry?
Most of yoursingle digithandicapgolfersandprofessionalsgobetween3and 4 wedgesincludingthe pitchingwedge.
So,how manywedgesdoyouhave?
Thisshot isdifficultbecauseyoucansee somany differentobstaclesandconditionsfrom40yards. By nomeansisa 40
yard shotnear a full swingformostpeople. Sowhyisitso difficult? One of the biggestfaultsisdecelerationthroughthe
impactzone.So sequentially,golfersattempttofix thisandforce acceleration withtheirhands, andcreate evenmore
issuesforthemselves.
ACCELERATION:WHAT ISIT REALLY?
Many have beentoldthat theydecelerate,orslow down,onthese shortershots.Sonaturallymostgolfersuse their
handsto speedupthe swingand theylose anycontrol that leadstomakingsolidcontact.Ina lotof cases,evenwhen
attemptingtoaccelerate, the golferwill still decelerate throughthe impactzone.
Thinkfor a minute of howyouwouldlightamatch on a matchbox strip.If you just flickthe matchstickacrossthe strip
(representativeof onlyusingyourhands) the match will more thanlikelynotlight.However,if youdrive the matchstick
across the entire strip (representative of usingyourentirebody) thenthe matchwill light.Accelerationissucha terrible
termto use whenteachinga student.Mostof youramateurgolfersdon’tunderstandhow totrulyspeeduptheirswing.
Drive isa muchbetterwayto describe the neededactionof “acceleration.”Mostthinkof the worddrive andtheywill
use theirentire bodyto“strike the match”,whichwill create anaccelerationthroughthe impactzone.
CONNECTION
THE 40 YARD SHOT
You’re inTrouble land!You are 40 yardsfrom the green,rightinthe middle of the fairway.Youjust
hityour tee shotovera pondto be inthisperfect,yetterrible positionandyouare shakingnow
more than whenyouwere tryingnotto lose yourball in the “drink.”This makesforone of the
hardestshotsingolf.The legendaryDave Pelzhasreallygoodstatisticsaboutthisexact40-yardshot
and how difficultitreallyis.

2. Connectioniskeepingeverythingmovinginpropersequence tohelpcreate arepeatable swing.Thisgoes fromthe feet,
throughthe body and finishatthe club head.If one thingisout of sequence, itwill be difficulttohave a repeatable
swingyoucan relyon.
The firstthingthat I wouldlike you,the reader,tryisa drill Ilearnedfroma goodfriend.We will call thisdrill the Hold
Drill:
- Swingbackuntil yourhands are belthigh
- Holdthispositionfor5 seconds
- Nowswingthroughthe ball andholda complete finish
- Alsotry thiswiththe handsjustbeyondthe thighor chesthighas well
A fewthingsyoushouldtake note aboutthisdrill.Onthe firstfew triesalmosteveryone topsthe ball.Thisisbecause
the lack of connection. Mostwill have adifficulttime makingacomplete finishinthisdrill,butitisa must. Remember
my goal isto teach youhow to “drive”throughthe ball.Tomake solidcontact the feet,hips,shoulders,handsmustall
be movingtogether, throughthe ball.
HANDSWITH CHEST
The hands movingtowardsthe targetawayfrom the bodyis a commonfaultand one that againishard to repeatthe
same angle and speed.The goal isto keepthe handswiththe chest.Mostdo not know the properfeelingof this. The
ball betweenthe elbowsdrill isaperfectwayto become intunedtothisfeeling.
- Place a ball (dodge ball orsimilar) betweenyourelbows.
o Make sure the ball is properlyplacedBETWEEN yourELBOWS. An errorin placementwill make thisdrill
useless.
- Nowdo the HoldDrill withthis,aswell.
If the ball fallsoutyouhave lostconnectionbetweenthe armsandthe body.Done properlyandthe handswill follow
your chest.Inturn youwill have nowlearned how to“accelerate”throughthe shot.
There are manyothervariablesinplaywhentryingtohita 40-yard shot;however,if youpractice these drillsyouwill be
one stepcloserto a repeatable andtrustworthyshot.Inordertomore reliablyhitthe ball,exactly40yards,you should
adjustwhere youplace yourhandsin the HoldDrill.Usingthe HoldDrill,practice full swings,all the waytomovingthe
handsjustoutside of yourthigh.Make sure to make a complete finish,asthatis keyto drivingthe swingthroughthe ball
and “lightingthe match.”
Learn howto “accelerate”ordrive throughthe swingand you’ll be one stepclosertonotfearingthe dreaded40-yard
shot!
PublishedbyBryanMontgomery:5/4/16