WATCH: Hitting short-game shots with a wood

Breaking out a fairway wood (or even a hybrid) to hit short-game shots is widely underutilised.

A wood club’s broader, smoother sole makes it less likely to stick to the turf, and its increased weight helps force the ball further with less effort.

Simply set up like a regular putt (choking down slightly to accommodate the greater shaft length) and use your normal putting stroke.

Use a little more hinge travelling back and forth.

Rolling the ball across the grass and the entire distance requires only a small amount of wrist motion.

Here’s a great example.

Bernie Najar told GOLF.com: “Your approach came up short, leaving you with as much grass between you and the edge of the green as there is between the edge and the pin. Do you fly it all the way to the hole or just to the apron? It’s a tough shot either way.

“My typical advice on any short-game shot is to favor roll over flight when you don’t have an obstacle looming in front of you. Here, since you’ve got a good chunk of grass to deal with, your roll’s going to need some extra oomph.

“Enter the wood chip. Using a fairway wood (or even a hybrid) to hit short-game shots is widely undervalued. The larger, smoother sole of a wood means the club isn’t as prone to stick to the turf, and its extra heft helps power the ball a good ways with minimal effort.”

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