“Roll is easier to judge than flight” – Jack Nicklaus
Have to admit it, he knew a thing or two about playing the game did old Jack.
Jack is of course famous for the number of tournaments, particularly majors that he won. He’s also known for being the golfer who really thought his way round the golf course, who used his mental ability to win golf tournaments and get the job done.
He was the master of playing the percentage shot, of putting the odds of success firmly in his favour. He detested taking risks on a golf course, the consequences of dropping strokes was far to grave.
What’s not ever paid much attention too was Jack’s short game.
You can’t win that many golf tournaments in your career without having to get the odd ball up and down from off the green.
Yes his long game was fantastic, but so was his short game.
Particularly his pitching, Nicklaus was known as a tremendous pitcher of the ball and this helped his all-round short game immensely.
But central to his whole short game was his overriding philosophy of roll being easier to judge than flight. This governed his whole attitude to the short game and determined what shot he played, with what club and when.
And that’s such an important part of golf, playing the right type of shot, in the right situation with the right club.
If only amateurs could just do this, and not work on single pieces of technique they would see their scores fly down.
I will leave you to ponder that.
In the meantime if you haven’t got a copy of “9 Ways to Lower You Handicap & Shoot Your Best Round Ever”, what are you waiting for, head on over here and pick up a copy.
Bob James PGA