My New Research on Scrambling

Looking more closely at amateur scrambling, a few things become apparent: (1) The lower your handicap and the closer you are to the green, the better chance you have of scrambling success (Figure 3); and (2) if your approach shot finds the rough, the situation becomes more dire. In fact, double-digit handicappers make less than one up-and-down save for every 10 short-game shots played from the rough (Figure 4).

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SHORT GAME

Short game shots have two distinct parts: (1) how far they fly in the air and (2) how far they move after they hit the ground. The first part depends on how well you hit the shot (execution), and the second part depends on how firm and fast the greens are (conditions).

To improve your scrambling ability, pick out two targets for every short-game shot.

First, select a "landing target" — the spot where you want to land the ball. Then pick the "final target" (usually the hole) where you want the ball to stop.

Do this in practice and on the course. It will help you get closer to the hole.

HOW TO GET BETTER FAST

Practice your ability to execute and sharpen your analysis of conditions. I recommend carrying a 10- foot piece of string (makes a three-foot diameter circle) in your bag to mark "landing targets" when you practice.

By marking your "landing target," it becomes obvious which part of each shot needs work, and your learning curve will advance at its maximum rate.

Once you begin to accomplish both parts of your short-game shots accurately, your scrambling percentages will go up and your scores will go down — dramatically!