



STEP ONE
Address the ball with your feet close together and the ball slightly nearer your back foot than your front.
Open your shoulders a little. Your hands should be ahead of the ball.
Focus on your swing, not on attempting to force the ball skywards.
If you play the shot correctly, the angle of the clubhead will take the ball into the air without any extra effort.
You may want to grip down the handle on shorter shots to help shorten the swing without slowing it down.
STEP TWO
Keep your weight on your front foot.
Swing the club back with your arms and shoulders rather than your wrists, though some players do develop a more 'wristy' action as they progress.
The distance the ball will travel depends on your backswing, not so much on how hard you hit the ball.
So if you are only playing the ball a short distance, make a short backswing.
As a general rule, your backswing should be the same length as your follow through as would happen if you were rolling the ball underarm.
STEP THREE
Keeping your weight on your front foot through the shot will make sure that your hands arrive in front of the ball at impact.
This is vital to a crisp connection.
Do not be tempted to look up at the target too soon.
STEP FOUR
Accelerate through the ball.
Even if you only take a short backswing, make sure you attack the ball.
If you quit on the shot you are likely to fluff it only a few feet.
Accelerating down through the back of the ball will also impart a little backspin which will make the ball check when it hits the green and give you more control.