Your Short Game Solution: Mastering the Finesse Game from 120 Yards and In

Your Short Game Solution is one of the most practical and effective golf instruction books I’ve ever read. The way Sieckman breaks down every shot from 120 yards and in—chips, pitches, wedges, bunkers—makes the whole finesse game feel simple and doable. It’s the book I consistently return to whenever my short game starts to slip. One thing worth noting: once you start using these techniques, your friends may tell you you’re “doing it wrong.” But Sieckman—who studied the legendary Seve Ballesteros—shows that they are often the ones playing it wrong. His finesse swing is different from what most amateurs do, and that’s exactly why it works. Learning these methods has changed the way I approach shots around the green and given me much more confidence in difficult situations. If you want to truly improve your scoring game, this book is a game-changer.

First, if you are already accomplished with chipping and pitching, don't bother with this book. It is truly for those of us who are not getting the ball close with the old methods. Sieckmann's method is based upon years of studying the best short game players, especially Seve Ballesteros. His method is totally at odds with conventional wisdom that a chip is a miniature full swing. Sieckmann's approach is that it is very different and that chipping and short pitching are "finesse wedge" shots that all use the same swing with different ball placement for different trajectories and different swing lengths for different distances. For example, he requires the head to move forward instead of staying behind the ball and that the downswing is from the arms not the hips starting the swing. You cannot expand this swing and achieve a meaningful full swing. He spends a lot of time in the early chapters explaining how he arrived at this method then spends several chapters on how to accomplish the swing. There are lots of photos explaining the right way as well as swings flaws one might have and how to fix each one (he lists 14 flaws and fixes.) He also has a number of links to examples of his students performing, ie. Cameron Tinegale demonstrating how to use same swing to achieve different distance and trajectories. If you look up Sieckmann on You Tube you will find a few videos where he demonstrates his swings. I have only studied and practiced this method for about a week including making a journal as he suggests and comparing my swings with his examples. Today I played for the first time in a while and tried his method. I can say that for me it works. I was chipping and short pitching far better than in the past. I just need for practice and judging distances. I had at least four "finesse wedge" shots that left putts of three feet or less when normally I don't have more than one. I believe this is the best short game instruction I have ever had and it makes sense. However, it is different. If you are good now, this probably won't help you, but if you can't get it done now, it is a real opportunity. I also got out of three bunkers today following his directions. I am looking with great expectation for his distance wedge instruction.

Reading through the short game solution gave me the language and thought process to self-evaluate and make some corrections to my finesse and distant wedge play. I picked the book up because I was struggling, and James’ descriptions and prescriptions helped me greatly. I’ve got a long way to go and James has helped me find the correct path, given me helpful practice structures, and defined a solution to embrace and work on that will ultimately lower my scores. I highly recommend this book and solution. It’s working! Thank you!

This IS my short game! He's the bounce king. I really truly never understood how to use the bounce in my short game, now my chips and pitches and sand shots are the same as the pros, not because I'm special but because I followed the instruction in this book. I practice a lot, and it took me a couple months before I could do it, but when I got it ... Oh my Lord, it's like I'm cheating! The bounce is a devastating short game weapon that most golfers have no idea how to use. Now I can get up and down out of a phone booth underwater. The key, as he explains, is to follow his set up instructions with great perfection and detail. Don't skimp on mastering the basics. You'll be so glad you bought this book and followed his instructions when you knock 5 strokes off your index! It's like magic!!! Update 4/14/21: When I first bought this book, it was because my "bump and run technique" that had served me so well wasn't working on difficult courses, like the one at the country club I'd joined. It was fine when I had a great lie and tons of green to work with, and I practiced so much that I was able to get the most out of it. However, when I watched great players chip, I'd always noticed--but tried to ignore--that their chips all looked the same, but mine was different. (Later, I'd learn that they used the bounce, and I didn't) So, I looked into it and a friend recommended J.S.. I'll admit, it took a lot of practice to get the chipping down. I can't recommend enough following J.S.'s advice of mastering the set-up. Just do it, and trust the process. After a few months I started to get the feel. And, you can read above for the results. Quite frankly, I can do anything a typical pro can do. And that may sound arrogant, but it's not. I'm not saying I am consistent like a pro, what I'm saying is that I have every short game shot that a pro has, and when I'm on I do the same thing pros do, chips, pitches, sand. It's not the full swing, which takes years and years to master the technique, and again, quite frankly, most golfers, even low handicappers, will never do. The short game IS master-able--the technique, that is. For instance, I used to think my pitches were just mini-full swings and I simply felt it. Now, using J.S.'s technique, I have 9 stock shots, and I hit them pretty consistently because it's not hard. My 60 degree, has a 32 yarder, 50 yarders and 73 yarder. I typically hit those numbers within a couple yards, and I adjust off those numbers per the conditions. Do I hit garbage shots? Of course, but it's not because I don't own the technique. It's because I failed the execution. Again, unlike with the full swing, it's not technique that separates me from elite players, it's consistency. Think of it this way: The drive is like an NBA dunk. No matter how good you are, you'll never dunk like MJ, nor will you drive it like Rory (my bombs are 280, his are 350!), but the short game is different. YOU CAN chip and pitch like a pro. I do, and I'm not special nor particularly athletic. Buy this book and let me know your progress. I'm on IG as is J.S.. Joseph W. Naus

This book is just awesome. Although I read Utley and Pelz before this book adds a lot of knowledge regarding the effective use of the bounce and the swing sequence. It also provides many clues about specifics of the short game like major flaws and adjustments to make for particular situations. Great reading.

I first cam acroos James name about two years ago to a long Youtube video where he presents his system to a Mytpi conference with Ben Crane. Very shortly afterwards there was a big article in one of the American golf magazines. From that and the Youtubes and stuff on my TPI I managed to get most of what he was tlaking about for his Finesses wedgess (less than 30 yards). using the bounce and a failry upright club was completely different to what I had been tauhgt by various PGA's bit deffeinately improved my game. Since then I got his online video product but thought it was very disappointing explanations, particular on the Distance wedges (30-120 yards). James developed his system from studying Seve, who he knew through his brother, and other good short game masters, and I am a big Seve fan. Since then a lot more video products from various people on using the bounce have come out, particularly UK's James Ridyard who has just done a big presentation in the US, and there is some disagreement as to whether the kinematic sequence for short wedge shots is different than the full swing (per Sieckmann) or not really (Ridyard), but there systems are not too disimilar. However, this book is well written (thankfully its not by Matthew Rudyard), and is clear describing his system for the finesse shot and for the longer wedges that are mini full swings, so now I have my explanation. James goes into some detail how to train as well if that interests you.. If you are a Seve fan than Martin Halls' Houdini shots and Seve's own Trouble-Shooting (The Golf Masters Series) Hardcover – Dec 1996 by Seve Ballesteros (Author), Robert Green (Author) are well worth getting - how to hit from under trees etc. I would look at the Youtube or mytpi for Sieckmann (or of Ben Crane), compare it to James Ridyard's online Short game secrets and also Monte Scheinblums Short game video and chose one of these and transform your short game this year. Siekmann also has some videos relating to the book on his site. . .

Ich habe einige Jahre Golferfahrung auf dem Buckel und bin im kurzen Spiel an meine Grenzen gekommen (inkl. Yips, merjähriger Abstinenz, das volle Programm also) Dank diesem Buch ist mein kurzes spiel endlich wieder ansatzweise da wo es sein soll. Hervorragend und einfach erklärt, der Aufbau ist super. Meiner Meinung nach ist das Buch sowohl für Einsteiger als auch erfahrene Spieler im unteren Einstelligen Bereich geeignet. Absolute Empfehlung!

Non può mancare nella biblioteca di un golf coach

Insightful and motivating on mindsets and several techniques how to go about effectively transitioning your practice to the course to improve your results.