Epson Tour professional Natalie Sheary (New Britain, Connecticut) returns for a 15th and final episode of her weekly instructional series, “Staying Sharp with Sheary.” The Wake Forest University alumna and past Epson Tour champion at the W.B. Mason Championship in 2016 has provided advice and drills to keep your game sharp—both physically and mentally—while at home and in practice at the course.
“Working smart and being consistent with your practice is key to improving your game. Every player at every level has strengths and weaknesses,” said Sheary. “Working hard is very important, but so is working smart. You’ll want to pay attention to your weaknesses during practice, but not to the extent that it takes time and effort away from maintaining your current strengths.”
Sheary’s tip this week centers on the upslope pitch. She emphasizes the need to keep the shoulders, hips and lower body parallel to the ground (or matching the angle of the slope). Weight distribution is another critical component in setting up for this shot to avoid the club digging into the incline.
“Matching your entire body to the slope angle is key for a chip like this. Most shots in golf, you’re going to have a bit more weight on the left side,” Sheary said. “The nature of this lie makes it one of the few shots in golf where that notion is reversed. Don’t be afraid to have slightly more weight on the lower (or back) foot.”
When choosing a club, Sheary points out that because the hill adds height to the shot, a club with less loft is ideal (like a 9-iron instead of a sand wedge). The golf ball should also be played a little forward of center in the stance. Then it is simply a matter of swinging up the slope, which provides built-in loft for a high shot that lands softly.
“One of the reasons I love and respect golf so much is because no two shots are ever the same,” Sheary said. “I hope with these videos we have tackled some shots that are unique and we sometimes approach with uncertainty. I have really enjoyed sharing a few things I’ve learned throughout my golf journey. I’m looking forward to being back on Tour soon and competing.”
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