Nine essentials to get the most out of golf’s off-season

What you can learn from the swings of six of the game’s very best players

Because average and orthodox have no place in your golfing vocabulary

My Short Game Toolbox focuses on developing your ability to control flight and spin. Why? Because they are at the heart of any successful shot in this 25-55-yard Scrambling Zone. Send the ball out at your chosen height and the results will follow.

The Short Game Toolbox begins by establishing what I’d call a basic pitching motion. Creating a mid-height, mid-spin shot, this technique represents your default, go-to option. It’s also the most reliable action you can use. Use your middle wedge and follow these steps to put your basic pitch in place…

You find me here in front of the green at the beautiful par-4 16th on the Forest of Arden’s Championship Arden layout. The challenge this shot presents to me is a great example of how, when it comes to golf’s Scrambling Zone, no two shots are the same. From 25-55 yards, a unique mix of lie, wind, hazards, green firmness, gradient and flag positioning awaits us. By giving you the ability to adapt the flight of your shots, the Short Game Toolbox allows you to meet any combination of those. Here are some thoughts to consider when taking this system to the course…