If you are looking for up your game in 2026no need to blow up your swing or start over. Sometimes the best way to win is to start with something simple and manageable.
While it is tempting to spend all your time practicing ball-strikerhitting endless drivers on the range, the number of shots around the green will likely have a double impact on your score. So what is the ultimate shot to master to strengthen your short game repertoire? I asked Fiddler’s Elbow teacher Gia Liwski for her pick.
“Every player needs a nice little kick,” she said. “Something really basic, whether it’s a 7-iron or a 6-iron or even a hybrid. You want something that’s going to get the ball down and spin to the target to give yourself a chance to get it on the green.”
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What is the best technique to execute a shot like this? Liwski says the first thing to do is assess the quality of your lie.
“For super tight lies, stay a little closer to the ball,” she said. “Bring the grip a little higher to take a little off the club.
“Bend into the lead leg, which will move the grip a little further. It also takes the club off and takes off even more bounce.
“Then the movement is basically like a stroke,” she continued. “Sometimes you have to soften that arm to allow the club to move far enough.”
Liwski says you can experiment with a back-straight-through swing, or more of a swing, depending on the distance you’re trying to cover. Ultimately, the key to this simple scrimmage is to eliminate as much bounce as you can with your setup to allow the ball to roll.
“With this technique, you can just pull it off the grass and let it go,” Liwski said. “All you have to do is practice with it to get comfortable.”
You can use Liwski’s slamming method with any club in your bag. Try it in your next practice session to level up your game in the new year.
