Galvin Green Links Masterclass: Around the green

Choosing the right shot around the green is crucial if you're to get up and down to save par. Tour pro Reeve Whitson explains the factors you should consider

When selecting what shot to play around the green, I look at what is in between my ball and the hole. If there’s nothing there, just fringe and fairway, I try and get the ball running as early as possible, much like a putt on the ground.

If there’s a slope or bunker between my ball and the pin I’d use my lob wedge to loft the ball over. The lie dictates where I’m going to land the ball. If it’s not lying well, my landing zone is closer to me because it’s not going to spin too much and vice versa, if the lie is good I can fly the ball closer to the hole because I know I can generate more spin.

When playing the bump and run shot, I use a 7-iron, I try to make sure I take my wrists out of the shot by using my putter set up and try to return the same loft to the ball at impact with the shaft leaning forward ever so slightly.

When playing the Lob wedge option, I position the ball middle to back, open the clubface to utilise the bounce, have my weight on the left hand side and drop the club down on the back of the ball, trusting the loft to do the work.

When in the rough, I use a technique I taught myself over the years. If I’ve got a really bad lie in the rough around the green I treat it like a bunker shot. If you’re close to the green, open the face, hit the grass behind the ball and the ball should come out high and soft.

From a bunker, create a wide, solid base and have the clubface wide open. Your weight should be positioned on the left side and stay there throughout, don’t come up to see where the ball goes or try and help the ball up. Amateurs often have the ball too far back and come into the ball too steeply.

A neutral shaft angle at address will help use the bounce at impact and remember to hit it hard, so be afraid to hit the ball hard. Be aggressive, because there will be a lot of sand in between club and ball that will slow the ball down.