Short iron shots form the corner stones of the game of golf and if you master the art of putting the birdies right, you can play all the shots with ease and finesse says golf experts.

Short irons are those shots where the player has to hit a shot close to the hole. Hitting short irons is easier said than done and you need to bear in mind a few things before hitting this shot. While making birdies, the focus should be on the left hand as the back of this hand ensures in making accurate and controlled birdies.

True to their name, short irons have shorter shafts that are typically used to hit targets that are as close as 145 yards or less. These club heads have the greatest angles, which allow the player to get the ball close to the put with minimum roll. An effective short iron shot could be made by letting the club head fall and the loft of the club to shoot it in air. Do not force the club head through the ball

Never cut back on backswings

Many new players tend to hold back the backswing on short irons and hit the ball fast and hard. It could upset their rhythm, distance control and tempo. The best way is to play your natural backswing and then swing down and through the ball at your natural style. As always hit through the ball and take a little more club. Do not drive hard as it might spin the ball out of control.

Keep your eyes firm on your aim

Short irons demand greater accuracy and precision than long range shots. New players practice the right alignment by keeping a tee a few inches away from the ball. While approaching the ball, align your clubface to the intermediate target, after which you can stand parallel to the line between the ball and the target for best possible results.

Spare a glance for the playing conditions

While hitting short runs you should analyze the ground conditions. If the green is soft chances are that the ball will land and stop while in hard grounds it will land and bounce. If the conditions are windy you can turn the tide in your favor. If the wind is blowing from right to left, try hitting the ball in the opposite direction smoothly. However if you hit it low the wind might knock it down thereby it would fall short of the target.

Mental conditions can alter your shots

Seasoned short-iron players would closely monitor their mood swings as it can influence the quality and nature of their shots. If a player is upbeat or angry, he might drive the ball a little farther on the other hand if you are tired you would place your shots a little shorter than normal.

The golden rule of short runs

Do not short-side yourself, where you make an aggressive shot, which gives no green to work with. Plan your shots diligently.

Pick up the right club

A perimeter weighted club with a low center of gravity would allow you to smoothly move the club head along the ground through the ball, without digging down.

To improve your golf game, you can take clues from the local PGA Professional who would suggest the right techniques suited for your temperament. Watching golf videos is another method to hone up your putting skills.