Jamie Donaldson's Short-Game Secrets

The Ryder Cup star says we should not obsess about a power game, and instead concentrate on the business end of the fairway and getting the ball in the hole

My Putting Technique

I like to feel as though I’m pushing the putter head down the line of the putt, so I prefer a shorter backswing to get the ball rolling down the line a bit more. My fault is to get long in the backswing and decelerate into the ball. When I do that, the ball doesn’t start on line. So I like for the stroke to be a bit shorter and push the putter head through with a slightly longer through stroke - for me, that generally starts the ball on line.

Equipment Choices

Your choice of golf ball is important. I play the Titleist Pro V1x, which I think nowadays can be used by sub 15-handicappers with no problem. Fifteen and above might want to choose a firmer-feeling golf ball that offers great distance, but certainly in drier conditions, the Pro V1x is pretty good for everyone. It’s not like the old days when amateurs would thin a pro ball and cut it in half! Pro balls are much more durable nowadays and a little firmer. I used to use the Pro V1, but the Pro V1x is now softer than it used to be, which suits me more. So that’s what I prefer to use.

I have three Titleist Vokey wedges in my bag - a 48˚pitching wedge, a 54˚ gap wedge and a 60˚lob wedge. There are six degrees between each wedge and that’s generally best for me, both for pitching and giving me options around the green. I have 4˚of bounce on my lob wedge, which is quite low in comparison with what other players would have. I am able to use the bounce to help me if I need to, but I like to see the leading edge of the wedge sitting tight to the grass. The 54˚ is about 11˚ of bounce, and the 48˚ is about the same number. I’ve never been bothered about bounce on the 54˚. That’s just how it comes! But because the lob wedge has a thicker sole, it can sit quite high with a high bounce, whereas I prefer it to sit tight.

What’s in My Bag?

Driver: TaylorMade SLDR 460, 9.5˚
Fairway Woods: TaylorMade RocketBallz Tour, 14.5˚
Callaway Steel Head 5-wood
Irons: PING i15
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SMS 48˚, 54˚, 60˚
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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Written by Jamie Donaldson

Photography by AFP

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