DeNunzio David - Your short game solution : mastering the finesse game from 120 yards and in

A t the Titleist Performance Institute (T.P.I.), we use the latest technology to unlock the secrets of the swing, then use what we learn to help our Tour staff professionals squeeze out every ounce of scoring potential from their game. We often do this with state-of-the-art fitness training. Other times, we crunch data. And on some days we go the old-fashioned route and dig it out of the T.P.I. practice-range dirt.

The biggest perk at T.P.I. is getting to work with the biggest names in golf. I see dozens of Titleist staffers every month from all of the tours. One of the most fun to be with is Tom Pernice Jr. Tom is obviously a solid player with multiple wins on both the PGA and Champions tours and he controls his wedges like no player I have ever seen. In my mind he is the best wedge player alive. Obviously, he has the right information on how to hit wedge shots, so when another Titleist player began struggling with his short game, I called Tom and asked if he wouldnt mind helping me out. I knew it was a strange request, especially since I was asking him to share his insights with a competitor. He asked me who the player was, and when I told him it was Ben Crane, he quickly agreed to help. Turns out that Tom and Ben are good friends.

With a few simple setup changes and a key technical alteration, Tom got Ben pitching the ball better than ever. We visited Tom on two other occasions over the next several months: once to help Bens bunker swing, and another to improve his play from Bermuda lies. When we rang Tom a fourth time, I detected a noticeable pause on the other end of the line. Guys, said Tom, Im more than happy to keep helping you, but why dont you just make an appointment with my short-game coach and have all of your questions answered?

Ben and I looked at each other with surprise and in unison said, You have a short-game coach? And that was the first time I heard the name James Sieckmann. It was a day I would never forget, because James has become a close friend and a secret weapon for my players and me.

James was the first coach to explain to me, in simple words, how a short-game swing was completely different from a full swing. Like almost everyone else, I thought the former was just a miniature version of the latter. Was I ever wrong! Jamess theories made me look at golf in a completely different light and answered questions about the short game that had plagued me for years.

When James is at T.P.I. coaching one of his players, I make a point to watch The Master at work. James has an amazing amount of knowledge and a real gift for communicating his message. Im constantly picking his brain to improve my understanding of how all the pieces fit together. If you struggle with your short game and think that youll never get better, trust me: Its not your fault. You just need the right information. Information is the key to success. James Sieckmann has the correct information and experience to help you quickly build a short-game arsenal for maximum confidence from 120 yards and in. Once you understand the secrets to making solid contact with a wedge, theres no looking back. By understanding the fundamental differences between the full swing and the different types of wedge shots, youll finally see why youve struggled for so long. Better yet, youll be the envy of your regular foursome.

I hope you enjoy Jamess book. I know your short game will thank you forever!

DR. GREG ROSE

Cofounder, Titleist Performance Institute

Oceanside, Calif.

March 21, 2014