The late, great Seve Ballesteros could drive the ball with the best of them, but it was his short game that played a pivotal, often-spectacular role in his eighty-seven lifetime victories, including five majors. Seve was at his very best when the situation seemed hopeless. Beginning with the sensational parking-lot shot that ensured his victory at the 1979 British Open, he became famous for his "Houdini shots," great escapes he accomplished whether his ball was behind a tree, embedded in a bunker, or nestled down in the deepest rough. These were shots that not only led him out of trouble, but saved pars, enabled birdies, and won championships. In Houdini Shots , 2008 PGA National Teacher of the Year Martin Hall shows you how to conquer even the most challenging short-game shots by emulating one of the all-time masters of the short game. With the help of more than sixty instructional photos of Seve in his prime--many of which have never been published--Hall demonstrates the great champion's secrets for some of his most dazzling escapes, from hitting the ball out from under the lip of a bunker to whacking an intentional hook around a stand of trees and making the green. You'll learn how to play fifty of the hardest shots in golf, many of which might seem too risky and too difficult to even attempt. Hall also includes tips geared specifically toward mid- and high-handicappers to help you extricate yourself from trouble.

In this short-game shot-making guide, you'll discover the keys to: Pitching from 50 yards and in Great sand escapes Long, short, and breaking putts Various other Houdini-like escapes Improving your short game with practice drills The most important insight you'll gain from this user-friendly guide is just how important your short game is. If you routinely shoot 90 or higher, your tee shot is not the cause of those bogies and double bogies that plague you. Those blown strokes are the result of mistakes made within a hundred yards of the hole. With Houdini Shots as your guide, you'll be amazed how much more often you'll get the ball up-and-down, and that first putt will drop into the cup with a very satisfying thunk.