Using the scoring clubs with skill is a challenge for all golfers. There is no question that a player with a strong short game (the distance varies depending on skill) will shoot lower golf scores. Additionally, they will carry themselves with confidence as they know very few shots will cause them to mentally breakdown. There is one aspect of chipping around the green that all elite golfers execute without hesitation. It is the one skill that all golfers should learn and use if they want to improve their ability to play well with their wedges. It is not challenging and yet seems to dumbfound many amateurs as they develop their skills around the green.
The simple skill that all elite golfers use is to accelerate through the ball on contact. In easy to understand terms, accelerating through the ball promotes solid contact, control of their clubface and consistent mechanics that can be replicated. These three, and many more, benefits from accelerating through the ball when chipping will ensure that we have a chance at an up and down par save. This in turn lowers golf scores.
As you can see from the two videos, accelerating through the ball helps promote solid golf shots. One aspect of both videos I want to point out is the swing motion while chipping is a smooth tempo from start to finish. There are no jerky motions at any time because the mechanics are continuous. The importance of a smooth start to finish can not be overstated.
Lastly, I am a huge supporter of a longer follow through. When using my wedges and putter, I advocate following through farther than the backswing. It does not have to crazy long, but having an extended follow through promotes acceleration through the ball while chipping and putting.
There a few keys to making solid contact. A smooth swinging motion and following through farther than the backswing are just a few that all golfers need to master. If you accelerate through the ball while chipping, I am confident you will lower your golf scores and increase your confidence around the green.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
My wedge game is one of my strong points generally. I get more skins and save more too with the wedges than any other club as I believe it should be. But there is always room for improvement
My biggest fault is my penchant for hitting high shots when a lower flight would serve at least as well and bring less drastic errors.
A 50 yard shot doesn’t require a high shot unless the green is raised high or there is some obstacle between me and the pin. But my tendency is to hit it high anyway so my focus of late has been to bring in more club choices to tune my distance control with those long(ish) lower flighted chips to the green.
So far I can confirm the most important thing is my misses aren’t any more terrible than it would be if I blew my favorite option and my experience has been the misses are smaller but the best aren’t as good. But all that means is I need more practice with those shots.
LikeLike
Kevin,
I agree that the high approach shot is not always needed. I too have been working on lower shots for better control. The great thing about golf is that there is always room for improvement.
Cheers Jim
LikeLike
Pingback: Successfully Hitting A Delicate Shot With Your Wedges – Midhandicap