Chipping is an important shot that allows players to lower their golf score. This statement is not profound, but needs to be repeated from time to time. As an important topic of discussion, I realized that the plethora of interest points on chipping cannot be covered reasonably in one article. Keeping this in mind, I thought that talking about the differences between chipping and hitting should be broached. The chipping sequence is different than that of hitting in the fact that it is a less of an explosive movement. Chipping is more controlled and relies on a more gentle touch when making contact. To achieve this softer feel, our chipping sequence is very important.
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Proper Setup When Chipping
How far do you stand away from the ball when chipping? I can honestly say that when I set up, I think I am in a natural position, but I never really measured. Normally, I stand in a quasi upright position so that the heel of my club is slightly off the ground. This position works and after measuring I found that it is about two feet away. That is the ball is about two feet away from the heel of my lead foot. If you are wondering how I know this, well….
Continue readingSuccessfully Chipping Over A Bunker
There is little doubt that every golfer will find themselves out of position during their round of golf. In some cases, players will have to hit their ball over an obstacle in order to land their ball close to the pin. A majority of the time it will be a bunker, but a water hazard, plants or rocks can cause the same distress on their close approach shot. Regardless, it is important to understand that the lofted shot over something is a something every golfer should have in their bag. There are a plethora of methods to successfully execute a chip over a bunker and I am going to present a simple, repeatable shot that every golfer can emulate.
Continue readingWatching Your Ball Roll Past The Hole
Whether you are chipping or putting the ball, it is important to watch your ball come to a complete rest. I have witnessed players look away in disgust when they know they have missed a chip or putt while their ball scoots past the hole. Instead to watching how their ball reacts to the undulations of the green, they through a little tantrum and lose out on the valuable information offered by the green as their ball misses the hole. This frustrating habit does cost stroke and is easily avoided.
Continue readingHitting The Perfect Wedge Shot
If you regularly shoot over 90 our wedges are used more than any other club except the putter. The reason for this is that we miss the green more than we hit it on approach shots. Not to worry, this errand shot allows for more use of our scoring clubs….our wedges. The ability to hit the perfect wedge shot is a fundamental must for any player seeking lower golf scores. Of course there are many different theories about how to hit the perfect wedge for players to try, however I am a supporter of the fundamentals when hitting our wedges. Keeping that in mind, many players overlook ball position prior to contact because they think that moving the ball around in their stance helps make better wedge shots. This theory, in my opinion, is folly and should be revisited my most amateurs.
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The Grateful Golfer 