A Metal Chip Shot

Many times, depending on the lie, a metal wood is ideal to use for chip shots.  You can turn this into a very successful shot with plenty of practice. 

1)  Be sure to grip way down in order to shorten the shaft length.  This will give you more control of the clubhead and shot.  2)  Since this tends to be a relatively tricky shot, you do not want a lot of body movement, therefore, you must keep your body extremely quiet.  3)  Use a putting stroke just as if you were using a putter with this shot.  4)  When making your swing be sure to keep the clubhead low to the ground.  Do not try to help the ball get airborne, just let the loft of the clubface do all the work.

When to Pitch

photo credit: eMaringolo   Definition:  a pitch shot flies high and stops abruptly.  It is a much more delicate shot than a chip shot.  When the conditions are good, it can be a very productive shot, however, it is a shot that is widely overused. 

Hit a Pitch Shot When:  1)  The Green is Very Soft > it’s easier to get the ball to stop on soft greens.  2)  A Good Lie > pitch shots require a more delicate touch.  3)  Uphill Lie > an uphill lie is advantageous since it’s easier to execute and also allows for more ball height.  4)  Obstacle > if you are behind any sort of an object (tree, bush, mound, fence etc.) it’s safer to go over it rather than through, or around it.

Worried About Backspin?

photo credit: lrargerich   One of the most popular questions students ask their golf instructors is: “how can I get more backspin?”  It seems everyone, amateur and Pro alike, is concerned about backspin.  The answer isn’t so difficult, however.

First ask yourself where most of your approach shots land.  The approach shots of most amateurs land short of the pin, whereas, professionals usually land their shots up to or past the cup.  Pros need backspin to get their shots close.  Amateurs need a little roll to get up to the pin.

Achieving the right amount of backspin requires perfect technique which most amateurs just don’t have.  Bottom line:  stop worrying about backspin and worry more about the precise distance you can hit each club, then make allowances for roll.

Save-Shots

photo credit: rioncm   One of the most important parts of your game should be your ability to make the shots that save par.  These “save shots” will make a huge difference in your game.

Ask any PGA Professional and they will tell you that what sets them apart from the average golfer, is there ability to save par.  They depend on these short up and down shots to make their game consistent. 

A save-shot is any short approach shot that gets you close enough to the hole to make par.  It could be a short chip or pitch or bunker shot.  The Pros are masters of the short game and that’s how they score so well.

If you need to improve your game, spend much more time practicing your short-game.

Biting Chip

photo credit: Kevitivity   If you need the ball to check-up quickly (bite) to a green that slopes away from you, or a firm green,  try the following method:  Take your 60-degree Wedge with the ball position placed opposite the big toe of your back foot.  Bring the club up sharply on your backswing and hinge your wrists quickly. 

Your downswing should look just like your backswing and just as steep through the impact zone.  Keep your hands ahead of the clubhead.  By delofting the clubhead with such a sharply angled downswing, the ball will have plenty of backspin which will act as a brake when the ball lands on the green.  Make allowances for a low trajectory with this type of golf shot.  Learn this shot, you’ll be glad you did.

Maintain Your Center of Gravity

photo credit: star5112   Too many amateurs have problems with their chip shots because they do not place their center of gravity over the ball.  During the downswing, they have a tendency to want to lift the ball into the air.  In so doing, their body moves backwards in the impact area causing them to strike behind the ball.  The shift in the body’s center of gravity from the center to the rear foot is the cause.

TIP:  Make sure your breastbone (sternum) is directly over the ball at address and stays there, during the entire swing.  Doing so, will eliminate any scuffed chip shots and allows you to strike the ball crisply for better feel and greater accuracy.  Make sure to grip the club very lightly on this type of shot.

Downhill Chip Shot

photo credit: mrnoy9n   As the incline gets steeper, so does the shot.  When faced with this type of shot, choose your most lofted club and play a very high shot.  Aim to land the ball on the front of the green and watch it release.

TIPS:  1)  Aim your feet, knees, hips and shoulders slightly left of target.  2)  Be sure to keep your shoulders aligned with the slope of the hill.  3)   Pick the club up quickly and swing across the line.  4)  Keep the  hands centered (bringing them ahead of the ball will close the clubface).  5)  Lean with the slope and keep the weight on the lower foot.  6)  Do not try to help he ball in the air, let the clubface do all the work.

Low Pitch and Run

photo credit: mrnoy9n   If you are approaching a green that is relatively flat, the safest shot to play is the running chip shot.  Choose a seven or eight iron and be sure to play the ball just a bit back in your stance.  Open your stance slightly and keep it relatively narrow to maintain good balance.  Make sure your hands are ahead of the clubface in order to keep the face square at impact.

Maintain very light hand pressure and choke down on the grip for more control.  Keep your backswing relatively short and be sure to accelerate through the shot.  Keep your stroke flat and your hands ahead of the clubhead through impact.  The forward stroke should duplicate the backswing.

Soft-landing Chip Shot

photo credit: Ed (supergolfdude)   If you are around the green with a bad lie, and a regular chip shot or pitch and run will not work, try a soft landing chip shot.  This type of shot will rise quickly and land softly with very little roll.  Learning this shot can result in a greater ability to get “up and down” to save par.

(1)  Quick Wrist-Break – cocking the wrists immediately upon takeaway is vital because it creates a steeper angle of attack.  (2)  Hands Ahead – Be sure to keep your hands ahead of the ball as you accelerate through impact which assures a downward strike.  (3)  Hands Still Ahead – Maintain the hands-ahead position after impact.  This keeps the clubface open and creates more loft with less forward movement of the ball.

Reading Greens

photo credit: star5112   For most golfers, getting a good read can be pretty difficult.  There are several factors in reading a putt correctly: 1) amount of break.  2)  direction of grass grain.  3)  green speed.  4)  stroke speed.  5)  wind direction.  6)  time of day.  7)  grass type.

The way to read a green is to get as low as possible to green’s surface.  Since the greens on most courses are slightly elevated, to get a good perspective of your putt, view the line from off the green.  In this manner, your line of sight can almost be at ball level.  Another way to view your line, is to step into a sand trap near the green which should also bring you close to ball level.

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