How to insure a better chip shot

[SHIBUMI]

There is one key to hitting a successful chip and pitch shot, regardless of the club you use.

Do you know that key?........ it's about 100 years old:pray:

[Whatnext]

I'll play.
Keep your hands in front of club face when striking ball.
Or.
As I often do. Use a 5 wood.

[alwann]

I'm sure OP meant "ensure." The Gecko or the Emu might insure your chip, but probably cancel you after missing the putt. :gc:

[BrianL99]

There is one key to hitting a successful chip and pitch shot, regardless of the club you use.

Do you know that key?........ it's about 100 years old:pray:

I would say there are 2 keys, but just so I can agree with you, I'll turn it into 1.

The key to chipping, is to lead with your left side and make sure it continues to move throughout the shot.

In other words (for a right-handed golfer), don't ever let your right hand pass your left ... unless you really know what you're doing and have good club face control.

If we're giving chipping lessons, most higher handicap golfers should be familiar with the "Rule of 13" and should read & take to heart, everything Paul Runyon said about chipping. (Which allowed him to beat Sam Snead, 8&7, at the 1938 PGA Championship ... despite the fact that Snead could out drive him by 50-60 yards.)

[retiredguy123]

The best thing I ever did to improve my chipping was to buy a chipper. You use it like a putter, but it has a loft. And, you can use it either right-handed or left-handed.

[tophcfa]

I find the trick is to hit the green so I don’t have to worry about chipping.

[Stu from NYC]

Use a foot wedge:boom:

[jimhoward]

Here is my key for mid and high handicappers.

If its feasible to putt it, putt it.

If its not feasible to putt it , then chip it

If its not feasible to putt it or chip it, then pitch it.

[Old Traveller]

My technique for chipping is to use the same grip I use for putting, get the heel of the club I choose off the ground, toe of the club creates a path through the grass, pick the closest spot on the green to hit the ball on. Pitching wedge is 50% to the hole and it runs out 50%. 9 iron one third and rolls out two thirds. 8 iron 25% and runs out 75%. Florida is different than bent grass greens up north. Grain down here seems to trump slope. If I don't get up and down every single time I'm bummed out. Sometimes with a tight pin, I will hit it on the collar and it will check up and lose speed.

Colin Montgomery taught me to open the face on bunker shots, and I am going to continue. Any Villagers who are having trouble getting out of a bunker in one shot should give it a try. What do they have to lose. And yes, make a full swing, don't leave the face of the club in the sand. The above chipping technique was used with great success by Raymond Floyd. Current pros all appear to use lofted wedges, but they are young and can practice for hours. The technique for my chipping usually takes 30 minutes to get the hand eye coordination down. Your clubs and talent may fly and roll the ball different distances. Once you understand how far your chosen club works make the club selection accordingly. The key to the chip is that the ball always rolls out, never checks up.

[chuckpedrey]

I use a Texas wedge for chipping

[Tyson]

Watch the pros when they are chipping. They all keep their arms, especially their left arm perfectly straight. Weight forward left arm straight is the key to good chipping.

[SHIBUMI]

Good shot Brian, NEVER LET THE RIGHT HAND PASS THE LEFT HAND

so, how do I do that..............

Mechanically, you either chip swing with your left or right forearm. Firm up your grip and move the forearm back and forth, of course ball is played back. weight is forward and the grip handle is ahead of the ball at the start. Your just returning it to that position at the finish

Forearm chipping and getting vertical club shaft on the backswing in the green side bunker will take 3-6 shots, at least, off your score for a round. easy peese

Compliments of Shibumi Golf
Golf Swing Surgeons:wave:


I would say there are 2 keys, but just so I can agree with you, I'll turn it into 1.

The key to chipping, is to lead with your left side and make sure it continues to move throughout the shot.

In other words (for a right-handed golfer), don't ever let your right hand pass your left ... unless you really know what you're doing and have good club face control.

If we're giving chipping lessons, most higher handicap golfers should be familiar with the "Rule of 13" and should read & take to heart, everything Paul Runyon said about chipping. (Which allowed him to beat Sam Snead, 8&7, at the 1938 PGA Championship ... despite the fact that Snead could out drive him by 50-60 yards.)

[BrianL99]

My technique for chipping is to use the same grip I use for putting, get the heel of the club I choose off the ground, toe of the club creates a path through the grass, pick the closest spot on the green to hit the ball on. Pitching wedge is 50% to the hole and it runs out 50%. 9 iron one third and rolls out two thirds. 8 iron 25% and runs out 75%. Florida is different than bent grass greens up north. Grain down here seems to trump slope. If I don't get up and down every single time I'm bummed out. Sometimes with a tight pin, I will hit it on the collar and it will check up and lose speed..

That's the Paul Runyon method & the Rule of 13. Works for a lot of people.

[BrianL99]

So instead of paying attention to me, Mr. Shibumi or anyone else, here's your opportunity to get a FREE lesson, from the best chipper in the world.

This is a 1 hour chipping lesson from Phil Mickelson. It was broadcast live, earlier today. Here's a link to the video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFX8aS-JACU

[SHIBUMI]

THE BEST PLAYERS ARE NEVER THE BEST TEACHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phil has a great short game, one of the best, Pelz was his teacher..........

that being said, they never teach feel mechanics:police:


So instead of paying attention to me, Mr. Shibumi or anyone else, here's your opportunity to get a FREE lesson, from the best chipper in the world.

This is a 1 hour chipping lesson from Phil Mickelson. It was broadcast live, earlier today. Here's a link to the video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFX8aS-JACU

[BrianL99]

THE BEST PLAYERS ARE NEVER THE BEST TEACHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phil has a great short game, one of the best, Pelz was his teacher..........

that being said, they never teach feel mechanics:police:

Pelz was more of a consultant to Phil. Phil had the best short game in the world, long before that clown Pelz ever showed up.

[SHIBUMI]

Because he was a lousy ball striker!!!!!!!!!!! Thank God He did. Never got over Pelz standing 6 ft from him allowing him to hit a ball over his head with his 6 ft 4 frame. Surely a clown act.:jester:
The search is always for the proper swing mechanics, never stop searching....


Pelz was more of a consultant to Phil. Phil had the best short game in the world, long before that clown Pelz ever showed up.

[Velvet]

THE BEST PLAYERS ARE NEVER THE BEST TEACHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phil has a great short game, one of the best, Pelz was his teacher..........

that being said, they never teach feel mechanics:police:

This is true in every sport. The fact that you can do it does not mean that you can teach it.

BTW, SHIBUMI, I really appreciate your tips and topics.

[Flyers999]

Chipping was the hardest shot for me to learn playing on FL courses. Up north I was used to having a cushion of grass under the ball so I could hit down on it without worrying about chunking it everytime. Here, with so little cushion you have to sweep the ball more.
My best chips are when I keep my left arm straight and, most importantly, do not break my wrists.
Everyone is different.
My wrists are not as strong as most others. I have to rely on body turn and arms. Different strokes for different folks.

[Mortal1]

Practice, practice, practice....there is no other way....different lies, lofts, back-swing and follow through. Do it from unusual lies just to see how the ball reacts. It's an art form if done right...but that depends on the day....

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Practice, practice, practice....there is no other way....different lies, lofts, back-swing and follow through. Do it from unusual lies just to see how the ball reacts. It's an art form if done right...but that depends on the day....

I can remember when I first started playing golf 15 years ago. . I drove it fine on one hole (Lucky shot), hit an approach just off the green (another lucky shot), and then could chip and putt for par! (Like a dream come true in my first year or so!) and as I stood over the ball, i had no idea how hard to hit the ball. . . (Hole 3, Pakachoag 9 hole course)

practice, practice, practice for muscle memory as well as to ingrain your individual best technique is the only known answer. .

and then repeat after each shot:
I am still an amateur, they make it look too easy on TV

[PoolBrews]

The best thing I ever did to improve my chipping was to buy a chipper. You use it like a putter, but it has a loft. And, you can use it either right-handed or left-handed.

If it's actually a two way chipper then it is an illegal golf club. It can't be used in competition, any of The Villages golf tournaments, and most groups that play for money would have an issue with it.

And no, you can't just count it as two clubs and carry 13 to make it legal. It is deemed an iron and cannot have two striking surfaces.

[jimhoward]

If you are a confident chipper great, a lot of people are. But from what I have seen so far there are not that many required chip shots on the few villages courses I have played.

There are quite a few short pitches needed to clear bunkers or come up an embankment. But the aprons are fairly closely mown. You can easily putt though them, or chip-putt, or use a putting motion with the toe of a mid iron. The ball rolls fairly true, it doesn't really sink hopelessly into the Bermuda like most courses. The greens are so slow that the ball doesn't really roll out. I played Shallow Creek yesterday and didn't have one real chip shot.

[Blueblaze]

If it's actually a two way chipper then it is an illegal golf club. It can't be used in competition, any of The Villages golf tournaments, and most groups that play for money would have an issue with it.

And no, you can't just count it as two clubs and carry 13 to make it legal. It is deemed an iron and cannot have two striking surfaces.

One-way chippers are perfectly legal. And take it from the world's worst golfer -- the best thing you can do to improve your chip shots is to buy the right tool for the job. It saves you from having to develop a special swing for one special kind of shot. The only downside is your pride. I used to use a 6-iron for chip shots, but it's a poor substitute because the shaft angle and length is all wrong.

On my good days, I've hit the hole from 40 yards with my chipper (twice, actually!). On bad days.. well, nothing helps. But at least with my chipper, I can keep both arms straight and swing like a pendulum, same as putting, instead of trying to choke up on a wedge curl it with my wrist just right --- just so I look like a real golfer when I duff it.

[retiredguy123]

If it's actually a two way chipper then it is an illegal golf club. It can't be used in competition, any of The Villages golf tournaments, and most groups that play for money would have an issue with it.

And no, you can't just count it as two clubs and carry 13 to make it legal. It is deemed an iron and cannot have two striking surfaces.
You are correct. I didn't know it. I will probably replace mine with a one-way chipper. Still a must have club for me.