Improve your Chipping

When chipping there are a few simple drills to help you learn to use more than just your wedge. For example, if I have a little fringe to carry and a lot of green to work with, I suggest trying an 8 iron to hit a little chip and run.

To do this I am going to play the ball back in my stance, with a slightly open stance, and I want a little extra weight on my left side. Now I am going to use a stroke that resembles that of a putting stroke. I don’t need any wrist break, so I am going to swing the triangle back to just beyond my right foot then back down and through the ball with about the same amount of follow through as back swing.

I want to carry this ball just onto the putting surface and then let the ball roll towards the cup like a long putt. By practicing this shot you can develop a great feel for your chip and run, soon it will feel just like a long lag putt.

When using the pitching wedge I like to break the shot into sections. Walk half way to the cup, with the pitching wedge, half way will more than likely be your landing area. With this club we need to swing the triangle back to the right foot then add a little wrist break.

Before we hit the ball, swing the club back and forth a few times to feel the distances as well as how the grass effects the club going through it. We want to match the length of back swing and follow through again. Try to land the ball on your halfway spot and then see if the ball doesn’t stop close to the cup.

For the sand wedge our landing area will be three quarters of the way to the target. With this club we need more air time and less roll. Match the length and feel of the swing the same as we have on the other chip shots.

With the lob wedge we can fly the ball almost to the target, practice the tips, make the adjustments for the firmness and speed of the greens on your course.

Chipping is best practiced at the range, not during play. Use different clubs and different amounts of backswing to get a feel for each kind of shot you want to make on the course. Remember good balance, maintain your spine angle, swing the triangle and have fun.