Ball type and chipping

[kc8kir]

Playing 18 today, I was very dissapointed in my chipping. I was making solid contact, but the chips were way too hot. Kept chipping on great lines that barely missed going in, but ran way way past the hole. They lit off the clubface at about twice the speed of the balls at the practice range (and around the green).

Question is, how important is it to practice chipping with the ball you will be playing with? I'm guessing now it's pretty important. I know pitching is, because of spin conditions, but I thought the low velocity of chipping wouldn't render such a huge difference.

Also, if chipping is important in this respect, what about putting?

 

[Jared Willerson]

I would never practice chipping with any other ball than the ball I was playing with, same with putting.

The feel of the ball you are playing is supremely important and cannot be simulated with any other ball, especially a range type ball.

If you are intent on teeing off with a brand new ball, take one sleeve from a box of your preferred balls and have them be your warmup/chipping/putting balls.

 

[Richie3Jack]

Putting and chipping with your ball versus the range ball is like asking me if I can taste the difference between a burger and filet mignon. I would advise in an extreme fashion to not putt with range balls and only use the balls that you use on the course. If anything, for feedback. It's easy for a range ball to be rock hard and out of round and poorly balanced. So if you're putting bad with the range balls, there's a decent chance that you may consciously or subconsciously adjust your putting stroke and methods to a flawed method because you're adjusting to those lousy range balls.

I would suggest looking at your pre-shot routine. Recently I changed my pre-shot routine on chips and pitches and saw a noticeable difference.

The old pre-shot routine was like my normal pre-shot routine. I would take two practice strokes, then get behind the ball and spot a target I want to aim at and then align myself and hit the shot.

But recently I changed it to getting behind the ball first and looking for a target first. Then taking a few practice strokes and take them much like I do with my practice strokes in putting by looking at the hole as I make a practice stroke and really make the touch an intuitive part of chipping. I also think many golfers can greatly improve their chipping and putting speed/touch by understanding how to execute a proper head swivel.





3JACK