Flipping and chipping...

[Teris10]

I used to be a very strong "time the flip" chipper and pitcher. Now that I no longer flip (thanks to "Confessions..."), my full shots are great, but my chipping is bad and my pitching is awful. I chip and pitch the ball far too low.

I've experimented with a weak grip, which has helped a bit, but the real problem is consistency. Is the fix to lose the forward shaft lean at impact? When I try to hit without the forward shaft lean, I hit some good shots, but I still struggle with consistency. Any advice for a former flipper?

 

[dannyc]

check out brian's video "over and out"
sometimes you gotta have a "mid sole" divot or even a little throwaway

 

[mrose]

controlled flip

I've always used some wrist where needed with high loft clubs around the greens and found it to be very useful in adding shots that I couldn't otherwise hit. As well as extra loft it can lead to extra backspin even from short distances provided you have good grooves and a good ball. I've found this to be for 4 reasons:
1. By making my swing bottom out at or very close to the bottom of the ball I get the feeling of the ball really zipping up the clubface through a crisp strike rather than compressing the ball. Some have said they're trying to hit it with the bottom groove of the clubface. Vijay is very good at this. I've watched him practice and have them come back from about 15 yards.
2. By releasing the hands you have the opportunity to add clubhead speed while not necessarily adding the same in forwards momentum. This has been known as 'fast clubhead slow arms'. Basically, slow the arms down while allowing the hands to zip under the ball. The loft and speed goes towards zipping under the ball rather than giving it flush contact. It helps if you minimise your arms on the backswing and increase wrist cock. The extra hands can be facilitated by having a very weak right hand and a very strong left hand so that the club is really in the fingers.
3. Some of the normal evils of flipping the clubface are not present when using a high lofted club. Because the higher loft will create more backspin than sidespin there is no danger of the flip giving you a big hook or slice.
4. Flipping can actually be more consistent than hitting with a flat left wrist. The bounce on the club allows you considerable room for error because if release it early enough you will get the feeling of just thumping the bounce into the ground without the dig of the leading edge. The beauty of this is not discovered until you really let the clubhead go and trust it.

These principles also apply to bunker shots. Looking forward to the fade pattern.
Matt

 

[birdie_man]

Man my chipping and pitching is good.

Like you though I practiced leading edge shots a lot.

I do have trouble with mid-sole these days. Probably my biggest problem ATM. I gotta get it figured OOt.