struggling with chipping

[pm4610]

My chipping is getting worse and it's never been good to begin with. I'm referring to chips anywhere from 1foot to 5 yards off the edge of the green. To start with, there are a few things I need clarification on:

• Should I use pivot or not?
• Should my eyes be over the ball (like in putting)?
• Should I choke down on the grip (towards the shaft)?

Thanks,
p

 

[Short Game Frankie]

In my opinion, chipping around the green is all about "rolling" it to the hole not "flying" it to the hole - my short game is solid and I chip with whatever club I need to get it to the green to get it rolling and where the pin may be located in relation to where I have to land it - if you are 5 yards off of the green and you are short sided, you will need a more lofted club that will fly far enough to get on the green and land soft enough to stop - if you are 5 yards off of the green and you have plenty of green to work with, chip with an 8 iron - the problem with chipping with a sand wedge or lob wedge is you have to be too perfect - sometimes the ball will release and sometimes it will check up - we amateurs are not good enough to know when - if you are playing more of a chip and run, it will be much more predictable and you will see much more consistancy - I would grip down on the club to give you more control and I would open your stance a hair so you can keep the club face on line as square as possible for as long as possible - good luck

 

[Kevin Shields]

My chipping is getting worse and it's never been good to begin with. I'm referring to chips anywhere from 1foot to 5 yards off the edge of the green. To start with, there are a few things I need clarification on:

• Should I use pivot or not?
• Should my eyes be over the ball (like in putting)?
• Should I choke down on the grip (towards the shaft)?

Thanks,
p

* try not using your pivot
* i would experiment with your eyes closer to the target line
* only a little

Try a semi wristless, long brush type stroke with the shaft running a bit more through the palms of your hands with your wrist arched up a bit and a pre set shaft lean.

 

[niblick1]

* try not using your pivot
* i would experiment with your eyes closer to the target line
* only a little

Try a semi wristless, long brush type stroke with the shaft running a bit more through the palms of your hands with your wrist arched up a bit and a pre set shaft lean.

Great advice from doubled, as usual. This is what I did early summer to deal with a little yippiness on the shorter chips, also try to chip with toe on those really tight/hard lies. Now i seem to be doing much better with something closer to my a shortened version of my mid-sole pitch style shots.

 

[pm4610]

Is it like the putting stroke, where I sort of "rock" my shoulders? Also, just to make sure, is the target line the same line as where the ball is?

Thanks,
p

 

[rogerdodger]

Pivoting while chipping has ignited my game. Prior to using a pivot, I would both hit chili dips and thin shots. I also struggled with ball position. Now I can actually control the trajectory with the clubface, same basic stroke, shoulders opening thru impact, watch Padraig Harrington hit chip shots. If the body stays still, chunk city.

 

[niblick1]

Pivoting while chipping has ignited my game. Prior to using a pivot, I would both hit chili dips and thin shots. I also struggled with ball position. Now I can actually control the trajectory with the clubface, same basic stroke, shoulders opening thru impact, watch Padraig Harrington hit chip shots. If the body stays still, chunk city.

Same here in the past week - and not only pivoting but also having very soft arms and hands.

But a more putting-like stroke with putting like grip is worth a try as an alternative (not to say that type of action doesn't have any pivot in it).

 

[Kevin Shields]

I definately think some chips need a pivot. But on small chips wrists and pivots provide a little too much power for the shot. Low point issues can occur with the inevitable decel. I like an arched wrist method because it's a dead shot that you can still hit hard from a short distance.

 

[pm4610]

Thanks for your responses. I think I need to pivot as I get a better strike, however (as mentioned), it seems like too much power and then I decel/freak.

 

[thefuture37]

Thanks for your responses. I think I need to pivot as I get a better strike, however (as mentioned), it seems like too much power and then I decel/freak.

for the really short chips(that for whatever reason you can't putt or at least putt with a fw) just open the face a little, make the smallest pivot/backswing you can without feeling like you will decel, and make an aggressive strike across the ball.

 

[Bigwill]

for the really short chips(that for whatever reason you can't putt or at least putt with a fw) just open the face a little, make the smallest pivot/backswing you can without feeling like you will decel, and make an aggressive strike across the ball.

Could a more lofted club help the same way, or are you opening up the face to use some bounce as well?

 

[thefuture37]

Could a more lofted club help the same way, or are you opening up the face to use some bounce as well?

I was assuming he was already using his most lofted wedge. The bounce with chipping issue really depends completely on how nice the course you are playin on is. If you are playing a baked out muni, its a terrible idea.

 

[pm4610]

"for the really short chips(that for whatever reason you can't putt or at least putt with a fw) just open the face a little, make the smallest pivot/backswing you can without feeling like you will decel, and make an aggressive strike across the ball."

This sounds like a very difficult shot. I already use my most lofted wedge.
Thanks,
p

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Most bad chippers, when you are truly trying to chip usually do two things:

1) Use too much loft
2) don't commit and they quit on it

ball will pop out but end up way short

 

[pm4610]

Most bad chippers, when you are truly trying to chip usually do two things:

1) Use too much loft
2) don't commit and they quit on it

ball will pop out but end up way short

Excellent "observation" I'm not sure if the lack of commitment is due solely to me or because I'm not sure how to hit the shot (even when I practice I'm not happy with the results). I'll try more commitment regardless of the results and see if that works.

Thanks,
p