If you’re like many weekend golfers, you miss a lot of greens with approach shots. Missed greens can cost you strokes big time. Now imagine how good your scores would be if you could get up and down 90 percent of the time, like the Tour pros do. The secret to completing up-and-downs is good chipping. It turns three strokes into two. But if chipping isn’t your strong point, the technique described below and advocated by short game expert, Dave Pelz, can help:
Below are 7 keys to this chipping technique:
- Choose the right club
- Play the ball back
- Shift your weight forward
- Grip down on the club
- Raise the club’s heel
- Take several practice swings
- Focus on making clean contact
Club choice is critical. Base your choice on how far you are away from the hole. For close pins, use your sand wedge. For pins farther away, you can go as low as your 6-iron.
Your address position is also critical. Pull your feet together until they’re about six inches apart, shift your weight forward, and play the ball a couple of inches beyond your back foot. This position encourages a descending blow and prevents you from grounding the club.
Also, grip down on the club, which brings you closer to the ball for better control, and raise the heel of the clubface off the ground slightly. Lifting the heel forces you to “bow” your left wrist (right wrist if you’re left-handed).
Take a few practice swings before hitting the chip. Focus on just brushing the tops of the grass. Then, step up to the ball, pick out a landing spot, and swing away. Make a firm, smooth back-and-threw stroke. Aim for clean, crisp contact. No divots allowed.
Practice this technique using different clubs. Once you get a feel for it, work on getting it close to the pin. Master it and you’ll seldom miss an up and down.
Great technique. I works a treat. Make sure that you pick out the landing spot that you want to hit and have a few practice swings.