Any tips on chips

[zeusbrown]

I had a lesson the other day and have started hitting the ball much better. :-) The lesson covered all my long shots. I played the very next day and found that on a par 4 i put the ball on the green or very near depending on length and how well I hit it. The problem is now my chipping. I battle to judge how far i'm gonna chip.

Any tips on how to chip better?


Thanx!

[AK-Edge]

Not really sure of the best way to word it. But mostly what I do is put my feet kind of close together with the left foot open and put my weight on my left foot (Im right handed). Then I deloft my club, usually a PW, and swing as a rule of thumb from pocket to pocket. Like I said I dont know how to word it really, but I hope that made some sense. Oh yeah, keep your shoulders parallel to the target line since your feet probably wont line up in most cases.

[iacas]

Additionally, for different length chips, you're really just gonna have to get a feel for it as you do for putting and any other shot inside of 100 yards. There's no magic formula.

[NCGolfer]

Any tips on how to chip better?
Practice. This is an area that not many people focus on. Instead of hitting balls sometime this week, go to a local course and spend some time around the putting green.

If I had any actual tips, it would be to make sure you accelerate through the chip. Do not just take a shorter swing and decelerate through the ball. You want to make sure you are making crisp swings with the wedge.

[zeusbrown]

Played yesterday again and my chipping was excellent. I have been trying a few things I read here like swinging more up than around. Thanx all!

[Rafcin]

there are 3 basic rules for good chipping:
1. Practice
2. Practice
3. Practice
Ok, I'm being a smartass, but indeed as others told you - it's all about feel. The basic mechanics are simple, slightly open stands, weight on left side, no lower body motion, no wrist break - putting stroke pretty much. 1/3 air, 2/3 roll rule applies.
With this - couple hours every week around the green and you can be Phil too ! :-)

[Maverick]

not sure if this has been mentioned before but my 2 things, besides the proper setup as mentioned above is:

1. Hand ALWAYS in front of the ball at impact.
2. If your off the green I take Retief Goosen's approach and hit it with a simple putter approach and bump and roll it to the hole.

[Ben]

Like Maverick stated, always have your hands in front of the ball. Also, Never break your wrists nor turn over your hands after impact. Keep those hands firm.

[hig4s]

I had a lesson the other day and have started hitting the ball much better. :-) The lesson covered all my long shots. I played the very next day and found that on a par 4 i put the ball on the green or very near depending on length and how well I hit it. The problem is now my chipping. I battle to judge how far i'm gonna chip.

Any tips on how to chip better?


Thanx!

Define chip!

I think of chipping as using from a SW to an 8 Iron like a putter with lots of roll, and actually trying to make it or get close as if I were putting. I acutally use the exact same stance and motion as with my putter, but often with a longer swing. Well back in my stance and with no wrist at all.

Now pitching is a totally different animal.

[Ben]

Like Maverick stated, always have your hands in front of the ball. Also, Never break your wrists nor turn over your hands after impact. Keep those hands firm.

Oh yeah, like most have already said, practice definitely helps. You need to gain as much experience as you can to know what shot is right for you in what circumstance.

As a young buck my parents would drop me off at the course in the morning and pick me up at dark. When I was waiting for a time that I could get let out, I'd be practicing my chipping.