Chipping help

Kick your right foot back so all your weight is on your left leg, hit chips like that. You be surprised how you have to be more in balance and rotate your body in the shot. Don't be afraid to let the clubhead past the hands, as long as it happens after contact. I think to many people hold the hands much in the swing and they end up comming up and skulling chips. 

 

I found if there is a difference between speed and acceleration in chipping. I have a hard time with short chips, because i swing the club to fast, and i end up chopping at the ball because i am slowing down. So now i chip with a much slower motion, this has helped me a ton with short chips, and really being able to get a feel for how to vary my backswing for different distances. 

I saw a really good video the other day about practicing these shots with the left hand only.  Can't think where it was but it showed how left hand only (if you are right handed) helps with keeping your weight forward, the left wrist firm through impact and the club face open on the follow through.

It looked like a great drill.  Try searching in you tube.

Keep your left arm straight, but hitch your wrists just a little bit on the backswing.

 

And like others said, rotate your body just a little bit, back and through, keep weight forward.

 

Make sure you're setup correctly:

• Ball positioned off of back foot
• Weight on front front

 

Then swing the club with SHOULDERS & ARMS ONLY!  There should be ZERO lower body movement.  No wrists, no hips, no weight transfer, no rotation.  You want to keep your weight planted on your left side for the entire shot.  Lower body movement causes too many issues controlling the club head for a small shot like this.  Make sure you feel like you are striking down on the back of the ball.

 

Some drills you can do:

• Chip with left hand only
• Stand on left foot and hit chip shots
• Chip with left hand and stand on one foot

I recently downloaded Phil M's videos on Secrets to the short game.  I haven't really had a chance to practice everything but I found it to be a pretty good explanation of the basics on how to effectively chip and pitch.  I have no idea if I can replicate it yet but I think with some practice I'll improve at least.  I didn't see any drill recommendations in the video but I think if I can improve my shots I'll probably want to practice more.  I usually just drop 5 golf balls and chip from one side, than rotate to the other.  I space them out about a foot or so in between so the shot is slightly different.  Works for me, but it isn't much of a "game". 

I employ this technique for nearly all my shots around the green: http://thesandtrap.com/t/39411/quickie-pitching-video

 

Depending on the lie, I will stiffen my elbows and use more of the leading edge (usually in taller rough). For the most part, I'm using this technique from 50 to 5 yards with either my 50, 56 or 61 degree wedge depending on the shot I need. I can't remember that last time I bladed a short shot.

to practice hitting down i line up 2 balls facing the target and hit the back one only. if you do this properly, the back ball will shoot up in the air and the front will go straight along the ground.

Good drill!!  Works on hitting down on the ball and not trying to help it in the air.

for chipping I will typically use a 7 iron and address it with the toe down and the heel high so it won't stub.  I hit toward the toe and that help to not impart spin on it so it will roll.  Then just like a pitch, focus on where you want to land it.

I think you will find that on shots on the first cut around the green , a 7 iron or possibly 8 or 9 can be used . I sometimes will grip a 7 iron like my putter and use a putting stroke. This is very effective on shots where you need to get the ball rolling from just off green. Wrists firm and just stroke it.

always accelerate through the shot. control distance with back swing length

 

You get bored chipping?  That sounds like the problem.  If it's more boring in the heat, can you just drink something frosty and enjoy it more?

See how many times you can nail a sapling from 35 feet in a row.  That's pretty fun.  My record is 6 for a 3 inch diameter tree at 35 feet.  That's a pretty tight line.  It's quite a challenge and requires that you have very excellent technique and extreme focus to go past 1 in a row, much less 6.