Chipping shanks

[bunkerputt]

What causes the chipping shanks? I figured it was moving the club out instead of just back, but it's really hard to stop them just by focusing on how my hands move back. Is it a lack of body pivot?

[iacas]

Could be lots of things. Sometimes I set up with "soft arms" which means my elbows are ever-so-slightly bent, and when they straighten in the chipping motion, I'll catch the ball closer to the heel.

I'm a "weight left, hinge back, pivot through" style chipper if that makes any difference.

[bunkerputt]

Could be lots of things. Sometimes I set up with "soft arms" which means my elbows are ever-so-slightly bent, and when they straighten in the chipping motion, I'll catch the ball closer to the heel.

I think that's the way I chip as well. It's definitely rotary, though I have trouble with directional control if I get too 'around' and not enough straight-back-straight-through. I was struggling quite a bit with the shanks on pretty much every club lower than a 4-iron today at the range. I was surprised that it even worked it's way into my 10 yard chips. I was pretty relaxed, so I may have had a little too much bend in my elbows. The weird thing is I really don't mind having the occasional shank because I hate hitting it off the toe even more. That seems to be almost never happening these days.

[Bo the Golfer]

I use Stan Utley's chipping method and find if I quit on the forward pivot I will shank one every now and again.

[MiniMoe]

you have to
putt it

[Adumb]

I had this problem for a long time. I was afraid to swing too hard and I would hit the ground first and then top the ball because my wrists would get soft. Now I judge my chips by 3 things: The break of the green, the place I want my ball to bounce first, and my backswing. Basically don't worry too much about your speed, control your chips with your backswing. Focus on getting under it with clean contact. Nothing sucks worse than trying to get yourself close to get up and down for par, and shooting the ball over the green further than you were to begin with. Practice on chipping greens or get a chipping net if you want.

[bunkerputt]

you have to

I use the other chipping technique. I've tried the putting method for chipping and it doesn't transition well to longer chips for me. Just to make sure, are you talking about the technique where you setup and stroke it like a putter, just with an iron or hybrid?

The curious thing is that I used to be a pretty decent chipper. It's only since I've started thinking about what my hands are doing and where they are positioned in the full swing that it's started working it's way into my short game. I'd guess thinking about one's hands tends to make one 'handsy'. I'm fighting not taking my hands back too far to the outside these days.

[Orange]

I've never thought of "putting it"... I'll have to try that some time.

[ted dibiase]

there really isn't much of a pivot when you are chipping. Are you talking about pitching? When you chip try to eliminate as much movement out of your body as possible. That in turn eliminates many things that could go wrong. Try to swing with only your arms, keep the club face pointed at the target the whole time, keep your lower body silent, and don't try to get too cute.

[iacas]

there really isn't much of a pivot when you are chipping. ... When you chip try to eliminate as much movement out of your body as possible.

I disagree! I think of chipping as "set the angle in the hands, then pivot through."

Try to swing with only your arms, keep the club face pointed at the target the whole time, keep your lower body silent, and don't try to get too cute.

Again, I do the above. It's more of a Stan Utley style of chipping, and in doing so, the club moves on an arc inside, square, and back to the inside.

I think most people who shank tend to use the arms too much and could do MORE to use their bodies to pivot through the shot.

[Leftygolfer]

I agree that there is a bit of a pivot with the body. I don't think about it but I don't try to be perfectly still like I am putting.

I don't believe you can use a pure putting stroke and be able to chip out of anything but a perfect lie because you come in so shallow.

I also think you have to be very short and agressive. If I am only carrying the ball 2 yards, It is a very short and aggressive swing.

[ted dibiase]

I disagree! I think of chipping as "set the angle in the hands, then pivot through."

Obviously there are a million different ways to get the club face to make contact with the ball. I only offered up what you could do to eliminate shanking it. I would still argue that there shouldn't be a pivot on a chip. Maybe a pitch, but definitely not a chip. By "setting the angle" you are just insuring that you are keeping your hands in front of the club face. That is definitely a key to chipping. I think it would be really hard to pivot when I am chipping... You don't need the extra power. You don't need the additional moving parts. I'm not sure how a pivot would help.

[iacas]

I would still argue that there shouldn't be a pivot on a chip.

Then argue with Stan Utley. Or Phil Mickelson. Both pivot on chips, and the former teaches a lot of other PGA Tour pros to do it too.

Arm swings tend to be - for me and a few other people I've talked to - more inconsistent than a small pivot with the weight forward. If you found something that works for you, great - but you can't really "argue" it since the pivot works for other people. It's just a different method - there's no "one true chipping method" to argue about.

[soloredd]

Remember to follow through as well. My biggest issue with chipping that I am working out is following through after the club hits the ball. Before, I would stop my swing, and a lot of times it would result in a flub shot and my club digging in the ground. As mentioned earlier, control distance with the backswing.

Also, depending on where you are chipping from, unless you really need to get the ball elevated over a cut of grass or some other hazard, take a 7 or 8 iron and use a putting stroke. This will get the ball up onto the green quickly then roll. That's my favorite method but again, it depends on where you are chipping from.

[Leftygolfer]

Pelz also agrees with a small pivot on chips and pitches. The reason he thinks there should be a small hip and shoulder turn is to promote rhythm and less hands. I never saw someone who was a great chipper who didn't have a small turn.

[ted dibiase]

Then argue with Stan Utley. Or Phil Mickelson. Both pivot on chips, and the former teaches a lot of other PGA Tour pros to do it too.

I could argue about everything and anything. I may have some pivot, but it definitely isn't what I'm thinking about. Putting more weight on your leading foot actually decreases your ability to pivot. It puts you in the impact position before you even take a back swing.

Remember to follow through as well. My biggest issue with chipping that I am working out is following through after the club hits the ball. Before, I would stop my swing, and a lot of times it would result in a flub shot and my club digging in the ground. As mentioned earlier, control distance with the backswing.

You probably flubbed your shots because you decelerated before impact... Finish high if you want the ball to go high. Finish low if you want the ball to go low. My bro, a 2 time club champ, uses his 8 with great success when he is on the frog hair. I have better luck with my 52* or 56*. I need some practice on the 8.

Pelz also agrees with a small pivot on chips and pitches. The reason he thinks there should be a small hip and shoulder turn is to promote rhythm and less hands. I never saw someone who was a great chipper who didn't have a small turn.

I got up and down 10 times on Sunday and 8 times on Saturday. All of my chips were within 10'. My playing partners told me that they were salivating over my short game... My golf instructors best attribute is his short game...

[Leftygolfer]

I could argue about everything and anything. I may have some pivot, but it definitely isn't what I'm thinking about. Putting more weight on your leading foot actually decreases your ability to pivot. It puts you in the impact position before you even take a back swing.

That is great. I am talking about the best in the world (Tiger, Phil)

You just said "I may have a small turn". I am not sure what kind of pivot anyone would have on a 2 yard chip but it has to be small unless you do the worst possible thing, decel and there is no possible way to be a consistant chipper. Have you video taped yourself chipping? I haven't but I rehearse it in my backyard all the time in front of a glass window that acts as a mirror with the sun. My body is definely not rigid and my short game is the only thing I do well.

[iacas]

I may have some pivot

Ding ding ding!

Putting more weight on your leading foot actually decreases your ability to pivot. It puts you in the impact position before you even take a back swing.

It doesn't decrease your ability to pivot THROUGH the shot. I don't think about pivoting on the takeaway - just the downswing and through the chip.

And okay, you can argue it all you want, but it makes you look silly. There's no "one true way" to chip. Most good chippers I've ever seen - including Tom Watson - pivot through the shot. "Fold, pivot." But I've said that three times now, so I'm done.