Chipping/Pitching advice!

[darkhunter139]

After shooting a 54 today on 9 holes I have finally realized I need some major work pitching/chipping.  My iron play is actually not to bad anymore and my putting is passable.  After winding up taking 4 shots from 50 yards just to get it on the green I realized how bad this is really hurting my score.  I  think I could start consistently shooting in the 90's if I really start working on my pitching/chipping.  I got so fed up after the front 9 I skipped the back and went and worked on some chipping for a little over an hour.

The problem is all my lessons have focused on my swing with my irons so I do not really have any kind of a technique to practice.  I have a lesson scheduled for the middle of July but I want to start practicing before then.  Are there any good video, books, or advice anyone can recommend to get me started?

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by darkhunter139

Are there any good video, books, or advice anyone can recommend to get me started?

I highly recommend Phil Mickelson's "Secrets of the Short Game" DVD set.

http://www.amazon.com/Phil-Mickelson-Secrets-Short-Game/dp/B001TWT0DQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s;=dvd&qid;=1309190200&sr;=8-1

[Stretch]

Some chipping advice worth listening to:

Technique.

Strategy.

[Bpurc22]

I am a fairly high handicapper as well and usually struggle with my short game so here are some tips. Understand where on the green you need to hit, you need topick a target and face it up to be able to get it close, and also practice enough to understand how hard of a swing will land you 15' 30' and 50 yards out with your wedges. This will help just about as much as anything. One thing i also try to remember is to always swing through the ball and exaggerate my follow through to make sure i get the ball up in the air for a soft landing. Lastly you could implement a few tricks like hitting a 3 wood from the rough just off the green (my dad does it and it works) or try to develop a flop shot.

[blackxpress]

Best tip I ever got was when my instructor told me to keep my hands ahead of the ball. That principle applies across the board but if you can learn to always keep your hands ahead of the ball when hitting chip shots you'll find that your ball striking in general will improve. At least, that's the way it worked for me.

[darkhunter139]

Thanks guys! Good stuff here.  I think I will pickup Phil Mickelson's Secrets to the short game.  I saw some of the videos on youtube and they seem pretty helpful.  Awesome to watch how good his short game is.

During my round today I did a little better chipping and pitching and made some nice putts.  Still had about 3 blow up holes with the chipping and putting though.  I four putted three times somehow but still sunk some really nice ones on other holes. I felt like my putting has got a lot better but four putts is just ridiculous.   I think I get a little rattled after hitting a bad chip shot or missing my first putt my too much, then it just all unravels.  It makes me mad because I could have had a pretty decent round today!

I am going to using more of my practice time for short game instead of the driving range now.

[Bogeyondown]

Just a little hint if you haven't bought the "Secrets of the Shortgame" video yet. I bought it new off ebay for $13. In the retail stores they sell it for $50 so try and save some money and spend it on a round.

[Luckner88]

The funny thing for me is that the chipping/pitching always came easy but the golf swing took forever for me to understand.  I always think of chipping/pitching as an "art."  It's better to take an artistic approach to it rather than a mechanical approach.  Sure there is technique involved, for chips you want to open your stance a little, put the ball back in your stance and keep the hands ahead of the ball.  You want to sweep the ball, not chop at it when you chip.

For pitches I like to narrow my stance and make an "L to L" swing which is halfway back and halfway through.

Envision where you want the ball to land and "play to the picture" what I mean is to create a picture in your mind after each practice swing of where the ball is going to land, how it will react, how far it will roll.  When you keep practicing this "artistic" approach then the mechanics naturally fall in place.  Try working on that!

[ks8829]

If you are on the fringe of the green remember that you can putt the ball and most times you will get closer than if you chipped.

focus on making consistent solid contact

focus on distance control

practice and practice

don't forget to practice putting

during your round keep track of your up and downs to one putt.  how many attemps and how many successful up and down to one putt.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Until you have your lesson, when you chip do not let your wrists break at any time. This is another way of saying keep your hands ahead of the clubhead. As for pitching, think of it for now as a longer chip. Let your wrists break a bit on the backswing, and break back on the downswing, but firm them up (not tense them up), so they do not continue breaking after the ball is struck.

With both shots, the clubhead should be on a downward trajectory as it comes into the ball. Ball first, ground second.

[mike194]

It sounds like you are puting too much pressure on the final outcome of your round. One bad shot doesn't kill the whole day. Just focus on the shot you are making, it is the only one you can control.

The best way to get better at chipping is practice, I hit balls into a bucket in my backyard for only 10 minutes a day. Once you have the confidence every chip seams easy.

[saevel25]

To me, its all in the body. What i concentrate on is keeping the handle pointed ahead of my body at all times, i just rotate to my left side, pivoting around my left leg (right handed). What helps me do this, kicking my right kneed to the left, towards the target, this gets me on my left side better and easier to turn through the chip and pitch.

[Bpurc22]

Until you have your lesson, when you chip do not let your wrists break at any time. This is another way of saying keep your hands ahead of the clubhead. As for pitching, think of it for now as a longer chip. Let your wrists break a bit on the backswing, and break back on the downswing, but firm them up (not tense them up), so they do not continue breaking after the ball is struck.

With both shots, the clubhead should be on a downward trajectory as it comes into the ball. Ball first, ground second.

I may sound like a total idiot, but you want to hit down on the ball while pitching/chipping? Obviously you do for iron shots but for distance and spin. I always thought that closer to the green you would want an easier swing and clean contact. With my 60' i always "scoop"/"sweep" the ball and get it into the air. I feel like when im close and try to hit down on the ball, i either kill it or hit a line drive.

[Bpurc22]

Just made a full post and it's being "held for moderation because im new here"... This is about the third time that's happened already..why?

[darkhunter139]

Originally Posted by Bogeyondown

Just a little hint if you haven't bought the "Secrets of the Shortgame" video yet. I bought it new off ebay for $13. In the retail stores they sell it for $50 so try and save some money and spend it on a round.

Sweet thanks! Money saving tips are always appreciated.

Originally Posted by mike194

It sounds like you are puting too much pressure on the final outcome of your round. One bad shot doesn't kill the whole day. Just focus on the shot you are making, it is the only one you can control.

The best way to get better at chipping is practice, I hit balls into a bucket in my backyard for only 10 minutes a day. Once you have the confidence every chip seams easy.

I think you are probably right about this, when I have a bad hole I usually have a few more in a row.  I have to stop worrying about my final score but its hard not to.

Originally Posted by Bpurc22

Just made a full post and it's being "held for moderation because im new here"... This is about the third time that's happened already..why?

Hmm that is weird, hopefully it will get approved soon.

[Travtex]

Someone's already mentioned Phil's DVD.  I'll add in a nod to Stan Utley's books -- Don't remember if it's Art of the Short Game or Art of Scoring that I have at home on the bookcase, but Stan's chipping/pitching methods helped me greatly.  (That, and a few billion hours of practice in the yard.)

[evan01]

Go to utube and google seve's short game videos. He was smooooth. If you subscribe to one of the golf magazines read these. Great info. Biggest thing is to watch or read what you are looking at many times. You must ingrain the moves in your head. One expensive lesson or video will not help . Read it over and over and remember if you do not belong to a golf club and paying for buckets of balls most public golf courses don't charge for the short game areas.