I need some help, desperately...

[Inebriated]

Ok guys, I'm still relatively new to golf (only a few months of SERIOUS golf... years of half-asses swinging at the driving range). Well, the other day I was playing 9 holes, and I hit so many good shots off the tee. Great driver, great irons, my hybrid shots were solid, and I kept it on the fairway almost the whole time. Hell, on a long par 5, I got about 8 yards from the green in two. My problem is that I can't get the ball those 8, 9, 10 yards. My putting is pretty bad right now (I know how to work on that), but I can't get a good short chip shot. I can't figure out what to use. Sand wedge? Pitching wedge? The pitching wedge got me over the green completely, and the sand wedge sent it high, but I still can't get any back spin, so it just keeps rolling away.

What am I doing wrong that I can't get the ball to the green easily? I could spend time on my irons to get it further, but I feel like that's just putting a band aid on a missing limb. How should I go about fixing this? Every thing is improving but that. I could have hit par on 7/9 holes, but I ended up hitting a double or triple just getting the ball that last 10 yards. It's frustrating.

Input is appreciated.

[meenman]

When you are that close, use your putter or use your 7/8/9 iron with a putting stroke. (of course this changes if you are behind a bunker)

[RyderJ]

This is exactly what I was going to suggest...think of it like an extended putt, and your goal should to be to chip within three feet from that distance.

Originally Posted by meenman

When you are that close, use your putter or use your 7/8/9 iron with a putting stroke. (of course this changes if you are behind a bunker)

[KARR2001]

For chipping I like to use my most lofted club (for me that is a 60 degree wedge). I break my hands going back and accelerate into the ball. This is definitly not even close to a full swing though. I bring the club back about about a foot for a 10 yard shot and my club is parallel to the ground for a 50 yard shot. I break my wrists going back and then I accelerate through the shot. This is how Phil Mickelson chips and teaches in his Secrets of the Short Game DVD (which you can actually watch parts of on YouTube). Doing this will actually create a good amount of back spin. The one thing you definitly do not want to do is flip your wrists through impact to "scoop" the ball up into the air becasue if you miss you will most likely blade it and send the ball flying past the green on a very low trajectory. Since you always want to accelerate at the same speed you can control distance by how far back you bring the club. Now, I will admit that this is not the best method for everyone. If it works for you great, if not then you need to try a different chipping technique. Also, other people may have suggestions which are good as well and might be better for you. Finally Meenman's suggestion for low running shots/putting off the green is great as well and I use those tyes of shots as well.

[CuppedTin]

Originally Posted by meenman

When you are that close, use your putter or use your 7/8/9 iron with a putting stroke. (of course this changes if you are behind a bunker)

This is probably some of my favorite clubs close in, and doing this will make you better and better at reading greens also.

[saevel25]

Weight on your front leg, feel like your pivoting on your front leg, Don't stop rotating your body, it rotates with the chip.

[mchepp]

I suggest learning the rule of 12.

Iacas has some stuff on pitching in the golf evolution youtube pages.

[Inebriated]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'm making a note to try a lot of this and see what works. Appreciate it.

And KARR2001, I actually saw some of that DVD right after I posted this lol

EDIT - God, the rule of 12 looks so helpful. I ripped that video just so I could keep it and watch right before the range on my phone haha

[Inebriated]

Today was a little better than the last in the chip shots. I tried the Mickelson method, but then my putts are still pretty miserable.

Shot a 55 on a Par 36, which isn't too bad in my opinion. I shot a 53 on the same 9 on Friday, so at least I'm consistent. I usually match my front 9 on the back, so 110 or 106 on a par 72 is really not bad for me. I want to get into the 90's by September.

/personal goal

[rsamsing]

I just watched that video.  Thanks for the post.  I had no clue.

[rsamsing]

Thanks again for the video.  I tried it this weekend and it works great.