Is chipping the secret to unlocking the full swing?

[Ernest Jones]

I find that if I spend 20mins hitting crisp little chip shots my full swings become much more consistent. I think it's because with a simple chip its relatively easy to control my low point and focus on good impact conditions and the mechanics translate really well to a full swing.

Hoping to break 100 this year! I know, heady stuff!

[saevel25]

I think its confidence, you do something your good at, and it really puts you in a good frame of mind. Tom Watson always hit long irons first, because if he hit those good then he knows he can hit any club in his bag.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Good chipping definitely helps. Your mind associates the feeling of "hand ahead" at impact and the resulting shot and helps to apply it to the full swing. I too find much better full shots after practicing chipping and pitching.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by saevel25

I think its confidence, you do something your good at, and it really puts you in a good frame of mind. Tom Watson always hit long irons first, because if he hit those good then he knows he can hit any club in his bag.

He also said the advantage was that by starting with a 2 iron he could hit a crap shot and tell himself, "well it's a 2 iron, nobody can hit them well", conversely if he started with a wedge and hit a crap shot he would be thinking, "holy mother of god, I can't even hit a wedge!"

Love Tom Watson, one of my all time favorite golfers.

[StricklandPropane]

Originally Posted by Ernest Jones

He also said the advantage was that by starting with a 2 iron he could hit a crap shot and tell himself, "well it's a 2 iron, nobody can hit them well", conversely if he started with a wedge and hit a crap shot he would be thinking, "holy mother of god, I can't even hit a wedge!"

Love Tom Watson, one of my all time favorite golfers.

Hahaha, that is a great story.  I was actually debating picking up his 2 DVD set today, and you've just sealed it for me.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by StricklandPropane

Hahaha, that is a great story.  I was actually debating picking up his 2 DVD set today, and you've just sealed it for me.

That's a great screen name, I'll tell you what...

[Mr3Wiggle]

I always warm up before a round by chipping and working on my pivot with small little swings before I hit the range.  I definitely think it helps.

[saevel25]

My warmup starts with a light workout. I like to at least do some pushups and split squats. This really gets the hips to loosen up and get blood flowing to the arms. I do this before i head to the golf course. I usually like to hit finesse shots before i play, it slows me down. I really don't like hitting driver on the range because it can cause me to get into the Bomb the ball mode. I rather go into a round thinking i need to carve up the golf course than bomb the ball. Don't get me wrong, i hit the ball a long way. But its more of an advantage to able to place shots than just try to overpower a course..

[EverythingGolf]

It's easier to take short swings then build up to the longer ones, its just like warming up on the range before a round. And yes it is good for the full swing.

[dak4n6]

Agree. When I first started playing I stumbled around for a couple years and couldn't help but notice that when I punched out of woods (a lot), my shots were crisp with good contact and went straight to the target. So, I figured I should try playing normal shots this way. I played for about 2 or 3 years with a 2/3 punch style swing that hit the ball just as far as my 'normal' swing, and it gave me the feeling of a good impact position, good swing plane, good timing, and allowed me to make clean contact consistently.

When I warm up at the range I like to start with a 5 iron (not as extreme as Watson and his 2) and hit a bunch of 'L to L' shots, focusing only on clean contact, and progress from there.

[goodatgolf]

Well chipping helps the longgame. But if you really want to improve your longgame you should train exactly that.

So I'd say it's synergistic but doesn't unlock it as your title says. Btw there is no unlocking and secrets in golf anyway imo.

I think it's best to see golf as a process of always improving.

cheers and good luck

[rustyredcab]

Proper chipping helps feel/train impact position. My pros recommend starting with chipping when warming up to get the feel for solid contact and good fundamental contact position.

Last year, one of my teachers followed Tom Watson all opening round day and reported in an email to us students. On the range, Mr. Watson only hit short irons and wedges. He putted and hit short clubs. No long irons or drives. Also observed several other Champion Tour players warming up with short clubs and wedges way more than longer clubs, but he only followed Mr. Watson the entire time so he may have missed some of the others full routines. My instructor reported this because it seemed so unusual. Mr. Watson went on to put on an amazing short game display and led after that first round. During the round, after every long putt, bunker shot, or shot from around the green, Watson either made it or left himself a shot so short the he never had to mark his ball -- 100% makes or tap ins. Never left himself enough to even mark his ball.

[Gregoryhouse]

Here in Argentina, quite a few years ago, a pro, Juan Carlos Cabrera (not related to Angel), taught golf starting a few classes with chips, then half, later 3/4 and last full swings.

Chipping is the key to a proper impact. In a Golf Channel video Geoff Ogilvy says practicing chipping helps him with ballstriking.