Chipping, Open or Square to Target?

[NM Golf]

Like many have said there is more than one way to do it, although I'm not too sure about your friends method. I sure wouldn't teach that.

I am a disciple of Utley's, so I am square to target.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by DantheNovice

I wanted to ask this question, but I didn't want to start a new thread. I have a similar question.. I went with a friend for the first time to a driving range and I saw him chipping in a completely open stance. He said that this was taught to him by a Korean professional. When I say completely open, I mean his toes were facing the direction he wanted to hit; the toes of both his feet. I've seen people hitting in both slightly open and square, but I've never seen or heard of anyone doing this. The right side of his right foot was facing the ball and he was swinging with his arms only on his right side, going back and then swinging front. Has anyone else heard of this before?

Does your friend speak Korean? If not, that may have been the problem...

[DantheNovice]

Yes, he's Korean and came from Korea a couple years ago. It seems the golf pro who taught him showed him exactly how he "should" be swinging. As long as he's hitting it well, like people have said, I don't see any problem with it. It just seemed like if a golf pro taught him, it would be a form that's at least somewhat known.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by DantheNovice

Yes, he's Korean and came from Korea a couple years ago. It seems the golf pro who taught him showed him exactly how he "should" be swinging. As long as he's hitting it well, like people have said, I don't see any problem with it. It just seemed like if a golf pro taught him, it would be a form that's at least somewhat known.

I've seen people stand as much as 45* open but it sounds like you're talking about standing perpendicular to the target line, that is something I haven't seen.

[DantheNovice]

Yeah, I couldn't find the right words to describe it, but he is standing perpendicular to the target line. I've only ever been taught square or very slightly open, maybe up to 10" open. I would think that his form would make it more difficult to be consistent, especially since it's so different from his other swings.

I'm asking because before I had a slightly open stance when I chipped, but once I changed to a square stance, I suddenly started to hit it better and more consistently.

[Chas]

Usually chip with a somewhat open stance because it encourages me to complete the turn better, I.e. not stop the turn too early and flip the wrists. I still have trouble with this most basic of problems at times. But that's just me and YMMV.