Pitching and Chipping Troubles

[Tate24]

I shoot in the mid to low 80's every round and I'm a 12 handicap. I struggle constantly with pitching and chipping for example first hole today was a par 5 and I was 20-25 yards from the pin for my 3rd shot. I try to pitch it up and of course I chunk it twice in a row. Then I try to chip it and skull it. When I take my practice swing it seems perfect but when I setup to hit the ball the yipes pop up. I practice chipping and pitching but on the course I struggle with it. I think it might be more mental than it is anything else. I think I may lift at times or I incorporate to much lower body into the shot. Anyone have this issue and remedies or thoughts that have helped them?

[Patch]

Do you use the same club, or various clubs for the distances involved? I am not an expert by any means, but it sounds to me like you might just be hesitant in your stroke because you don't know how far (carry & roll) the ball will go. I have watched golfers, when practicing, more than few of them don't watch how far the ball will go. They were just happy to hit a good practice shot. Once on the course, when the stroke count, they tense up. Tension in any golf stroke makes for poor shot.

[mvmac]

Anyone have this issue and remedies or thoughts that have helped them?

Yes

[Strandly]

Chipping is one thing I improved quite a bit this summer.  I do a little bit of what the chipping video on this site says (I think) with leaning your body forward at address but I also do something that I have a feeling is wrong but works.  I was toe-ing the ball constantly so I started standing really close, so the ball is nearly in line with the bottom of the hosel.  Now I catch the ball mostly in the middle of the club face.

Anyway, it sounds to me like you're trying too hard to "hit" the ball.  With chipping it seems to me to be far more important to judge the right backswing length like putting.  Bring the club back and swing gently at the ball and if you're close enough you might not even have to swing at all, just let the club fall.

[Tate24]

That'd exactly my problem, I don't have a feel for how far the shot will go and roll. I usually use my 56 or 60 for the pitch shot. Do you have any recommendations on what would be a good all around club for pitching? I appreciate the info..

[Lihu]

That'd exactly my problem, I don't have a feel for how far the shot will go and roll. I usually use my 56 or 60 for the pitch shot. Do you have any recommendations on what would be a good all around club for pitching? I appreciate the info..

The baseline is the pitching and chipping video posted earlier. Just practiced chipping (flop shot type chipping) for over an hour while waiting for my kids at the course. One thing I noticed is that if you come down more on the ball, it helps control the flight better. I tried in boot deep rough, and around the practice bunker. As long as the speed of the club is constant, it doesn't seem to matter what you are hitting from, the ball seems to go about the same distance. I even tried using this stroke from the bunkers and it seems to work pretty well. The only difference is that I purposely hit fat from the bunker. It seems like keeping the back swing and forward swing timing the same helps develop the feel for the distance. Let me know if this works for you. I'm still experimenting too.

[Patch]

That'd exactly my problem, I don't have a feel for how far the shot will go and roll. I usually use my 56 or 60 for the pitch shot. Do you have any recommendations on what would be a good all around club for pitching? I appreciate the info..

In the minority here I think, but I use different clubs for different distances. It's all about carry and roll for me. Some golfers are so good, they have the feel to use one club for everything. I can't do it with just one club. I'll use a 5i all the way to LW depending on the situation for my chips, and pitches.  I have even used my 7w on a few occasions.

I might suggest next time you are at the practice greens to use various clubs, and learn what they do from the same spot when hitting your pitch shots. You will see a difference between each club while using the same swing. Start with a shorter back swing. Once comfortable with that shorter swing, then make a longer swing. Myself I use 1/2, 3/4, and full swings, depending on the distance I need, and the club I am using.

[glk23]

Do a google search for "wristless riskless" and read the David Leadbetter article from golf digest. I started using this technique a couple of years ago and it improved my game a lot. Worst mistake I see in people with the same problem as you is they decelerate into the ball. They often take way too much backswing and slow down into the ball. Practice taking a much shorter backswing so you have to accelerate into the ball.

[dchoye]

If I can chip without the wedge I will do it. Remember PGA champ M Kaymer when he was Texas wedging with his putter from 30+ yards from the green.

[flopster]

Had a tournament today and my partner just killed me a few times chunking easy chips, I told him to keep firm wrists cause he likes to flip the club at the ball.

[Strandly]

That'd exactly my problem, I don't have a feel for how far the shot will go and roll. I usually use my 56 or 60 for the pitch shot. Do you have any recommendations on what would be a good all around club for pitching? I appreciate the info..

56 or 60 sounds perfect to me, I use my 58 degree for basically all of my chipping since it has the least roll.

[mvmac]

That'd exactly my problem, I don't have a feel for how far the shot will go and roll.

Work on improving your mechanics. Check out those links I provided. With good, consistent contact comes distance control.

[iacas]

Had a tournament today and my partner just killed me a few times chunking easy chips, I told him to keep firm wrists cause he likes to flip the club at the ball.

Or just use a pitching motion. Even firm wrists can lead to chunks and things because the margin of error is basically non-existent.

Work on improving your mechanics. Check out those links I provided. With good, consistent contact comes distance control.

Right.

Lebron James has a lot of "touch" but couldn't hit a proper pitch shot over a bunker to a tight pin very easily the first several hundred times he tried.

Touch comes from having good mechanics.

[Mr. Desmond]

From your first post, you stated that you're fine on the range when chipping and pitching, and that it may be mental.

Yes, it does sound like you need a new mental approach. I did.

What happens to you, happens to me, and I follow the quickie chipping and pitching vids mentioned here.

Tension, anticipation, expectation ... all mess with your mind and then your body.

Save the technical swing stuff for the house or the range.

When playing golf, you need to play golf (not golf swing ... if you play golf swing, you're dead meat).

When playing golf, one must remain in the present ... the process.

Relax, Breathe deeply and let out that breath. Shake out your arms. Get loose. Get soft hands. Visualize the shot, visualize your target. Over the ball, think target. No swing thoughts. Do not stand over the ball. Get set and let it go at the target you are visualizing.

[tomvk77]

I think what you can try is just to bump n' run those shots like with a 6 or 5 iron.

if you skull them they go about the same distance. you will get more up and downs and

you will be more confident and will be able to hit those wedges also

[9424tm]

From your first post, you stated that you're fine on the range when chipping and pitching, and that it may be mental. Yes, it does sound like you need a new mental approach. I did. What happens to you, happens to me, and I follow the quickie chipping and pitching vids mentioned here. Tension, anticipation, expectation ... all mess with your mind and then your body. Save the technical swing stuff for the house or the range. When playing golf, you need to play golf (not golf swing ... if you play golf swing, you're dead meat). When playing golf, one must remain in the present ... the process. Relax, Breathe deeply and let out that breath. Shake out your arms. Get loose. Get soft hands. Visualize the shot, visualize your target. Over the ball, think target. No swing thoughts. Do not stand over the ball. Get set and let it go at the target you are visualizing.

This. I had the same problem for a long time. I had to relax. I also had trust issues :) You need to practice the techniques in the videos posted and get comfortable. Then trust that it works. It sounds weird but when you don't trust your swing (even though you know it works in the range) you make little "micro changes" in the middle of the swing.

[Lihu]

The baseline are the pitching and chipping videos posted earlier.

Just practiced chipping (flop shot type chipping) for over an hour while waiting for my kids at the course.

One thing I noticed is that if you come down more on the ball, it helps control the flight better. I tried in boot deep rough, and around the practice bunker.

As long as the speed of the club is constant, it doesn't seem to matter what you are hitting from, the ball seems to go about the same distance. I even tried using this stroke from the bunkers and it seems to work pretty well. The only difference is that I purposely hit fat from the bunker.

It seems like keeping the back swing and forward swing timing the same helps develop the feel for the distance.

Let me know if this works for you. I'm still experimenting too.

The method outlined seems to be working out pretty well for me. I am still getting used to the distances, but I definitely have a more controlled feeling when I chip now. It's probably going to take a few months just to gain some confidence in it.

[jajwrigh]

I practicing chipping often and the keys to remember that help me are to accelerate through the ball, place it back a little in your stance and keeping your weight down and forward.  Club selection depends on whats in front of you.  I chip with a 6 iron all the way down to my 56* depending on the scenario, but my 7i or 8i usually get the nod if I need a little roll.