Pitching and Chipping Troubles

[kenstl]

I am a similar handicap at a 10.5 and I have worked on this part of my game a lot this year. For chipping, I have found this video http://youtu.be/OTCpkYqF8Ig helpful in explaining the rule of 12 or rule of 11, depending on the lofts of your clubs. The chipping motion with this technique after some practice, turns the stroke in to a routine movement with the focus on hitting your spot just in front of you on the green vs thinking of trying to get the ball to the hole. Don't manipulate the club with this process, hand forward with a press and a shoulder motion, enough to get the ball to your mark. The distance will work out if the correct club is selected Give it a shot at a practice green, it can take the guess work out of the equation.

[BuckeyeNut]

Chipping and pitching is all feel...........

This requires both feel in your hands and the clubhead and be able to judge the bounce, check, and release.  Whether you prefer chipping low scooting balls with loft or whatever.......you need to practice to get feel.

I personally don't like chipping with low lofted clubs.   I can bump & run and hit a low scooting 56deg or pitching wedge like you wouldn't believe...LOL   It's personal preference and feel...

Hell,  Phil hits low scooting bump and run shots with a 64deg wedge.  You have to use what you what makes you comfortable. When it comes to pitching, the same thing applies....."FEEL".  There is only 1 way to acquire this.......

[JetFan1983]

Chipping and pitching is all feel...........

This requires both feel in your hands and the clubhead and be able to judge the bounce, check, and release.  Whether you prefer chipping low scooting balls with loft or whatever.......you need to practice to get feel.

I personally don't like chipping with low lofted clubs.   I can bump & run and hit a low scooting 56deg or pitching wedge like you wouldn't believe...LOL   It's personal preference and feel...

Hell,  Phil hits low scooting bump and run shots with a 64deg wedge.  You have to use what you what makes you comfortable. When it comes to pitching, the same thing applies....."FEEL".  There is only 1 way to acquire this.......

Technique comes before feel. Get in the realm of decent to good technique, and then you can experiment all you want with feel. Trying to develop feel with shitty technique will just keep a person in the hack zone.

[BuckeyeNut]

Present the same short game shot to three top touring pro's, and each may play a completely different shot.   Yes....technique means something.........so does feel.  I'll play devils advocate........give me less than perfect technique....and great feel around the greens ANY DAY!

[iacas]

Present the same short game shot to three top touring pro's, and each may play a completely different shot.   Yes....technique means something.........so does feel.  I'll play devils advocate........give me less than perfect technique....and great feel around the greens ANY DAY!

Feel comes from having a good technique. You really should buy the Lowest Score Wins . You're very obviously passionate about the game of golf, and there are ten+ things in there worth the price of admission.

Short, short version of a story from the book… I could take Lebron James and put him on a tight fairway lie with a bunker to carry and a pin cut close behind it with the green sloping away from him. Put a basketball hoop there and he'd probably make the majority of them. Give him a golf ball and a lob wedge and he won't get 5% within five feet.

Lebron James has touch.

He lacks the technique.

Another way to look at it: you can't develop your sense of touch if you don't know how you'll strike the ball. You could have the best feel in your example, but if you hit the ball low on the face, or toward the toe, or with too little or too much loft, or whatever the shot won't come off as you "felt" and you're no better off, and likely worse off than someone who strikes the ball as they intend each time.