Hinge and hold

[ajwk1967]

I have watched Phil Mickelson short game secrets through a few times.

I understand that the back swing on his chip shots is essentially a wrist cock and in the through swing he doesn't let the club pass his hands. He doesn't really explain what he is trying to do in between in terms of is he trying to hold the angle created by the wrist cock or does he release it early but without letting it go past the hands. Nor does he explain why we should all be doing it? He is rude about some other methods but without anything positive about his other than he is clearly a genius with it. 

Is it going to create more consistency in the average player? Does it create more spin? Is it easier to do than the alternatives? I currently use a technique where I do cock the wrists on most shots I tend to play off my back foot in the main with a bit of check from a good lie. I will hit high shots if needed but I don't often. My club head tends to go just past the hands but I am not flipping them over. I am just curious if other handicap golfers have switched to it or been taught it and had success.

 

[jbishop15]

Hinge and hold isn't the best way to do it. That involves a lot of the leading edge, which can be difficult to time or use on tighter lies. Most people here would tell you to use the bounce of the club as much as possible instead of the leading edge; using the bounce gives you a bigger margin for error. 

 

This line is about pitching specifically, but it also applies to chipping. 

 

 

[saevel25]

I try to use as much bounce as possible. This means, I tend to pitch more than I chip.

For how much Phil likes to say he does the hinge and hold. There is a lot of replays over the years showing him not maintaining that wrist angle.  He might feel like he does this, but he engages the bounce a decent amount of the time.

[Piz]

Hinge and hold does not work for me.  My mantra as of late has been "Swing low...Sweet chariot".  The shallower the better on what is, essentially, a lofted putt.

[Hardspoon]

When I first started trying to get better at golf, I watched Phil's videos and tried the "hinge and hold".  Putting aside poor results (which could have just been attributed to me being new at golf), it just always felt so UNNATURAL.  It was very difficult for me to feel smooth when trying so hard not to let something happen (hands pass club).

Recently, I abandoned it entirely.  I try to use a pitching motion as much as possible, and if I do have to chip, it's basically just a putting motion (no "hinge").

[Osnola]

4 minutes ago, Piz said:

Hinge and hold does not work for me.  My mantra as of late has been "Swing low...Sweet chariot".  The shallower the better on what is, essentially, a lofted putt.

Same for me.  I have tried the hinge and hold and have a tendency to shoot the ball all the way across the green....Like you, swing low but Have to really concentrate on keeping weight on front foot and I play it like a lofted putt...keeps me out of trouble, most of the time....

[RussUK]

I couldnt get the the whole hinge and hold thing. On short chips i chip like i putt but for the longer stuff i started to struggle. I came accross a method by accident that i would normally scoff at.

I was reading some Battle of Britain pilot accounts and came accross an ace called Minden Vaughan Blake. Turns out after the war he got into golf and developed a fairly strange swing. Being bored and nothing else to do i thought i'd have a laugh with some pitches. I was actually surprised with the effectivness when used for wedges. If things get rough this year i may use it.

[Moxley]

I tried this last year and it didn't work for me , lovely shots when it worked, but too many bad misses. I think the problem is being consistent with the wrist action, I think it's asking too much for weekend golfers. 

I use some wrist break in certain situations though, like when I want a bit more spin. 

Edited February 20, 2018 by Moxley
caveat

[Groucho Valentine]

I agree that our hands should be leading the way through the stroke, i think that hinge method makes the stroke too mechanical and rigid.  We need some room for our instincts and feel to take hold. 

[iacas]

I’m not understanding some recent posts.

Hinge and hold is how you chip.

You don’t have to hinge a bunch (it changes the radius), nor do you have to “hold” rigidly. Just a bit, without flipping.

Pitching is another story altogether. But chipping is hinge and hold.

[Pullhook]

For me currently best way is use puttinglike motion in short chips and more wrists in longer chips. There is no need to use one method imo. Still i am not short game wizard so dont know. Just working fine to me. 7.5 hcp so not the best guy to give tips.

[ajwk1967]

On ‎19‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 8:02 PM, jbishop15 said:

Hinge and hold isn't the best way to do it. That involves a lot of the leading edge, which can be difficult to time or use on tighter lies. Most people here would tell you to use the bounce of the club as much as possible instead of the leading edge; using the bounce gives you a bigger margin for error. 

 

This line is about pitching specifically, but it also applies to chipping. 

 

 

Hinge and hold as Phil presents it is a bounce led technique.

 

[jbishop15]

Hinge and hold implies that he's never letting the club pass his hands, which makes it either impossible or very difficult to use the bounce. I've always had the feeling (and heard from instructors and the like) that you should feel like the club releases past your hands. 

But, hey, if he's advocating using the bounce, maybe it does feel to him like he's hinging and holding! Feel is different for everyone, after all. 

[iacas]

7 minutes ago, jbishop15 said:

Hinge and hold implies that he's never letting the club pass his hands, which makes it either impossible or very difficult to use the bounce.

Yes.

7 minutes ago, jbishop15 said:

I've always had the feeling (and heard from instructors and the like) that you should feel like the club releases past your hands. 

Not really for a "chip." For pitches, etc. sure.

7 minutes ago, jbishop15 said:

But, hey, if he's advocating using the bounce, maybe it does feel to him like he's hinging and holding! Feel is different for everyone, after all. 

Yep.

[The Hook Meister]

I don't think that one method is right for every shot. You have to take a lot of things into consideration: lie,hazards, distance, wind, etc. I will use everything for grip it and rip iit to hinge and hold.