“Putt” your Chips
One way to improve your chipping is to “putt” chips. This approach is especially effective on short shots around the green. Putting your chips not only takes the nerves out of short shots—the kind that can add two or three strokes to your score if mist-hit—but also provides better feel and control of the club during the shot. The approach also provides more reliable contact.
Putting your chip is simple. Use your putting grip, which keeps the back of the top-hand stable, and play the ball just inside your left heel, if you’re right-handed, or just inside your right heel, if you’re left-handed. Then set the club on its toe, so the shaft is vertical, like a putter’s, and stroke the ball as if you were putting it instead of chipping it.
The key to putting chips well is setting the club on its toe. Doing so:
- Helps replicate your putting stance, so the ball is directly under your eyes, and your motion is simpler.
- Encourages the clubhead to slide through the grass, guarding against mis-hits
- Gives the shot a “softer feel,” allowing for a more aggressive swing.
Two other bits of advice: If the ball is sitting down, tilt your body a bit, which will encourage a slight angle of descent through impact. And keep your body still, just like you were putting the ball, so as not to throw the shot off. Lastly, use a pendulum like motion, swing the clubhead up with your arms going back, and let it swing down into the ball.
Try the putt your chips approach on the practice green first. Engrain the technique before using it during a round. That way you can focus on your target and not worry about your mechanics while swinging.
Article used with permission from Jack Moorehouse, who has developed a unique and proven handicap slashing system. If you want to get your handicap down to a respectable level then he can help. Golf doesn’t have to be so difficult and his goal is to help you put the “fun” back in your game.
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