Back to Basics Chipping

Many people wonder what is the real difference between a top class professional and a better-than average amateur. I suppose there could be many answers, but the one that stands out is basic chipping. The sad thing is that it shouldn’t be this way. Sometimes there’s a reason why we can’t hit the ball 300 yards with a soft draw, but there is no logical or physical reason why we cannot chip a ball from off the green as close as a tour pro every time.

There is, however, a big difference in the way professionals and amateurs play their chip shots. Most amateurs still draw a direct comparison between chipping and putting by using a rigid mechanical, putting/pendulum technique. This is okay for a very short chip just off the edge of the green, but for the shot from 30-50 feet the touring professional sees it as a smaller version of his full golfswing by encouraging much more body rotation when he hits the ball.

The professional approach – TRY THE DOWEL DRILL

If you want to chip the professional way, then try this drill by extending an old club with some Wooden dowel and see what feedback you get. Just cut the top off the grip and slide the dowel down the shaft before securing it with a piece of tape.

By moving the ball much further forward than normal in the stance you are able to create the same relationship between the arms and club as in a full swing.

But now you have given yourself more time and room because you will strike the ball later in the swing. Note, gripping further down the club than normal, and have the body weight favouring the left side and slightly pinch the knees together.

You are not trying to encourage much wristbreak at this point and any wrist angle you can see has been pre-determined by the relationship of the arms and the club in the start position. The point of locus should be very much based around softness as well as maintaining an even rhythm. You will see just how much the upper half tums, therefore not restricting the body turn as you hit the ball. As the upper half has rotated and the arms have continued to accelerate towards the target, you can see the butt extension in the club will not make contact with the left side of the body. Look how far towards the target the right arm has finished…like a bowling action.