Introduction
The Stroke Itself
Different Clubs
Chiping On A Slope
Chipping From The Edge Of The Green
Introduction
Chipping the ball from around the green is one of my most
challenging aspects of golf. It requires a great deal of
confidence in your shot because often times it feels as
though you are going to send the ball sailing right over
the green, but it doesn't normally happen! Like
everything else, practice makes perfect! But in all
seriousness, chipping the ball is one of the most basic
parts of the game. It does not require anything special,
just a little effort.
The Stroke Itself
The chipping stroke is different than the rest of the
strokes that you hit. There is no major weight transfer
because most of the power is generated in the arms. (Not
the wrists!) So to start a chip, you set up like normal.
Find your stance and place the ball on the ground. For a
chip the ball should be about an inch behind your front
foot. (Left foot for right handed hitters and right foot
for left handed hitters.) Now this may seem odd, but the
reason for this placement has to do with trying to get
the club under the ball.
As you make your stroke, your left arm (opposite for left handed hitters) should remain straight. And your arms should be what generates the power for the swing. The distance of the shot is dependant on how hard you swing the club, so you regulate the distance of the shot by how hard you swing at the ball. So as you swing the club backwards to the desired height, and forwards to impact the ball, your weight should remain on your front foot. Like always, make sure you follow through.
Different Clubs
Although the arms are what generate the power for the
stroke, the club is an important factor in how you hit
the ball. Each lie will need a different club. For
instance, if you are in fluffy grass, you will want a
club with more of an angle, you may choose a pitching
wedge or a sand wedge whereas if you are in bare grass or
shortly cut grass, you may wish a 9 iron. That is why
many golfer carry two or three wedges.
Chiping On A Slope
Chipping on an upslope or chipping on a downslope are two
different things. Why? Well, if you are chipping on an
upslope the ground is already pitched upward, so you need
less of an angle on the club! Seems simple right? The
opposite is true for a downslope. As you chip on a
downslope, you will need a club with more of an angle to
compensate for the angle downward.
Chipping From The Edge Of The Green
From the edge of the green (the apron around the green)
the grass is cut too low enough to chip and too high to
putt, so a stroke has been designed to be the best of
both worlds. It is neight a chip nor a putt, but
combination of the two. In this stroke, you set up in
your stance, like a putt. You use a chipping iron and use
it like your were putting. What I mean is that you kind
of push the club through the ball instead of swinging at
the ball. If you do this, the ball should pop up quickly
(a short hop) the roll like a putt! It is a neat try!