Saturday, March 5, 2011

Golf - Chipping & Putting

By Philip Denson


Try my 4 iron chip shot. Just bump it past the fringe, & let it roll out. Use a grip you would use for putting and choke down a few inches.

My short shots have become much better lately from adding more clubs to my chipping options. Particularly, I have had a good deal of success with a four iron on those long chips where you only need to land the ball on the green and allow it just roll out. I used that particular hit just this last weekend while out golfing with a friend, and it wound up being a no-sweat two putt from about 20 yds away.

Because it can help me make sure and keep my hands working as a single unit, I typically prefer to use my reverse overlap putting grip. Everything else that I do is fundamental to chipping - I position my golfball back of center in a less than shoulder width but somewhat open stance, and set most of my weight to my left foot. This helps to allow me to make a descending strike into the rear of the ball - but before I start to do anything, however, I read the break and choose a spot just on the other side of the fringe where I'd like the ball to come down.

Just as I do on a putt, I try to hold my head still after impact. This will help me to hit the ball solidly & on target. Imagine the path as a width of the cup. Then, aim for one hole after the other systematically so that you can reduce the anxiousness.

Too many players I meet are far too concerned with precisely following their line. Actually, most I've met tell me they picture a thin line on the green running from the cup to the ball. But, the more they think about hitting that line, the more tense they get. As a result, this keeps them from being able to make a relaxed stroke. Thus, the golf ball rarely stays on the desired target path.

Alternately, I like to instruct people to picture a path from the putter to the hole as a series of holes. Using this image will help you picture a route to the cup, and will allow you to remain relaxed to just let it flow through you. When you are ready to put, think about hitting the ball into the first cup merely inches in front of you - think about the actual cup for distance control only. Doing this will help to ease off the pressure and make puttinga little easier.




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