Gutted with my short game

[Wolfman]

Some of your problems may be feel and confidence

When you master a better technique you learn to improve your feel for the shot, choose the right club etc etc

My chipping went down hill after advice suggested chip like you putt and this destroyed my feel and i became even more wristy !

I then read about the Tom Watson method of chipping where he turns his right knee towards the target during the chip strike but still maintaining posture etc, this was instead of keeping lower body still

It made a huge difference to my chipping, read his book on the short game very good tips


I now use mostly a wedge to chip so i can get it to check faster and my feel has become like throwing a ball most of the time. If i blade it i know i have lifted up to "see" the shot and hence the blade


Try the right knee move towards the target tip on the follow through it may help


Pitching think of it as a normal swing but

1. do not stand too close to the ball
and feet closer together compared to a standard shot


Again this will come with feel over time, i do not go for the modified 1/2, 3/4 swing idea for pitching instead right club, same swing but change the speed of the swing which for me easier to make good contact with the ball and easier to judge distance better

Bunkers, if your bunkers have plenty of fluffy sand use a SW with lots of bounce, if they are like many , little sand and compact use a LW with low bounce and it will be easier out of bunkers and no need to open the club face just play normal shot but strike 1" to 2" behind the ball

Good luck

 

[andyconnor]

this is what worked for me, might or might not work for you !!
on a nice day i chipped balls in my garden over my sons trampoline and imagined it was a big bunker.
on rainy days i chipped balls in my garage off of a car mat and imagined it was a bare lie.
now when im faced with a bunker or bare lie i imagine its that trampoline or car mat and my ball striking has improved and im now attempting flop shots, something i was too scared to try on the course.
hope this helps

 

[Shortgamedespair]

Some of your problems may be feel and confidence

When you master a better technique you learn to improve your feel for the shot, choose the right club etc etc

My chipping went down hill after advice suggested chip like you putt and this destroyed my feel and i became even more wristy !

I then read about the Tom Watson method of chipping where he turns his right knee towards the target during the chip strike but still maintaining posture etc, this was instead of keeping lower body still

It made a huge difference to my chipping, read his book on the short game very good tips


I now use mostly a wedge to chip so i can get it to check faster and my feel has become like throwing a ball most of the time. If i blade it i know i have lifted up to "see" the shot and hence the blade


Try the right knee move towards the target tip on the follow through it may help


Pitching think of it as a normal swing but

1. do not stand too close to the ball
and feet closer together compared to a standard shot


Again this will come with feel over time, i do not go for the modified 1/2, 3/4 swing idea for pitching instead right club, same swing but change the speed of the swing which for me easier to make good contact with the ball and easier to judge distance better

Bunkers, if your bunkers have plenty of fluffy sand use a SW with lots of bounce, if they are like many , little sand and compact use a LW with low bounce and it will be easier out of bunkers and no need to open the club face just play normal shot but strike 1" to 2" behind the ball

Good luck

Cheers Wolfman, I will certainly try this as i find it much easier to play a full shot and get in all sorts of problems when I try to shorten my swing. Can I ask do you open the club face at address?

 

[ScienceBoy]

My chipping went down hill after advice suggested chip like you putt and this destroyed my feel and i became even more wristy !

Don't let Bob see your putting stroke , do you putt like a Mr A. Palmer?

 

[Wolfman]

Cheers Wolfman, I will certainly try this as i find it much easier to play a full shot and get in all sorts of problems when I try to shorten my swing. Can I ask do you open the club face at address?

The clubface normally only gets open in a bunker with a SW

Forget that for now, square clubface and try a LW 58/60 deg with low number bounce ( mine is 6 ) and it gets me out of bunkers every time as most UK bunkers do not have tons of fluffy sand where the SW with high bounce works better

The LW also works well in bunkers after the rain has compacted the sand

Do not use the LW for any other shots as its a tricky wedge keep it for the bunkers