Hinge & Hold

[G_Mulligan]

Just back from my first practice with Mickelson's hinge & hold technique. Previously I had been using Leadbetter for my short game. It is early days but my strikes were definitely more consistent with the hinge technique although the results were very hit and miss compared to usual.

I think the hinge is going to take some getting used to for distance control but I think it will make me far more consistent in the long run.

Anyone else tried the hinge and hold? I would appreciate hearing how you got on with it and the long term benefits once it has been practiced.

 

[edgey]

Hi

I use this and have found it really good from 60 yards in. Much more consistant strike on the ball and rarely duff one now.

Edgey

 

[SharkAttack]

Let's face it with a long game like Phil's, he must have a s**t hot short game. If he didn't have such a good short game, I wouldn't have him as a doubles partner (because he would be off about a 10hcp)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Care to allude in more detail what its all about

 

[G_Mulligan]

Care to allude in more detail what its all about

Sure thing Homer I did not want to assume people did not know and start boring them.

The basic concept is to hinge your wrist immediately on the takeaway then drive down with pace into the ball. The hold part refereed to the club and arms forming a straight line towards the target in the follow through ie: not letting the club get ahead like a full shot.

All his diffirent shots; chip, pitch, flop, & lob all had this same basic technique which I liked and he even slated the current method I use in the DVD

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Any videos or you tube clips to get a visual concept

 

[G_Mulligan]

Any videos or you tube clips to get a visual concept

Your wish is my command

I dont have flash at work so I can't check the clip but this looks like the right one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4DevROGzXM

 

[birdieman]

I think this is just regular good chipping technique which he has chosen to call hinge and hold.
Chipping is probably the strongest part of my game, I practice it a lot and I would agree that keeping the hands ahead of the ball and not letting the clubhead swing through is solid chipping technique.
Get your weight on your left side and ball back a little so you are always hitting down on the ball, the loft of the club you're playing controls the trajectory you need.

 

[G_Mulligan]

Get your weight on your left side and ball back a little so you are always hitting down on the ball.

That is what I used to do but he says that is how to hit a low running chip. For normal chips he has ball off left heel and weight neutral or slightly right.

 

[bobmac]

For normal chips he has ball off left heel and weight neutral or slightly right.

He is left handed don't forget

For a righty that would read

"For normal chips he has ball off right heel and weight neutral or slightly left".

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I went up to Sand Martins this afternoon and played around with this. The hinge part made the shot feel a lot more natural to me although found I really had to focus to hold the club off through impact. When it was good it was as good as my chipping has been in recent memory but if I didn't commit or hold off the familiar chunks and thins were still there. Its given me a firmer platform to hang my chipping on and I guess the improvement will come with practice

 

[G_Mulligan]

For normal chips he has ball off left heel and weight neutral or slightly right.

He is left handed don't forget

For a righty that would read

"For normal chips he has ball off right heel and weight neutral or slightly left".

No I don't believe so he has the ball forward and the his weight neutral or leaning slightly back if anything same as his putting set up. So for him it would be ball off right heel but for 9 out of 10 of us right handers he recommends ball off left.

He does mention though as you do that 'hinge and hold' is just what he chooses to name it but all good chippers have this basic technique.

Yeah Homer I know what you mean I played a round today and hit a couple of cracking chip shots. Had some inconsistent strikes but I knew I would going out because I have not practiced enough, once I have put some hours in I feel like my short game will be far more reliable especially under pressure.

 

[JustOne]

I went up to Sand Martins this afternoon and played around with this. The hinge part made the shot feel a lot more natural to me although found I really had to focus to hold the club off through impact. When it was good it was as good as my chipping has been in recent memory but if I didn't commit or hold off the familiar chunks and thins were still there. Its given me a firmer platform to hang my chipping on and I guess the improvement will come with practice

You have to keep your weight on the left side and hands forward of the ball.... sound familiar?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I went up to Sand Martins this afternoon and played around with this. The hinge part made the shot feel a lot more natural to me although found I really had to focus to hold the club off through impact. When it was good it was as good as my chipping has been in recent memory but if I didn't commit or hold off the familiar chunks and thins were still there. Its given me a firmer platform to hang my chipping on and I guess the improvement will come with practice

You have to keep your weight on the left side and hands forward of the ball.... sound familiar?

Is there a stack and tilt technique for chipping too now. What about putting???????