rusty as an old nail!

[ademac]

I went for a bit of a chipping practice session today. I haven't been able to for a couple of weeks because I've been rather busy with work and my 7 week old son. anyway, I stood over the first ball,took up my stance and screwed it off at a 90 degree angle! after about 10 minutes I was in the groove and was playing some lovely shots up to the flag that I'd be well chuffed with in a proper game, problem is of course, I don't get 10 minutes chipping practice in a proper game! It happens all the time, I feel great after a good practice then I stand over a shot in a game, sh*t myself and either duff it or knife it out the back of the green! hence the thread name!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It is an art like putting. I you can get a grooved chipping motion even if you don't play for weeks you can still score ok. It may not be great in terms of distance control but if you can get the ball in the air or pitching and running without hitting it fat or skulling it then you should at least 2 putt every time and if you can make a few putts as well then a bad long game can be saved.

 

[TonyN]

I try and do some chipping before I go out. I would much rather chip around the green than put before a round. Aslong as you have a solid technique, you should be ok.

 

[Herbie]

Im lucky enough to be at a club that has a little spot you can chip before going out, but sometimes I still fancy a bag of chips more than chip practice.

 

[thecraw]

Indeed, if you have 30 minutes before your medal i would always like to hit about 20 pitches, a few putts and then general losen up by swinging a couple of clubs together.

You will save more shots by sharpening your short game.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I always warm up by hitting a few balls whether it is a roll up with mates or a competition. I normally try and get there about 90 minutes (60 minutes to go through my warm up and 30 to get myself set - loodtop, get card, tees etc and onto the tee without rushing). If I have an early start time and it is too dark to warm up properly I'll try and hit a few wedge shots to get a good tempo and maybe a few 7 or 8 irons. There are two practice nets near the 1st so I'll hit a few 3 woods to get use to hitting a wood off the first. If time is really short, I'll swing two clubs together and then try and hit a few shots in the practice net and a few putts.

I find if I go straight out and have only stretched and warmed the body up I have no feeling of tempo of swing speed for the day and spend three or four holes trying to get myself set in my head which can lead to poor swings and a ropey start.

 

[RGuk]

I like to get in some short game work before playing.
My favourite warm-up if I'm pushed for time is swinging with the izzo smooth swing.

https://www.izzo.com/product/tabid/97/p-116-smooth-swing.aspx

It lives in my bag for such moments. As daft a gadget as it sounds, there are many players who had their coach get them swinging with a belt or something similar around their upper arms. This is the same only it stretches a little.

I use the net at mine for 10 minutes most times, I actually find the fact I wouldn't have known where the ball would have gone quite helpful, means I have to concentrate on the swing and strike not the rest!