Short Game Thoughts

[Slab]

Yup, that's me all over. Back in my lesson I had a lovely repeatable technique that worked every time. Out on the course though I crumble like a shortbread cookie.

Another classic example yesterday - on one par 3 I hooked my shot 15 yards left of the green, had a really tough shot where I had to chip it low, through trees, under branches, through a patch of mud and release up a slope to the green - I executed this perfectly and left it 4 feet from the pin. Because I had no expectations of playing it well so no pressure on myself. But the 'easier' the shot is, where I start thinking I should get up and down, that's when the yips and chunks come.

Yup, I knifed two and fatted a third because of ‘head demons’ that just aren’t there on practice area. Very frustrating

We know we have the ability and the physical swing to execute the chip shot and do no worse than 2-putt (which I wouldn’t be thrilled about but a bogey isn’t a total disaster) so why do I bleedin knife it through the green/chunk it short so that I’m faced with another chip/putt from short or worse still getting it back in play from a rubbish lie behind where double/triple is now a reality

I’ve hit thousands of practice chips to know it works but even seeing the results doesn’t convince my head when I’m on the course

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

That's not true unfortunately. I am absolutely horrible out of green side bunkers, 60 is the only thing I can get out with. Sometimes. Whenever I try and open the face I shank it, so I need the 60 so I can play it pretty square. Also our bunkers are always compacted and hard so I need the lower bounce usually.

My mate had one for a few years, but even that stopped working for him after a while and he got rid of it. Not sure why! When I was like a 20+ handicap I used to chip with an 8 iron and a putting stroke (basically like using a chipper) and it works pretty well, but I just lost this technique over the years somehow. Might've been guilty of thinking I need a 'better' shot when my overall ability improved when I just need anything that works.

If you can’t get out of a bunker with a 54° which is an actual SW then I’d argue your short game needs a lot more work than just chipping and you need to do whatever you can to find time to practice it all even if you’re short game areas is not the way it’s better than what you’ve been doing.

Sounds like as you’ve been improving you’ve fallen into the habit many do and that’s focusing so much on improving the long game you’ve left your short game behind and need to readjust your focus and put the work into there this winter. Keep it simple , don’t over complicate the practice and try to have fun with it.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Yup, that's me all over. Back in my lesson I had a lovely repeatable technique that worked every time. Out on the course though I crumble like a shortbread cookie.

Another classic example yesterday - on one par 3 I hooked my shot 15 yards left of the green, had a really tough shot where I had to chip it low, through trees, under branches, through a patch of mud and release up a slope to the green - I executed this perfectly and left it 4 feet from the pin. Because I had no expectations of playing it well so no pressure on myself. But the 'easier' the shot is, where I start thinking I should get up and down, that's when the yips and chunks come.

Because your focus had shifted from playing the shot with technique and into the target of where you want the ball to land. Effectively visualising the outcome rather than the how you’re executing the shot. This is key in having a good short game, same as long game the more your minds filled with mechanics over a shot the less chance of playing it well, when you’re chipping have your practice swing, take a last look at the landing zone you want and make that your swing thought it will free up the tension and you won’t be focusing on how to do it but rather on where you want the ball to be. You’ll be surprised how much that simplifies things and improves your chipping.

 

[Orikoru]

If you can’t get out of a bunker with a 54° which is an actual SW then I’d argue your short game needs a lot more work than just chipping and you need to do whatever you can to find time to practice it all even if you’re short game areas is not the way it’s better than what you’ve been doing.

Sounds like as you’ve been improving you’ve fallen into the habit many do and that’s focusing so much on improving the long game you’ve left your short game behind and need to readjust your focus and put the work into there this winter. Keep it simple , don’t over complicate the practice and try to have fun with it.

Bunker woes are long-standing. Too much bounce on the club and it just bounces off the sand and knifes the ball. Biggest problem I find is that no two bunkers are ever the same. I can get out nicely on occasions, then in the next bunker the same technique doesn't work because there's less sand / more sand / more compacted etc. Minefield.

I sometimes think I should just take some balls down the local park and chip balls into a hat or something but I'd feel a bit self-conscious.

 

[sunshine]

Bunker woes are long-standing. Too much bounce on the club and it just bounces off the sand and knifes the ball. Biggest problem I find is that no two bunkers are ever the same. I can get out nicely on occasions, then in the next bunker the same technique doesn't work because there's less sand / more sand / more compacted etc. Minefield.

I sometimes think I should just take some balls down the local park and chip balls into a hat or something but I'd feel a bit self-conscious.

Agree with this. When I'm playing out of compacted sand I try to hit it cleanly with my 58, rather than a splash shot with my 54. Open the clubface just results in a thin.

 

[sunshine]

Short game woes...

I have a good short game, most people recognise this. I regularly use 5 different clubs for chipping, but at this time of year the 58 is the best as I can just throw it up to the hole. To do this I need to play with relaxed hands and arms, and confidence plays a big role because it's a relatively long swing for a short distance.

For me, where it goes wrong is I tend to take the club away on the inside too much, then when I realise this I over-compensate and take it away outside the line. Both swings result in me getting out of plane and increase the chance of fat and thin contact. To fix it I do two things:

1. Practise quarter swings and check my plane at the top, including if the club face is too open/shut. You can do this on the course, but is better when practising.
2. Reduce the loft. Ball back in stance, weight more on front foot, more shaft lean. I find this produces a more reliable contact and consistent outcome, although it is a less versatile technique. When my confidence is low I fall back on this technique and it usually gets me through.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Bunker woes are long-standing. Too much bounce on the club and it just bounces off the sand and knifes the ball. Biggest problem I find is that no two bunkers are ever the same. I can get out nicely on occasions, then in the next bunker the same technique doesn't work because there's less sand / more sand / more compacted etc. Minefield.

I sometimes think I should just take some balls down the local park and chip balls into a hat or something but I'd feel a bit self-conscious.

Unfortunately in this instance there’s no substitute for practice on variety lies in and out of the sand. If it’s really bare or compacted sticking the wedges away and playing just chip shots may be a better option or even putting out.

Agree with this. When I'm playing out of compacted sand I try to hit it cleanly with my 58, rather than a splash shot with my 54. Open the clubface just results in a thin.

54° clubface square to slightly closed so the toe digs in first, ball pops up nicely and releases more to the hole fairly similar to playing a plugged shot always works for me. Alternatively chipping out with a PW, 8
9 or 8 iron even works. Some bunkers I’ve even putted out of.

 

[RichA]

Bunkers at the 2 courses I play most often aren't great most of the year. During a prolonged heatwave the sand might look loose and fluffy but it's usually like concrete under the first quarter inch. The rest of the year the sand is firm and damp.
I rarely even try a proper bunker shot anymore; just a really firm, fully committed chip.
Doesn't look pretty but it almost always works.

 

[Slab]

Yup, I knifed two and fatted a third because of ‘head demons’ that just aren’t there on practice area. Very frustrating

Here's the other thing that's really annoying about my short game... in the very same round I describe my chipping woes above, I holed out from off the green with putter... twice!

How on earth is that supposed to improve my confidence with a wedge

 

[Orikoru]

Here's the other thing that's really annoying about my short game... in the very same round I describe my chipping woes above, I holed out from off the green with putter... twice!

How on earth is that supposed to improve my confidence with a wedge

Weirdly, I'm not good at putting from off the green either. I can never judge how much it's going to roll through the longer grass, and I'll end up miles short. That's why I'm better at hybrid chipping, as it jumps over that first bit of grass.

 

[Slab]

Weirdly, I'm not good at putting from off the green either. I can never judge how much it's going to roll through the longer grass, and I'll end up miles short. That's why I'm better at hybrid chipping, as it jumps over that first bit of grass.

Fortunately I’m pretty consistent using putter off the green, so if there’s no obstacle/rough to negotiate then I’ll usually consider that first. Basically, I need a reason to chip
Luckily round our putting practice greens there’s plenty grass that’s cut to fairway height so its easy to practice putting from off the green as part of routine putting practice
And unlike a wedge I’ve never had ‘head demons’ using putter that way

I've tried the hybrid too but I'm not a fan of it especially if it has to go up-slope (i.e I've run off a green down a bank etc) we've plenty greens with slops/banks & I find it really hard to predict how the ball will behave since it very much depends on if it bounces just before/just on an up-slope (whether its the grass or grass/soil combo there's very little forward roll even with a gentle slope if the ball lands on the face)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As one who has alway relied on 'bump and run' when around the green and no obstacles (8i or PW)...and low 'chip-over' obstacles with PW when there were - I have had pointed out (I guess I knew) that I over relied on this.

My coach has just this last summer had me working on using a 54° wedge to throw the ball much further through the air - with less reliance on getting the 'run-out' right - this shot being better for when ground conditions make it difficult to judge the first couple of bounces of a b&r - and better for clearing obstacles such as green-side bunkers (when he has me practicing with my 58° when short-sided). It is still very much work-in-progress as my instinct is to try and play it like a bump and run - and it is easy for me to thin it...

But getting there with the 3Ps. Practice for Progress not Perfection.

 

[spongebob59]

Well, my chipping was back in the absolute toilet this weekend. Mostly chunking it. At worst I'm yipping it - sort of decelerate a lot at impact, dump the club into the ground, then speed up again on the follow-through - this has even caused me to double-hit the ball twice. It's embarrassing at this point. Ok there were some horrendous muddy lies involved, but a yip and a double-hit shouldn't be happening no matter what the lie is.

Just a bit baffled now and not sure how to proceed. Not gonna throw more money on another lesson - the biggest problem now is the yippiness which is only going to happen on a proper shot during a round, so even if I did go back for a lesson I'd probably be chipping fine and he'd be wondering why I was there. As I've mentioned before, I don't really have anywhere to practice since our chipping area at the club is pretty useless.

Need to go back to basics I think. Bit less loft, take my wrists out of it completely and really focus on a very simple straight back and turn through with the chest movement. If that fails, God knows - maybe a Matty Fitz left below right next??

The only time I chip well now is bump and running with a hybrid, I'm genuinely so good at that it's night and day. But the problem is I only feel comfortable doing that off a short fairway lie, I don't fancy it out of longer grass unless I'm literally just a couple of feet off the green.

 

[Orikoru]

Made some progress in my round this morning. I tried to simplify my technique a little bit. One thing I've noticed in a lot of videos is how close the pros have their feet together, whereas mine were a bit further apart. Bringing them closer together seemed to enable me to stand a bit taller and not swing as steeply at the ball. Tried not to use much wrist break either, so it was a very simple movement, and it worked very well. Was hard to judge the roll out because the greens were a bit frozen, a lot of them skipped on a bit far, but the main thing was I struck them all nicely with no chunks. Mostly using PW to keep it low, especially with the icy conditions as I mentioned. Positive steps.

Hybrid was still the best though - managed to hole a bump and run with it for birdie!

 

[Klimski]

As someone who uses a Cleveland Smart Sole Chipper, I have to say: it's not a magic solution for chipping - ironically enough.

I love that club, but I get more from it as an approach club from 100 meters or less. I lenghtened the shaft - so basically it's now my attack wedge. I hit it incredibly straight and can vary distance quite easily. The lie is quite upright, and the head is heavy which helps me hit is longer or shorter.

For chipping however, I am actually getting into using my Cleveland Smart sole SW (58 degree). I crank down the loft a bit, and can hit it a bit harder and let it roll out. I do chip with the chipper on occasion but I find it hard to judge distance with it. I am also never sure whether to use a chipping stroke or a putting stroke with it. When I putt with it, I tend to knife it a bit...

Added to this, I lent the chipper to a friend who has chipping yips - didn't help at all (he tried it for a few weeks). Perhaps one of those putter style chippers is easier? But I have no spot in my bag for truly single function clubs other than Driver and putter...

So, in short: a chipper won't likely solve your issues. If your hyrbid or fairway wood works for you - just go with that!

 

[Orikoru]

As someone who uses a Cleveland Smart Sole Chipper, I have to say: it's not a magic solution for chipping - ironically enough.

I love that club, but I get more from it as an approach club from 100 meters or less. I lenghtened the shaft - so basically it's now my attack wedge. I hit it incredibly straight and can vary distance quite easily. The lie is quite upright, and the head is heavy which helps me hit is longer or shorter.

For chipping however, I am actually getting into using my Cleveland Smart sole SW (58 degree). I crank down the loft a bit, and can hit it a bit harder and let it roll out. I do chip with the chipper on occasion but I find it hard to judge distance with it. I am also never sure whether to use a chipping stroke or a putting stroke with it. When I putt with it, I tend to knife it a bit...

Added to this, I lent the chipper to a friend who has chipping yips - didn't help at all (he tried it for a few weeks). Perhaps one of those putter style chippers is easier? But I have no spot in my bag for truly single function clubs other than Driver and putter...

So, in short: a chipper won't likely solve your issues. If your hyrbid or fairway wood works for you - just go with that!

So you use a chipper for wedge shots and a wedge for chip shots. You really don't play like normal people do you?

 

[Neilds]

As someone who uses a Cleveland Smart Sole Chipper, I have to say: it's not a magic solution for chipping - ironically enough.

I love that club, but I get more from it as an approach club from 100 meters or less. I lenghtened the shaft - so basically it's now my attack wedge. I hit it incredibly straight and can vary distance quite easily. The lie is quite upright, and the head is heavy which helps me hit is longer or shorter.

For chipping however, I am actually getting into using my Cleveland Smart sole SW (58 degree). I crank down the loft a bit, and can hit it a bit harder and let it roll out. I do chip with the chipper on occasion but I find it hard to judge distance with it. I am also never sure whether to use a chipping stroke or a putting stroke with it. When I putt with it, I tend to knife it a bit...

Added to this, I lent the chipper to a friend who has chipping yips - didn't help at all (he tried it for a few weeks). Perhaps one of those putter style chippers is easier? But I have no spot in my bag for truly single function clubs other than Driver and putter...

So, in short: a chipper won't likely solve your issues. If your hyrbid or fairway wood works for you - just go with that!

You have 5 slots for such a club - if your signature is still correct

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

So you use a chipper for wedge shots and a wedge for chip shots. You really don't play like normal people do you?

I had to read the post 3 times for it to make sense. It still doesn’t a chipper with and extend shaft for wedge shots and the most lofted wedge being used delofted for chip and runs

What next Putter for driving and driver for putting

 

[GreiginFife]

I had to read the post 3 times for it to make sense. It still doesn’t a chipper with and extend shaft for wedge shots and the most lofted wedge being used delofted for chip and runs

What next Putter for driving and driver for putting

 

[Klimski]

Hahaha

I will try the driver for putting...the other way round, I'm not so sure