So scared!

[Alex1975]

Hi all,

With everything hardening up my knees are knocking over every chip shot I stand over, and for good reason. I have played to handicap the last three times I have played, all be it from the yellows but I am having to putt out of my mind as I seem to be two chipping most everything.

40 yards and in I am lost. My coach/pro has his own indoor studio that we use with GC2 and I have credit with him but can I learn anything chipping at a screen? Tecneque I guess...

Anyhow, having great great fun out there at the moment but for sure the winter conditions hide my poor chipping.

Anyone elce finding the changing season a challenge?

Alex

 

[sydney greenstreet]

Are you using the same club to chip with everytime ?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

My chipping has actually improved but that is probably down to the fact I have a technique I am confident in and don't duff or skull much anymore

 

[Alex1975]

Are you using the same club to chip with everytime ?

Nope, I chip with everything from an 8 iron to a lob wedge.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I'm also having a crisis of confidence. Not playing too badly but just not quite on it. Now I'm thinking about the mechanics of my swing with every shot from drives to short putts.... A sure recipe for disaster!

 

[Alex1975]

My chipping has actually improved but that is probably down to the fact I have a technique I am confident in and don't duff or skull much anymore

What are you using, traditional ball back weight forward or new school ball centre weight centre and the bounce?

 

[One Planer]

Since my last lesson my chipping has improved massively, just by moving the ball forward.

I used to chip off the back foot but my pro has me now chipping the ball from centre stance and it it much, much easier to control. Snelly gave a tip previously that I found very, very useful. My pro made a very minor adjustment to it and it's working great

 

[Crow]

I'm also having a crisis of confidence. Not playing too badly but just not quite on it. Now I'm thinking about the mechanics of my swing with every shot from drives to short putts.... A sure recipe for disaster!

That exactly sums up my game too, horrible isn't it.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I put ball centre then angle my feet slightly towards the target. My weight is slightly forward and I make sure I swing from my shoulders and let my arms follow.

 

[Alex1975]

Since my last lesson my chipping has improved massively, just by moving the ball forward.

I used to chip off the back foot but my pro has me now chipping the ball from centre stance and it it much, much easier to control. Snelly gave a tip previously that I found very, very useful. My pro made a very minor adjustment to it and it's working great

But your not going to tell me what that tip was??!!:angry:

 

[One Planer]

But your not going to tell me what that tip was??!!:angry:

Seeing as you asked so nicely :smirk:

To quote Snelly from a previous thread:

When I see people with chipping woes, invariably the cause is the backswing being too long leading to varying degrees of deceleration through impact.

As a solution, perhaps try this - take your pitching wedge and have your hands slightly forward (2-3 inches) of the clubface. Play the ball from the middle of your narrow stance. Think of the stroke as a long putt with not too much backswing and plenty of follow through. Make sure you see the club hit the ball. Try this with a 9 iron or sand iron until you get the trajectory and roll that you prefer then stick with it. And remember to focus on the spot you want the ball to land rather than the pin.

I can honestly say this works.

 

[USER1999]

Chipping like a god.

Engage smugness.

 

[Alex1975]

Chipping like a god.

Engage smugness.

I won't say putting like a god but I will say I feel pretty confident over most putts at the moment. For sure it's the most consistent my putting stroke has ever been.

 

[Idlenorth1]

Had the same as the op today, chipping was awful and went down to an 8 iron bump and run as much as I could. I quit on them , skinned them, got underneath them, hooked them - had it all
Putting though is my strongest part and always most consistent, canned a 25 footer, 2 x 15 footer and always feel i will get it in or leave it close enough for a comfortable 2nd putt
Best not talk about the old (expletive) guy that played my ball when I had just driven short of the par 4 6th hole (or picked it up) and then claimed he knew nothing about it. Was a long walk back to the tee and completely messed up my round and head

 

[kid2]

What are you using, traditional ball back weight forward or new school ball centre weight centre and the bounce?

Al try this.......Play the ball off the toe of the back foot.......Hands slightly forward and the stance just slightly open.........Do Not break your wrists in the backswing........Just keep the arms relaxed but straight.....Like you would when putting....... All you do then is rock your shoulders back and through.......The bounce on the club will do the work for you...... Also try and hold the face open after the shot....This makes sure that your hitting the chip with some spin on it......That will work with any club around the green........

If you want the Bump and Run shot just take your putting grip and a slightly open narrow stance again and use a putting stroke......That will work for any club in the bag.....

Obviously the 40 and 50 yard pitches will require a little more wrist hinge but try and keep the angles through the ball......Feel like you have a bowed left wrist and that you have a cane sticking out of the butt of the club that Must Not touch your left side pocket.......

 

[Alex1975]

All of this is good stuff but you know what it's like, you lose confidence, talk yourself into the fact that you have an issue and then create one by getting over mechanical.

I have been looking for a high percentage shot so have been playing for bump and run, maybe I need to switch it up a little. For sure the 40/50 yard ones I should man up a little.

I need to pick a method and practice, simple as that. I think I use too many different styles throughout a round.

There is shots to be gained!

 

[MashieNiblick]

I know the feeling well. It's the knifed one that I'm really scared of, could be playing the next shot from anywhere. It's the fact that the thinned one is usually followed by a duff and vice versa that's a real killer. 2 good shots just short of the green and walk off with a 6 or worse. I tense up and my head just fills with negativity.

Having said that my chipping was a lot better yesterday thanks to being able to get in a bit of practice. Just one duff and some good ones although I didn't make the most them by failing to hole out.

Lots of good advice on here. Pro who teaches me has warned against having the the ball too far back in the stance and tries to get me hitting so the club head never gets ahead of the hands. Problem is doing it when it matters.

 

[A_McIntyre]

Hi all,

With everything hardening up my knees are knocking over every chip shot I stand over, and for good reason. I have played to handicap the last three times I have played, all be it from the yellows but I am having to putt out of my mind as I seem to be two chipping most everything.

40 yards and in I am lost. My coach/pro has his own indoor studio that we use with GC2 and I have credit with him but can I learn anything chipping at a screen? Tecneque I guess...

Anyhow, having great great fun out there at the moment but for sure the winter conditions hide my poor chipping.

Anyone elce finding the changing season a challenge?

Alex

It sounds to me like your lack of confidence is causing anxiety prior to playing the shot - in turn leading to nervous and twitchy movements. Have a read at my hints & tips article on chipping. This may help you out. You may find that in fact you do many things contained in the article already - let that be a confidence boost for you. Remember, a good golfer doesn't become a bad one overnight! http://www.andrewmcintyregolf.co.uk/chipping-it-close/ Good luck! Would be keen to know if you get over the chipping nerves.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I know the feeling well. It's the knifed one that I'm really scared of

The knifed one almost always comes after the one where you hit the ground so fat that the divot flops over the ball

 

[Alex1975]

It sounds to me like your lack of confidence is causing anxiety prior to playing the shot - in turn leading to nervous and twitchy movements. Have a read at my hints & tips article on chipping. This may help you out. You may find that in fact you do many things contained in the article already - let that be a confidence boost for you. Remember, a good golfer doesn't become a bad one overnight! http://www.andrewmcintyregolf.co.uk/chipping-it-close/ Good luck! Would be keen to know if you get over the chipping nerves.

Thank you Andrew, I shall take a look when the little one goes to sleep.