Useful chipping techniques.

RGDave

RGDave

Money List Winner
Joined
Mar 4, 2009
Messages
8,410
Visit site
I've played every day this week.... :) and other than one game, been pretty steady. 10 pars, 8 bogeys yesterday, solid, but not spectacular around the greens.

I had a nervy moment in a proper/club 9 hole event on Wednesday night and wondered if anyone might have some tips for a certain type of shot. I've messed up this situation quite frequently and need a re-think.

If I'm a foot or two off the green I normally putt unless the flag is the other side of the green, in which case, I'll chip n run with a short iron. Now and again, putting to a close pin is tough because there are areas of deep, dark green grass and the ball is somewhat buried. If the flag is close, I'll try to play a very small SW, but have duffed these trying to get clever.

I experimented with a tiny bump with a rescue club yesterday before playing and got the feel pretty good....hard to miss :cool:. Trouble is, on the course when I tried them, they went miles.....a 5 cm backswing becomes a 15 foot chip!!

Any short game ideas out there? Does anyone try "blading" the ball or any "putt it regardless" types out there?

Maybe I need to buy a custom built pink chipper?.... :) :D
 
Dave, I think you just need to consistency with one type of shot from just off the green, and I tend to mostly use an 8iron played with a putting stroke, with no wrist break etc.

If its a little more buried, perhaps a 9 or a PW etc, but always witha Putting stroke, which just lets the loft of the club work to get the ball onto the green, and lets it roll out to the hole.
 
Maybe I need to buy a custom built pink chipper?.... :) :D
Click to expand...

But only use it when you're wearing shorts :D

Bit of an on the fence answer, but it really does depend. Though in general, I tend to use an 8 iron with a putter grip and try to keep the wrists slightly ahed of the club at impact....that almost sounds like I know what I am talking about!

I have tried the flop shots, but usually I either thin it or drop short of the green...that Mickleson's a star eh? very difficult skill to master.

Again, sounds dull, but I suppose it's all about practice...not the 4 minutes I usually get on the practice green before the Sunday swindle, but proper practrice with lots of different clubs and different lies etc. Bit of muscle memory and straight forwrd mind memory...know what the club will do. The best players have all the shots, rather than the one size fits all. Though it is good to have a 'go to' shot for the pressure situations of a match.

Note to GM: I am available for the Top 25 coaching role if a vacancy come up :rolleyes:. Thanks, but not thanks? I'll get me coat...
 
Chris, you took the words right out of my keyboard. :)
The only thing I would add is do not quit on the shot. Better to be 6 feet passed than 1 foot in front of you. Keep the clubhead moving through the grass
 
let it be said that I'm not a good chipper (not since I sold it! :D)

I've been improving I think because I use the SkyCaddie to give me ranges. I can then add that bit extra to the (poor) memory bank that when I did this with that, this is what happened. When I play a comp w/o GPS I can better visualise the shot.

Of course I doesn't help for the 'your at the green' shots.
 
I like my hands forward, the ball off the back foot, and then make a short swing with my 54 degree wedge, accelerating into the back of the ball, with no wrist break. This is important, as if you break your wrists, you will stuff it.
 
Dave, I think you just need to consistency with one type of shot from just off the green, and I tend to mostly use an 8iron played with a putting stroke, with no wrist break etc.

If its a little more buried, perhaps a 9 or a PW etc, but always witha Putting stroke, which just lets the loft of the club work to get the ball onto the green, and lets it roll out to the hole.
Click to expand...
I like this method too for chip-and-run. You pretty much know you're not going to get any checkspin from an 8-iron so you only need to worry about how far you need to hit it.
Short swing, firm wrists and clip it forward.
FWIW I normally try not to let the club recoil after the shot to make sure I accelerate though the shot.
 
Hmm, not convinced.

I play the stiff-wristed 8 iron all the time.

I think there is some misunderstanding (which might be at my end). I'm thinking a really delicate shot, just enough to nudge the ball out/over a foot or two of deep grass with the ball sat down and the pin under a 2-3 yards on the green.

Surely I can't play an 8 iron for these, can I? That'll require even less backswing than a SW.
 
For me, the short shot from deep rough needs my 58 opened slightly and a swing just past 8 o'clock with firmish wrists but allowing a hint of cock and accelarate slightly across the long with a firm and committed shot. The open blade should allow a soft cut type shot which will pitch on the front and normally releases 4-6 yards (not too much spin from a deep lie like that). It takes a little practice to get use to the role etc but since learning it recently it has come up trumps.
 
I like to use something similar to Homer's method (sounds similar anyway) but be careful if the lie gets a bit thick. As there is a fairly shallow angle of attack the club can get snagged up in the grass.

Homer, if you are allowing for a hint of cock, can I suggest better fitting shorts? ;)
 
Anyone remember the Kenny Perry cheat?

This is the sort of thing I'm talking about, that kind of lie, but with a flag just over the first cut and then really close.

KennyPerry.jpg
 
Just time to take your medicine there RGD.
Click to expand...

Yes, yes.....EXACTLY!

What I'm trying to work out is HOW to take the medicine.

If I try to get up'n'down it's going to require something quite special. I could play a SW with a small swing but firm, but that's going to not spin at all and be a good few feet past. It's one of those situations where I need to just get it on the green and in safe 2 putt distance, even if that is way past the flag.

What I've tried (and failed too often) is just nudge it out of the deep stuff.....
 
I guess no-one has the answer, unless everyone is sticking with the 8 iron idea.

8 iron out of the 2nd cut? with a close cut pin.....I don't reckon that's the answer.
 
I still think trying to open a lob wedge and slide it under a bit like a bunker shot is the only other option. Higher tariff of difficulty but even if you fat it its going to land front edge and only leave a 6-8 footer anyway. You'd be leaving that with the 8 iron so I guess its a win win
 
I had one of these today.
I got my 58 wedge behind it and the backswing was all of 6-8 inches. I accelerated in to the ball and it popped out and finished close enough for a tap-in. Got enough spin on the ball to stop it - but it had to be a clean strike. Anything less than perfect and it was curtains.
 
I find the most consistant method, for me anyway, is the mid iron, I always use my 7 iron. I use a putting grip, stance and swing, just gripping way down at the bottom of the grip. Generally using the same swing as you would if it were a putt from the same distance gets the required carry and roll.
 
For me, SW hands forward, weight on the front foot, club slightly open ( a la Homer ) aim slighly left.

Deep breath and don't look up too early. Slightly punchy type shot. Don't break the wrists after impact

I've tried shutting my eyes and praying, but that doesn't seem to add much.

Also, at the moment it's not guaranteed to work - I think it needs a fair bit of practise ( not my strongest point on chipping :o )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Crazyface
Short Putting
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
HomerJSimpson
HomerJSimpson
Orikoru
2026 Targets
2 3
Replies
55
Views
2K
jamielaing
jamielaing
D
Removing the pin, ball in motion
Replies
2
Views
656
Steven Rules
S
Crazyface
Do Clubs Matter?
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
sunshine
S
F
Playing a practice shot during a competition round
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
D-S
D
Top