Basic chipping\pitching technique

[miffin]

I have improved my game loads in the last year. Driving and putting greatly improved. Fairway, not bad. 10 yards from the green, I use a little chipper ok. Full approach shots not bad. But.......... 20 to 30 yards from green, I have no clue. It is too far to use my little chipper to a decent outcome. Not far enough for a full shot with lob wedge or similar. Can someone explain a simple technique to play this sort of approach shot please?

Brian

[golfshooter]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Personally, I like to play flop shots with an approach wedge or sand wedge, you need to commit to the shot,no tentative half measures .You sometimes need to use a little extra wrist work depending on the lie. Works a treat for me, hope it helps you.
Peter

[bdbl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

I have improved my game loads in the last year. Driving and putting greatly improved. Fairway, not bad. 10 yards from the green, I use a little chipper ok. Full approach shots not bad. But.......... 20 to 30 yards from green, I have no clue. It is too far to use my little chipper to a decent outcome. Not far enough for a full shot with lob wedge or similar. Can someone explain a simple technique to play this sort of approach shot please?

Brian

I used to have a similar 20-30 yard problem but like Peter am currently having some success with a short swing sand iron. It took some slightly embarrassing practice down at the local P&P with the mums and kids who were all better than me but I think it was worth it.

Unfortunately, in revenge for this little bit of progress, the golfing gods are messing around with my ability just to perform a basic chip and run, everything will be going nicely then WHAM.

The only way I describe the result is like a miniature push slice, the ball seems to go right off an open face. Nipping down the pro on Friday for a check up on this but any ideas from here always welcome....

[GregJWillis]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

...20 to 30 yards from green, I have no clue. It is too far to use my little chipper to a decent outcome. Not far enough for a full shot with lob wedge or similar.

Remember to look at the pin location...front pins here require a high flop. Pins in the middle can play a more pitching style (less open-face and more square on attack) and pins in the back may allow a flight low enough to create the 2-hop-stop where you play a SW slightly in the back and pinch it with a more "chip" style.

All 3 shots require you to actually practice them separately...like you do at the range. So rather then pay for a bucket and hit 40 drivers and 10 wedges, go to the chipping range and pull out your good balls (you play with normally) and take 10 shots each of these types (that hopefully has pins and a green where you can visualize the situations) Spend that hour doing just this, rotating the 10 shots from different positions. Then make the game out of it where you score 1 point for a perfect shot (within 10 feet...or what ever you hdcp appropriate level is) and 0 points for anything over that length, and -1 point for off the green. The goal is not to score 10 pts yet, but again, your hdcp appropriate value, so something like 5 pts to start for a 18 hdcp, 8 for a 10, and 10 for a scratch...something like that. This way you have a gauge to evaluate your progress. Otherwise, if you rely on your on-course play to practice this, you will never have anything to evaluate or go by.

[BrianW]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

This video shows how to play a nicely controled pitch shot from around 30 yards.

http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/v...-Video-Lesson/

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Thanks to all as usual. Had a bit of try today. Dumped my little chipper. Tried going back to using normal clubs. Found for the type of shot that I was talking about, I did best with a 7 or 9 iron depending on the grass I had to cover before I got to the green. I did better but then some wayward drives kept my score similar.

Bri

[bdbl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

To go with Brian W's pitching video here are some nice chipping tips.

http://www.ritson-sole.com/golf-tips/chipping

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

That's a good un. i have bookmarked it for further looks.

Bri

[GolfGurl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

This video shows how to play a nicely controled pitch shot from around 30 yards.

http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/v...-Video-Lesson/

Great set of videos on this website. Thanks for the referral

[BrianW]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

To go with Brian W's pitching video here are some nice chipping tips.

http://www.ritson-sole.com/golf-tips/chipping

That Ritson-Sole website is a great resource for instructional videos.

[BrianW]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Probably a little off subject but these two videos from Phil Mickelson are very informative and explain how to consider short shots from differing lies.

[Wil]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Funny, got thinking about the same thing this past week. Turned out it wasn't much of a problem.
I have to agree with Greg-it all depends on how much green you have to work with:
Ideally, on a large green with a centred pin; a 1/4 swing with maybe a 7 iron bump and run shot. Real easy....
all the way down to a more difficult 1/2+ swing with say a A/W or S/W or even the dreaded (shudder) L/W if there's a sand trap right in front of the pin.
Once you get good at this it really is a lot of fun. But you can't quit on any of these shots! Practice, practise, practise and Good Luck...Wil

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Yep, that is about where I started Monday. 7 or 9 iron. Will try to develop up in stages.

Bri

[bill reed]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

hi Bri
i like to use the best club for the job so i first check the green. see how far on the pin is from the fringe. then judge from a yard on the green how much run i would have to the pin and that picks what club i need to use.
if i only have about 3/4 feet to the pin then i need a s/wedge or wedge. if it about 12 feet then a 7 iron. also i take in if its uphill to the pin or downhill and that can add or subtract club to use.
if you can find some short cut grass then pratice hitting to a point but use diffrent clubs but have the ball land on the same point. then you will see the diffrent run on the ball and from about 60 yards out to the edge of the green you will have a lot more control of the shot. you will be using the same swing and all shots so don't have to try and set up diffrent.
its just picking the right club for the shot.
cheers
Bill

[GolfGurl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Thanks for the Phil Mickelson videos referral as well. Great instruction I can certainly use in my game, and on my blog to share.