Basic chipping\pitching technique

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

I am still working on this. At the moment, I am doing better using a straight, locked arm sort of technique rather than the wrist break method of Phil Mickelson.

Bri

[GolfGurl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

I am still working on this. At the moment, I am doing better using a straight, locked arm sort of technique rather than the wrist break method of Phil Mickelson.

Bri

I too use the locked arm technique... gives me a bit more control. But I am open to trying other methods. Takes practice in any case.

[bdbl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

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....

Anyone remember the Crafty Cockney's struggles with "dartitis" ? I think I've just developed "chipitis" - an advanced form of the yips . Knowing that it's not a question of IF the chip is gong wrong but WHEN it does, my chipping stroke now consists of a moment of paralysis followed by a rushed wristy stab at the ball.

Had similar problems last year that I sort of worked through but this time around I'm going for a rework of my technique (another new tyre ) and, on the positive side, the pro has suggested some changes and given me a drill or two but for now I think I'll dig the chipper out until I've got some confidence back in practice.

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Ha. That's what I did at the back end of last year. Pulled out the chipper. It did me proud for a bit. But this year I have decided that I must sort it.
Bri

[bdbl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

But this year I have decided that I must sort it.
Bri

Oh yes Bri, me too.

The problem now is that I've seen, read and been shown so many variations that my brain melts when I stand over the ball.

The real b*g*er is that my general ball striking has improved with recent lessons and now I'm being done by shots of 10-15 yards

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Yep same as me!

Bri

[BrianW]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

I once used to get a knotted stomache when faced with a chip and this would cause me to thin the ball across the green more often than not. The problem was fixed by a mate of mine who is a PGA pro, he taught me some basic fundimentals that fixed it for good, I have only seen the Mickelson hinge and hold system recently but it has the same elements as I was taught years ago.

I take a narrow stance with my feet open then play the ball of my back foot. I take the club back with a little wrists hinge otherwise the swing becomes somewhat wooden and shallow (increasing the chance of a thinned shot) I swing back and through with a little body turn but do not allow my wrists to turn over, a good thought is to keep the back of my left wrist pointing towards the target for as long as possible (like a sand shot). I always finish with my hands fairly high as this ensures the club is accelerated through impact.

Another important aspect is to consider where the ball should land then roll out to the hole from. I see people chipping to the pin and wondering why they are ending up long. Chipping IMO requires a confident crisp ball strike and a nice little pivot. I cannot produce good results using a putting stroke with locked wrists and hips.

Tiger does it as well

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Yep that sounds like Phils hinge and hold.

Bri

[bdbl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Cheers Brian

I cannot produce good results using a putting stroke with locked wrists and hips.

Brian, as soon as I read this it struck a chord. I've always been a wristy chipper, admittedly over so perhaps, and for years I've been told by well meaning friends, and a pro or two, to take the wrist out of the shot. I'm currently using

a straight, locked arm sort of technique rather than the wrist break method of Phil Mickelson.

For me though its proving disastrous.

So this morning I dashed out to the back garden to follow the rest of your suggestion.

take the club back with a little wrists hinge otherwise the swing becomes somewhat wooden and shallow... finish with hands fairly high as this ensures the club is accelerated through impact.

Did I hit every chip perfectly? Of course not.

Did I decelerate, thin and fluff? Yes.

Did I feel much more confident? Oh yes and confidence is about 95% of my chipping.

OK so it was only the back garden, and only one session, and therefore no pressure but I think now that I've got a mental image of what to do that I can take out with me.

[BrianW]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Cheers Brian

OK so it was only the back garden, and only one session, and therefore no pressure but I think now that I've got a mental image of what to do that I can take out with me.

FEEL the shot Robin!!! FEEEEEeeeeeeeel IT !!!!

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Still ain't got it. Skulled the first couple. Then I seemed to get the stroke working OK but all too strong. Must keep at it.

Bri

[bill reed]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

hi
like Brian said, "FEEL the shot!"
i always think, "Soft hands!" i say that over and over and that helps me get a feel for the shot. you must feel the shot through you hands and fingers and that means gripping the club lightly to help you get that feel.
it works for me and has done for many years now and i still say, "Soft hands!" over and over as i take a few swings to get the feel for the shot.
cheers
Bill

[miffin]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Cheers mate. Hope to play again Wed. Will try to soften my hands a bit and talk to em.

Bri

[Wil]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

FYI, if any of you have access to the AJ Bonar 'Truth About Golf' series, there's an excellent short game DVD thrown in as kind of an "extra". He uses a reverse right hand dominant grip, 6i, 8i, 52* and 58* clubs for chipping, pitching and sand traps and is supposedly "idiot proof" (which I really like ). Well worth watching---- he seems to get excellent results...Wil

[bdbl]

Re: Basic chipping\pitching technique

Cheers mate. Hope to play again Wed. Will try to soften my hands a bit and talk to em.

Bri

Brian(s) - my little garden break through didn't last, in fact the shanking got worse the more I practiced, so I bit the bullet and went to see a different pro (different methods, fresh look etc.) than the one I'd been using for my full swing rebuild.

As well as shortening my back swing which I was already working on, he came up with two immediate things to work on which I pass on to Miff in case they help. In his opinion:

i) I was standing too close to the ball and he wants me to practice by exaggerating my distance away from the ball at set up.

ii) My legs, especially the right one where my knee kicks in, are far too active, passive but not rigid is the message

Three practice sessions so far, good improvement - poor shots seeming to come when old set up habits set in.