Very Short Chip Shots....

[jamesh]

For the short chips, about a foot or so away from the green where exactly should the club be striking the ball exactly…

For longer chips and pitches I am mostly okay. Hands forward, a descending stroke, accelerate through the ball, ball back in stance, etc. However for those very short chips – when I can’t get under the ball (with my descending stroke) I have a hard time.

I have read for the shorter chips it is a putting stroke, and it is hard to accelerate on a chip where the distance is just a few feet.

Recently I started to take a few balls and my wedges to the “park”. Fortunately for me, my sister’s house backs on to a massive soccer/football field x 3. This time of year it is mostly vacant and I have been able to take other clubs with me as well, but I lose too many balls. Unfortunately for me, this park also houses Police Horses and stables, which gives rise to a higher than normal police presence. I haven’t had a problem yet – and I hope if I have wedges, just to be warned to move elsewhere. I live in Toronto which is densely populated so there aren’t too many places you can go. I have found that there is no substitute for hitting balls from various lies with different clubs and seeing the results firsthand as opposed to experimenting during a game.

I also found that by making a complete shoulder turn and getting behind the ball cured many of my ills from fat to topped shots. It seems that the coiling up process allows you to unwind with a terrific momentum, and the rest unfolds naturally.

James

[GregJWillis]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

Use a high lofted club with that putting stroke...that allows a bigger swing into the ball.

[BrianW]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

The club should always be desending into the back of the ball with acceleration when chipping.

As Greg says, use a lob wedge. Make a short back swing and slightly longer through swing. Feel the shot but keep your hand dead, no flicky bits. And as always commit totally to the shot.

[ogallalabob]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

I agree with Greg and Brian, the other key in making sure the club is accelerating is to slow down your take away. So hypothetically (made up numbers)if you usually hit a chip at 10 mph, and need to hit it softer say 5 mph take it back at 2 mph that way the club is still accelerating and your not trying to slow your hands down when striking the ball.

[bdbl]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

I'd probably have just taken a putter from a foot off.

Greg, Brian, Ogallalabob, you're all experienced golfers, and you all suggested using something lofted.

Is there any particular reason for that (question asked from a desire to learn, not as a criticism)? Even if I'd been a bit further away I might have "putted" with a 7I.

[BrianW]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

I'd probably have just taken a putter from a foot off.

Greg, Brian, Ogallalabob, you're all experienced golfers, and you all suggested using something lofted.

Is there any particular reason for that (question asked from a desire to learn, not as a criticism)? Even if I'd been a bit further away I might have "putted" with a 7I.

Well, the question was referring to chipping so our answers are on the assumption that's what someone decided as the best shot.

OK, if it is possible to use putter then that's what I would do if possible, although there may be many factors that would make a chip the better shot. For example: the green has a puddle between you and the hole, you are in fairly long grass, the edge of the green curves such that an off green hump or area of rough is between you and the hole, you are just behind the edge of a bunker etc.

[bdbl]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

Well, the question was referring to chipping so our answers are on the assumption that's what someone decided as the best shot.

DOH!

I didn't think of that, I was answering a different question on what might be the best shot - unless, as you say, you were putting through a bunker

[kbp]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

Some courses here in the US have "rough" very close to the green. You can find yourself six inches off the fringe of the green in grass that you can’t predictably putt out of or putt through. Especially dicey if your short sided and only a few feet from the pin.

Now if it’s a closely mowed area......I’m putting everything I can.

[jcbdb]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

If your on the apron try your five wood or a rescue club using a putting stroke. This just knocks it over that first foot of rough then it will roll like a putt.

Tiger and other tour pros advocate this and it works well.

Best advice is just to get on the practice area and try different lies and distances with a variety of clubs and get tuned into what you can do with each club.

Nothing beats practicing the short game and improving your feel and confidence.

Cheers

JCBDB

[slater170]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

i started playing this game trying to be a purist but i cracked and bought a chipper its rthe best thing since sliced bread can get it close from any lie or distance

[takinitdeep]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

Most people get too carried away with this hands forward stuff. especially on short chips, I like the hands almost even with the ball position which I also like in the center not back.
After all, you don't want the ball to run so why play it back with hands ahead(this delofts the club and also plays heck with the hosel digging in).
Now if you want to make sure, open the face alot and just pop the ball up.
A bad putt is better than a bad chip, so why not putt it.

[BrianW]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

Most people get too carried away with this hands forward stuff. especially on short chips, I like the hands almost even with the ball position which I also like in the center not back.
After all, you don't want the ball to run so why play it back with hands ahead(this delofts the club and also plays heck with the hosel digging in).
Now if you want to make sure, open the face alot and just pop the ball up.
A bad putt is better than a bad chip, so why not putt it.

Yes, I think we all generally agree that a putt is the first consideration. As you know there can be many circumstances where it may not be possible to put.

Regarding the hands and ball position, I agree that with such a short chip your method would be good. I do like the ball back in my stance with my feet together and open to target on most chips though, it promotes a low initial trajectory to the green and a predictable roll.

[takinitdeep]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

Unlike most on this site, I like the wrists loose for short chips and let the clubhead accelerate through using the loft of a lob wedge open and pop the ball up.
On longer chips, I also like the wrists loose and just turn shoulders a little more and accelerate thru the chip to produce a descending blow.
On even longer chips, I like to use anything from PW to 8 iron and rock the shoulders but still aggressive through the shot.
What I don't like is the hands dead, putter stroke, or even hybrid.
Watch the old bobby jones movies, he was the greatest at chipping and he liked to be aggressive through the ball, not sticking the club into the back or hitting and stopping. Not Bobby, he liked being through the ball all the time, afterall use the loft.

[jamesh]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

[quote=BrianW]Well, the question was referring to chipping so our answers are on the assumption that's what someone decided as the best shot

Thanks for all of your posts - much appreciated. Brian, thanks for being true to my question.

ogallabob, I think you nailed it. For the shorter putts I need to take a slower backswing and swing slow - but accelerating - thru the ball.

I was going to hit the driving range today, but at -6 I chickened out.

cheers,

James

[BrianW]

Re: Very Short Chip Shots....

Unlike most on this site, I like the wrists loose for short chips and let the clubhead accelerate through using the loft of a lob wedge open and pop the ball up.
On longer chips, I also like the wrists loose and just turn shoulders a little more and accelerate thru the chip to produce a descending blow.
On even longer chips, I like to use anything from PW to 8 iron and rock the shoulders but still aggressive through the shot.
What I don't like is the hands dead, putter stroke, or even hybrid.
Watch the old bobby jones movies, he was the greatest at chipping and he liked to be aggressive through the ball, not sticking the club into the back or hitting and stopping. Not Bobby, he liked being through the ball all the time, afterall use the loft.

I think we agree on most of it: accelerate through the shot, longer follow through than backswing, use different clubs for differing amounts of roll, rock the shoulders etc. I just like the ball further back to promote a lower trajectory in the air.

Anyhow, I think Jamesh has enough to go on between us all now.