Problem Chipper

[tjrcf9]

I am not a once a week player. I play maybe 2 - 3 times a month. My drives are fine, my middle irons are good, even my putting is ok. My problem is that if I am near te green and need to chip I catch the ball too thin. I get some *hang time* but it usually only goes a few feet then stops. Anything you can supply me to help with this will be appreciated. Thanks.

[GregJWillis]

Sounds like you are using your SW. Have you tried any of the other irons? This can use this rule to help you decide which one to use in what situation:

Club Air and Ground
===============
PW 1/2 and 1/2
7I 1/3 and 2/3
5I 1/5 and 4/5

Use the club that will get you on the green as early as possible. The landing zone should be just a few feet past the fringe. Once you see that landing spot, stand to the side of your ball and the flag and guess at the % distance the ball is to your landing spot and landing spot to the flag. Then use this chart to tell you what club to use.

You will have to adjust for hills and speeds of greens, but this is a general rule to get you in the right direction. Adjust the club to a 9I if you are chipping uphill a little if you would normally use a PW...for example.

The chipping stroke is very simmilar to a putting stroke. You wnat to take your hands out of it, and only use the shoulders. The ball placement is in the back slightly, and the stroke is not rushed...it should be the same tempo back as it is though and the distance you take it back should be the same distance you follow through.

The lie will also affect your club selection. If the lie is bad (grass covering the ball) go to a more lofted club, eg. PW to SW. This is because the ball will be hit with little to no spin, and that will cause the ball to run farther. You will have to make a longer stroke to compensate the thickness of the grass slowing down your clubface before it hits the ball.

The reason we want to get the ball on the ground as early as possible is that it is much easier to control the speed that ball will go. Making the shortest stroke possible will help you eliminate potential mistakes and errors. The landing spot will be closer to your field of vision and that helps you visualize the result. Thses all help you be a better chipper.

Always going to the SW and tring to land the ball close to the flag and only learning that one shot will leave you with a small number of options in difficult situations. Have the knowhow of what all the clubs can do will open you up to a lot shots that increase the % of hitting the ball closer to flag resulting in fewer putts...and that is what it's all about.

[jscerbo]

Re: Problem Chipper

The reason for your mi****s is your left wrist is collapsing. This can be because you are trying to lift the ball in the air, instead of hitting down. You have the majority of your weight on your right foot. You may have the ball positioned too far forward in your stance. Another possibility is deceleration. When you decelerate the shat tends to pass the hands and your left wrist breaks down.