New swing has borked my chipping!

[charlatan]

Thanks to Brett and everyone here, I have adopted a new swing successfully (for the most part) and my game is improving each time out. I scored my best score EVER yesterday.

My new swing has me hitting them straight and at distances I wasn't getting before, but unless I take a full swing with the 60 degree, I hit it really thin. My chipping has gone to hell.

I guess my question is, how does one setup differently for a chip than a normal iron shot?

Should it be all arms and torso in the swing?

Does the weight still shift to the front leg on a half swing?

Help!!!

Charlatan

Edited July 30, 2008 by charlatan

[Blader-X]

Thanks to Brett and everyone here, I have adopted a new swing successfully (for the most part) and my game is improving each time out. I scored my best score EVER yesterday.

My new swing has me hitting them straight and at distances I wasn't getting before, but unless I take a full swing with the 60 degree, I hit it really thin. My chipping has gone to hell.

I guess my question is, how does one setup differently for a chip than a normal iron shot?

Should it be all arms and torso in the swing?

Does the weight still shift to the front leg on a half swing?

Help!!!

Charlatan

If you say you're hitting it thin, it could just be ball position. Try playing it up slightly from where you have it now. IMO, chipping is really nothing different than a full swing as far as the hands are concerned. It still needs to hit with some conviction. The feet should be closer together than a full swing. This will help to prevent swaying which could lead to inconsistent contact. I believe there is some slight weight shifting going on but it should be natural and not something you think about. I believe rhythm is very key in the short game. Try a slightly longer swing with smooth rhythm. Make sure you're not stabbing at the ball. Try to let gravity play a role on the downswing rather than keying in so much on the hands or any other body part. I'm sure Brett could chime in as well but take a look at his a few of his videos and I believe he talks about this in chipping. I believe its the same one as flat left/bent right.

[idrive]

Chipping...

Me...

Flat left - bent right - hold it thru the chip

Feet close together - open stance

ball back in stance

weight - 60-70% on front foot - no weight transfer

slight hip turn - depending on length of chip

keep arms (elbows) tight to body

most important of all - do not decelerate.

Hitting a half shot thin...

Sounds like the right hand is pushing... again, do not decelerate.

Just MY personal preferences and thoughts. :)

Hope this helps

[Richmond Golfer]

For chips, feet are closer together than full shots with weight on the lead foot. Stance can be a little open, if shoulders square. Hit down on the ball to pinch it off the ground with a short back swing-longer follow through and no left wrist brake. Short chips can be arms only but longer chip need some body for acceleration through the ball. Most poor chips are from scooping the ball and or decelerating through the shot, not from setup as good chippers can play the ball front or back in the stance to control the ball flight pretty easily. Place the ball forward to up loft the club for a high stopping flight and back for a lower running shot. Practice chips with your right heel off the ground to learn the weight forward setup and tape a yard stick to your club lengthwise to extend the shaft and insure your left wrist is not breaking.The yardstick should not hit your left side. Good luck

[charlatan]

Thanks for the replies guys...

I tried an open stance with the ball at the front foot and I seemed to lift the ball okay. I am going to take some of your tips to the practice green to see how things go.

I usually visualize a scoop, which is likely part of my problem. I also believe, as mentioned above, that my right arm is to blame a bit as well.

Just to gauge how my pitch should look, with a 60 degree, should I be expecting to get no more than say 50 yards with a full swing? I mean, I am kind of used to a "drop and stop" loft, very very high and short.

Should a 10 yard pitch look and behave the same?

Do you guys that have 60 dg wedges try to aim at the pin, or should it roll a ways? Mine traditionally behaved in a fashion that made me aim for the pin, or just in front (if it's a flat green).

Thanks again

[Richmond Golfer]

Thanks for the replies guys...

I Do you guys that have 60 deg wedges try to aim at the pin, or should it roll a ways? Mine traditionally behaved in a fashion that made me aim for the pin, or just in front (if it's a flat green).

Thanks again

You should take your wedges to the green and chip or short pitch onto it and see how far each rolls after it lands. A SW on a good shot should carry two thirds and roll one third. Thus. you DO NOT aim at the pin but rather at a spot on the green where the ball will then break out to or roll the rest of the way to the pin. Simply aiming at the pin leads to shots which carry to the pin but then roll away or beyond the pin for a good distance. Thus, good chips are like putts we hit them to a spot on the green where they will then roll close to the pin. If you are back spinning the ball you carry and roll needs to be adjusted to have the ball end at the pin.

[Blader-X]

Don't visualize a scoop. All shots need to be hit down upon.

As far as roll goes, it all depends upon how I'm playing the shot and where my ball position is. Normal ball position, no I don't get much roll at all. However if I play the chip off or even behind my back foot I get to roll as much as it flies if not more. It really all depends upon the shot I'm playing.

If you're trying to get a lot of roll on a shot, experiment using irons such as the 7, 8 or 9. Much better in many instances to chip with these instead of the wedges, IMO.

[charlatan]

You should take your wedges to the green and chip or short pitch onto it and see how far each rolls after it lands. A SW on a good shot should carry two thirds and roll one third. Thus. you DO NOT aim at the pin but rather at a spot on the green where the ball will then break out to or roll the rest of the way to the pin. Simply aiming at the pin leads to shots which carry to the pin but then roll away or beyond the pin for a good distance. Thus, good chips are like putts we hit them to a spot on the green where they will then roll close to the pin. If you are back spinning the ball you carry and roll needs to be adjusted to have the ball end at the pin.

Ah-ha! Bingo! Thanks for the description Richmond. What you describe as good chips, those are not what I am used to hitting. My chips before swing changes would drop and roll maybe an inch. Very difficult to play.

The chip and roll you describe is more of what I thought my chips should be like... in other words, I have been hitting chips wrong for some time.

@Blader-X

Yea, I have yet to integrate a "chip and run" into my repertoire. I don't require roll really, I just want a repeatable chip that I can use 'round the greens.

Charlatan

[BrettSmith]

Hi Char

Some good feedback here, so I imagine that it's helped you.

Your initial image of "scoop" was a train wreck....lol, flip to Mr. Hogan's gold on page 102 with the supination (flat left). The flat left is your vehicle to press.... or create pressure. Use the flat left to thump the ground with conviction and trap the ball in between. .. like stepping on a mustard packet. Initially people are hesitant to realize that "the ground is your friend" due to the fear of hitting behind the ball. Don't get too hung up on ball position per se, but look to stage your hand orbit above the ball in your address and get the sense that you are actually addressing a 3rd ball stacked on top of your original ball as it lies. This will create the proper depth for your arc as well as prime the lower body to help you compress.

Every shot should be hit hard and the chip is no exception.... "press with conviction."... like crushing a can with your left foot amigo. Consistent pressure lets you get a true calibration of carry and roll-out with predicted range of motion.You will eliminate stabs, wipes and mis**ts by focusing on the improved dimension (talller) and "connection". Force your body to work- specifically the lower body. NEVER allow yourself to hit it thin or blade it from the taller staging. If anything, your mis-strike can be slightly behind the ball, good pressure down and through will serve you well.

Consider two ranges of motion to eliminate the ambiguity of chip vs pitch:

1. knee cap to knee cap is a chip

2. just outside the knees for pitches

Cheers to eliminating the bork factor-

Brett