Get the FAT Out of Your Chips

2010 Ryder Cup, Hunter Mahan hits a FAT chip and loses the match as well as the Cup.  Heart breaker!  OMG what an embarrassing moment for Hunter.  The pressure of that moment and the memory of that failed chip are branded in our memories.  Why is it that so many of us hit a few fat chips (stubbing the ground before the ball and coming up short) and lose unnecessary strokes in every round of golf?

Last night as I watched an LPGA match in Singapore they showed one of the players hitting a fat shot.  It reminded me that the TV crews rarely show us the fat shots that the pros make.  Fat chips are really common for all golfers and we should pay more attention to this shot.

 

Answer:  The chip is a different swing than the pitchUsing a soft pitch shot, when you should be chipping, is the root of your problem.  You need to learn the difference and commit to the right swing for the right situation.

Solution: A pitch is completed like a normal full swing by opening the club face and cocking the wrists in the backswing.  A chip is completed by LIMITING the opening of the club face and the break of your wrist in the backswing and ELIMINATNG wrist break in the follow through.  (Higher handicappers should learn the chip with a sweeping motion rather than a wrist hinge in the backswing to eliminate the FAT HITS. )

  • >Sweep back and through the ball, without any change in tempo.
  • >You may want to count: 1. . . 2.
  • >Avoid rushing and limit the acceleration in your swing.
  • >Phil Michelson finishes by holding the club face open and pointing the shaft in the direction of the hit. (NOT over your shoulder)
  • >If you open your stance it will cause a higher attack angle and a greater chance for a fat hit.
  • >For more distance increase the height of the backswing and/or change your club to a lower lofted club.

A chip can be used from the edge of the green to about 30 yards off the green (depending on the cut of the grass between you and the green).  Club selection is critical as you need to select the right loft to reach the green with the right amount of carry as your ball bounces along the fairway, fringe and/or green.    To learn this shot you need to practice with a variety of higher lofted clubs starting with the 7 iron up to the 60 degree wedge.  Experiment with them all as you will need every combination of ball flight and carry on the green.

Start close to the green hitting 10 perfect chips with different clubs to gain confidence that the sweeping action is all that you need to get the ball moving in a straight line and over the fringe.  Gradually move back hitting 10 more perfect shots (without stubbing the ground) because you are not cocking your wrists and adding the extra confusion caused by releasing your wrists as you swing through the ball.

Tiger made a wonderful controlled chip on the 18th green in the Honda Classic on Friday from a deep ruff lie, from 3 feet off the green using a 9 iron or PW without resorting to the flop shot as he needed control to avoid carrying his shot across the full length of the green and into the water.

Learn to chip using GOLFSTR+ with a limited lag on your trailing wrist & flat wrist on your leading wrist as you sweep through the ball.

Learn to chip using GOLFSTR+ with a limited lag on your trailing wrist & flat wrist on your leading wrist as you sweep through the ball.

GOLFSTR+ is the perfect training aid to learn to control your flat leading wrist (avoid cupping through impact) and limited lag in your trailing wrist (to prevent wrist cocking).  These are 2 different applications for GOLFSTR+ to help you learn a consistent chip shot (example image shows both applications but most users only have 2 GOLFSTR+).

The correct chip with good distance and direction control will give you a 1 putt green every time.  How many shots will this practice with GOLFSTR+ save you in every round of golf?  Could be 5 to 10 shots and there are 4 more swing fixes for this amazing golf training aid.  You may NOT want to share this tip with your golfing buddies but please suggest GOLFSTR+ to struggling golfers everywhere.

 

FOR EVERY SWING IN YOUR GAME check out: www.golfstr.com

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