Why is it that your practice swing for a chip shot is so easy to make, but you still end up shanking the ball or stubbing the grass behind the ball? Unfortunately we are not machines. Repeating the practice stroke should be so simple but our brain is getting in the way.
Chipping is composed of 3 issues: club selection, amount of backswing and cadence (or tempo). Of course you also need to practice the proper limited wrist lag in the backswing and a flat leading wrist in the follow-through for the perfect direction control. Practicing with GOLFSTR+ will help you learn these motions.
Club Selection
Choose a club that will get your ball on the green where you don’t have to worry about a bad bounce on the fringe or run up to the green. You can only determine the distance of the roll based on practice and experience so take some time to get a feel for the percent of your shot that will travel through the air as compared to the distance traveled during the bounce and roll on the green for each club. [Green elevation and undulation also affect the roll-out.] Remember that the higher the loft in your club, the shorter the roll out.
Amount of Backswing
The swing always needs to be accelerating (not decelerating) through the point of impact. Again you need to get a feel for the distance that each club will carry the ball in the air. Check out the flight distance for each height of backswing FOR EACH CLUB. Keep the same cadence and acceleration for the practice swing and when hitting the ball. [SUGGESTION: Focus on 3 clubs (like 7, 9 and pitching wedge) to really feel comfortable with these clubs.]
Consistent Cadence
This is the critical factor causing your mishits. If you brain is not comfortable with the club that you chose or the backswing needed for the distance that you plan to hit, you will end up shortening the backswing and rushing or decelerating the swing. RESULT: Fat hits, blading the ball or the dreaded hosel hit.
Without confidence in the club that you chose or the height of the backswing, your brain will try to make corrections for everything that can go wrong. BINGO! Your brain gets in the way of your perfect hit.
SOLUTION: Gain confidence with each club so that you can make your chip swing exactly the same as your practice swing. Revolution Golf suggested using a count of “1” in the backswing and “2” as you swing through the ball. Make the perfect practice swing and then say >1>2 to override any panic thoughts during your chip.
Practice chipping with GOLFSTR+ to generate a limited lag with your trailing wrist in the backswing and to prevent leading wrist cupping in the follow-through. Check out the new video on the GOLFSTR home page to see all 6 uses for GOLFSTR+.
