The average ninety-shooter has trouble playing a chip simply because he does not understand the nature of the shot. Usually he putts the ball with an iron, and calls it a chip.
Simply bunting the ball with an iron from the fringe of the green does not constitute a chip. Unless one particular motion is applied to it, such a shot depends almost entirely on luck. This motion is down- ward, the essential action in all iron shots.
The chip is, in essence, a billiard shot. I don't care if the pin is ten feet away or a hundred, the ball still must be hit down upon. This imparts spin to the ball, and spin means control. Without a downward blow you are not taking advantage of the loft, which is built into each iron for a purpose. That's why the manufacturer made nine of them.
A ball hit flatly with an iron can do little more than bounce off the face of it. Hitting the ball in this fash- ion, you might just as well play the game with a baseball bat.
To create a golf shot, rather than just bat it, the ball must ride on the face of the club, held there by
The turf against which you hit down until the compression of the ball propels it forward. This holds true whether the ball is hit 200 yards or 200 inches.
The downward blow of the chip-The essential action in all iron shot. This imparts spin which, in turn, gives you control.
The forward direction in which the ball is propelled is, as I have implied, built into the iron by the manu- facturer. Beyond generating a certain amount of clubhead speed, there is nothing you can do to in- crease this.
But to take full advantage of it, you must hit down on the ball. This is the only way in which the ball can ride as high on the face of it as the manufacturer in- tended.
Get confidence in the loft of your irons from the chip. Learn how much of the work they can do for you when you hit down on the ball. This knowledge will erase your fear of the longer irons.
Concentrating on the downward blow, the chip is addressed and struck basically the same as the putt.
Set confidence in the loft of your irons from the chip. This will erase your fear of the longer irons plane with your shoulders, how and where you place your feet is a matter of comfort.
I place mine close to- gether and well open to the cup. By doing this I get the sensation that my target is lying in my lap.
There are several schools of thought on how to judge a chip. Some contend you should judge the roll and let the ball land where it may. Others say you should pick a spot on the green for the ball to land, and let the roll take care of itself.
Possibly the simplest method is to judge the chip by the manner in which it would react if you rolled it by hand toward the cup. Unless you feel you can al- ready visualize this, practice it.
Roll the ball underhand. Then transfer the results to the proper technique of the chip. This is the most practical way to attune your muscles. Afterward, judging a chip is a matter of using your imagination.
Let's treat here the popular myth about the follow- through.
The average golfer's thinking works on the principle that if he follows through, the ball takes care of itself. This is putting the cart before the horse.
For more golf tuition go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Short Sided In Tall Grass
Shots from deep rough are hard. So are downhill putts. But is there a harder shot than being on the back lip of a bunker in tall, thick grass? This shot is about as hard as it gets. You have to deal with not only the thick grass, but also an awkward stance--since you need both feet in the bunker to hit the ball. If you miss, you could plop it in the bunker, costing you a stroke or two. It's not your everyday shot.
Below are five keys to hitting this shot:
1. Widen your stance
2. Set your weight on front side
3. Grip down on the club
4. Hold the club tighter
5. Take the club head up quickly
6. Play an explosion shot
The keys to hitting this shot are stabilizing the lower body and keeping the clubface from closing through impact. Another key is not trying to hit a miracle shot. You're goal is to get on the green in one. So stay within yourself.
Select a club with a leading edge, like a pitching wedge, to cut through the grass. Then, widen your stance and set most of your weight on your front side, which restricts lower body movement.
Since the ball is well above your feet, choke down on the club and grip it a little harder than normal. These adjustments keep the club from twisting in your hands as it cuts through the tall grass and from flipping over when it hits the ground.
When you swing, take the clubhead up quickly and play an explosion shot, just as you would a greenside bunker shot. Also, accelerate the clubhead through the ball. Keep the face pointing skyward after impact.
You won't face this shot many times in a season. But it's good to know how to hit it anyway.
For more golf instructions go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com
Below are five keys to hitting this shot:
1. Widen your stance
2. Set your weight on front side
3. Grip down on the club
4. Hold the club tighter
5. Take the club head up quickly
6. Play an explosion shot
The keys to hitting this shot are stabilizing the lower body and keeping the clubface from closing through impact. Another key is not trying to hit a miracle shot. You're goal is to get on the green in one. So stay within yourself.
Select a club with a leading edge, like a pitching wedge, to cut through the grass. Then, widen your stance and set most of your weight on your front side, which restricts lower body movement.
Since the ball is well above your feet, choke down on the club and grip it a little harder than normal. These adjustments keep the club from twisting in your hands as it cuts through the tall grass and from flipping over when it hits the ground.
When you swing, take the clubhead up quickly and play an explosion shot, just as you would a greenside bunker shot. Also, accelerate the clubhead through the ball. Keep the face pointing skyward after impact.
You won't face this shot many times in a season. But it's good to know how to hit it anyway.
For more golf instructions go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Lower Your Scores By Getting Out Of Trouble Faster
We all get into trouble during a round of golf. Doesn't matter if you're a scratch golfer or a 25 handicap. It happens just about every round. So, given that premise, how can we shoot our lowestscore knowing that we'll be in trouble at some point.
Follow this one simple rule and you will see your scores drop quickly, sometimes dramatically. That rule is...GET OUT OF TROUBLE. I know, Iknow...you were expecting something really deep.
But the truth of the matter is, most golfers do not get out of trouble fast enough. They try a shot they can't pull off 2 in 10 times. And that leaves them still in trouble, maybe even worse trouble. Here's three frequent examples to illustrate the point:
1) You're in a bunker with the pin close to you. You try to blast out right next to the pin and leave it in the bunker.
2) You have trees blocking your shot but decide there is enough room to smash a low hook under the branches. But you hit dead into the trees and now you're really in a mess.
3) Or how about the time you missed the green and had to pitch the ball up onto an elevated green to a tight pin. You tried your lob wedge and left it short, only to watch it roll back down to your feet so you could try it again. Any of these ring a bell?
Here's the easy wasy to lower your score... Just get out of trouble. Let's see what we should have done in each of our examples above. Example #1 -
Unless you are extremely proficient out of the sand like Seve or Gary Player or Phil Mickelson, forget about the great shot. Just put the ball on the green with your most basic bunker shot. This gives youa an easy bogey with still a chance for a one-putt par. But more importantly, it eliminates the dreaded double-bogey or worse.
Example #2 - Instead of the spectacular shot through the trees that probably won't work, play the ball back into the fairway and go on. You'll probably be able to play somewhat toward the green anyway, so you're not really losing a whole stroke. But even if you do, losing one stroke is better than losing two or three trying something nearly impossible.
Example #3 - Tough chip to a short-sided pin on a elevated green. Hit a running chip with a 7-iron up the slope and safely onto the green. Or if you must hit your sand wedge or lob wedge, make sure you hit it hard enough to get safely on the green. Don't try to get it close to the pin if it is not reasonably possible. Just make sure you get on! Here is a great thought to prevent yourself from being tempted to try something with a low chance of success...
Let me repeat that. The stroke-saving shot doesn't have to be your next shot. It doesn't have to be that bunker shot or the unbelievable chip shot. It could just as well be the 20-foot putt that your "safe" play left you. Make that putt and you did just as well as if you'd pulled off that unlikely great bunker shot or chip shot. Or, hit your wedge close to the pin following that shot you safely pitched back to the fairway. Problem is, we know that we can hit some of these great shots sometimes – so it‟s tempting to try to pull off a miracle shot. But reality is, the percentage of success is just too low for it to be a smart play. So, when you have a trouble shot, be honest with yourself.
If you don't have a reasonable chance of pulling it off, then make the safe play and try to save the stroke later.
Now I will say that if you are in competition, especially in match play, the state of the match or the tournament can influence whether you have to "go for it". But even in stroke play, unless it's the last hole or two and you need to gamble to win, you'll find that the safe, smart play will help you shoot lower scores.
… The stroke-saving shot does not have to be your next shot!
For more on how to play better golf go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com
Wayne
Follow this one simple rule and you will see your scores drop quickly, sometimes dramatically. That rule is...GET OUT OF TROUBLE. I know, Iknow...you were expecting something really deep.
But the truth of the matter is, most golfers do not get out of trouble fast enough. They try a shot they can't pull off 2 in 10 times. And that leaves them still in trouble, maybe even worse trouble. Here's three frequent examples to illustrate the point:
1) You're in a bunker with the pin close to you. You try to blast out right next to the pin and leave it in the bunker.
2) You have trees blocking your shot but decide there is enough room to smash a low hook under the branches. But you hit dead into the trees and now you're really in a mess.
3) Or how about the time you missed the green and had to pitch the ball up onto an elevated green to a tight pin. You tried your lob wedge and left it short, only to watch it roll back down to your feet so you could try it again. Any of these ring a bell?
Here's the easy wasy to lower your score... Just get out of trouble. Let's see what we should have done in each of our examples above. Example #1 -
Unless you are extremely proficient out of the sand like Seve or Gary Player or Phil Mickelson, forget about the great shot. Just put the ball on the green with your most basic bunker shot. This gives youa an easy bogey with still a chance for a one-putt par. But more importantly, it eliminates the dreaded double-bogey or worse.
Example #2 - Instead of the spectacular shot through the trees that probably won't work, play the ball back into the fairway and go on. You'll probably be able to play somewhat toward the green anyway, so you're not really losing a whole stroke. But even if you do, losing one stroke is better than losing two or three trying something nearly impossible.
Example #3 - Tough chip to a short-sided pin on a elevated green. Hit a running chip with a 7-iron up the slope and safely onto the green. Or if you must hit your sand wedge or lob wedge, make sure you hit it hard enough to get safely on the green. Don't try to get it close to the pin if it is not reasonably possible. Just make sure you get on! Here is a great thought to prevent yourself from being tempted to try something with a low chance of success...
Let me repeat that. The stroke-saving shot doesn't have to be your next shot. It doesn't have to be that bunker shot or the unbelievable chip shot. It could just as well be the 20-foot putt that your "safe" play left you. Make that putt and you did just as well as if you'd pulled off that unlikely great bunker shot or chip shot. Or, hit your wedge close to the pin following that shot you safely pitched back to the fairway. Problem is, we know that we can hit some of these great shots sometimes – so it‟s tempting to try to pull off a miracle shot. But reality is, the percentage of success is just too low for it to be a smart play. So, when you have a trouble shot, be honest with yourself.
If you don't have a reasonable chance of pulling it off, then make the safe play and try to save the stroke later.
Now I will say that if you are in competition, especially in match play, the state of the match or the tournament can influence whether you have to "go for it". But even in stroke play, unless it's the last hole or two and you need to gamble to win, you'll find that the safe, smart play will help you shoot lower scores.
… The stroke-saving shot does not have to be your next shot!
For more on how to play better golf go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com
Wayne
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Play Golf Conservatively
I have found that the best way to improve my scores as a long handicapper is not to try to beat the course as if I was a low handicapper.
Take your handicap and put it to good use. If you have 2 strokes on a par 4 then play it like a par 6.
If you have 1 shot handicap on a par 3 then play it as a par 4 and so on.
This means that in the case of a par 6 on handicap you only have to put the ball on the green on your fourth shot and allow two putts for a par on handicap.
You don't have to crunch a monster drive and you don't have to try and over extend a fairway wood or long iron or a hybrid.
My advice is to try and be in close proximity to the green on your third shot, sometimes you will get lucky and your third shot will actually be on the green, this is a bonus. Likewise you will sometimes be able to chip your fourth shot fairly close to the pin and make it a one putt green, again this is a bonus.
When chipping your fourth shot on a par 6 on handicap, don't aim for a tight pin placement near the edge of the green especially if there is trouble like a bunker on that side. Aim your chip for the centre of the green which allows you a fair margin of error on both sides. You should still be able to manage 2 putts from somewhere on the green. Sometimes you will err on the correct side and place your chip near enough for a one putt, again this is a bonus.
By playing conservatively like this you will be surprised how you will get rid of those shots that put you in trouble and cause you to have an 8 or worse. You will begin scoring better by not trying to do so. Use your handicap to advantage.
If you do hit into trouble dont try the miracle shot to get out of there, Take your medicine and chip back into the fairway or take a penalty drop and proceed to play to the green. It is better to drop one shot than three or four by failing with your miracle shot.
For those who want to improve your swing and the rest of your game go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com
Happy golfing
Wayne
Take your handicap and put it to good use. If you have 2 strokes on a par 4 then play it like a par 6.
If you have 1 shot handicap on a par 3 then play it as a par 4 and so on.
This means that in the case of a par 6 on handicap you only have to put the ball on the green on your fourth shot and allow two putts for a par on handicap.
You don't have to crunch a monster drive and you don't have to try and over extend a fairway wood or long iron or a hybrid.
My advice is to try and be in close proximity to the green on your third shot, sometimes you will get lucky and your third shot will actually be on the green, this is a bonus. Likewise you will sometimes be able to chip your fourth shot fairly close to the pin and make it a one putt green, again this is a bonus.
When chipping your fourth shot on a par 6 on handicap, don't aim for a tight pin placement near the edge of the green especially if there is trouble like a bunker on that side. Aim your chip for the centre of the green which allows you a fair margin of error on both sides. You should still be able to manage 2 putts from somewhere on the green. Sometimes you will err on the correct side and place your chip near enough for a one putt, again this is a bonus.
By playing conservatively like this you will be surprised how you will get rid of those shots that put you in trouble and cause you to have an 8 or worse. You will begin scoring better by not trying to do so. Use your handicap to advantage.
If you do hit into trouble dont try the miracle shot to get out of there, Take your medicine and chip back into the fairway or take a penalty drop and proceed to play to the green. It is better to drop one shot than three or four by failing with your miracle shot.
For those who want to improve your swing and the rest of your game go to http://www.learninggolfswing.com
Happy golfing
Wayne
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