Dont Let Poor Chipping Cost You

Short chips are critical to going low. Run one by the hole and it can cost you big time. That's why pro golfers practice incessantly. They can't afford to run one by the hole. Neither can you. If your chipping leaves something to be desire, you may want to change your technique. The simple technique described below improves your chances of chipping it close.

Below are six keys to this chipping technique:

* Choose your club
* Adopt a putting grip
* Play the ball forward
* Set the shaft on its toe
* Keep the body still
* Use a pendulum swing

Credit the late Paul Runyan, who beat Sam Snead for the PGA Championship in 1938, for inventing the chip-like-a-putt technique.

The technique's mechanics are straightforward. Use your normal putting grip, play the ball inside your front heel, and set the club on its toe. Then use a pendulum like swing to chip the ball onto the green. If the ball is sitting down, place more weight on your front foot. This move encourages a slight angle of descent through impact.

The key to this shot is setting the club on its toe. Simplifying your motion, it helps replicate your putting stance. It encourages the club to slide through the grass. And it promotes hitting the ball near the club's toe, which softens the shot and increases feel.

In addition, make sure you keep your body is still when swinging. Swing the club up with your arms going back, then let it swing down.
If poor chipping is costing you strokes, try Paul Runyan's chip-as-you-putt technique. It will take the fear out of chipping and put the feel back in. You'll be shocked at how many strokes it saves.

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2) How To Drain More Putts
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Putting is all about control. If you can control the putterhead, you'll sink more putts. If you can't, you'll sink a lot fewer--and the ones you sink will be because of luck. It's that simple. To boost putterhead control, determine which hand is your controlling hand. Then practice one-handed putts with this hand.

Use this five-step drill to find your dominant putting hand.

1. Drop a ball 3-6 feet from the hole
2. Hit 10 putts with one hand
3. Hit 10 putts with the other hand
4. Determine which did best
5. Practice putting with that hand

To improve your putting, find out first which hand is the controlling hand. Here's how:

Drop a ball from 3 to 6 feet from the hole. Take your stance. Put the putter in one hand. Then putt one-handed. Hit 10 putts with this hand. Keep track of your success. Now switch hands. Hit 10 putts with this hand. Keep track of your success. Whichever hand sunk more putts is your controlling hand.

Often the controlling hand is your naturally dominant hand. If you're right handed, your dominant hand is your right hand. If you left-handed, it's the left hand. Few golfers think their non-dominant hand controls the putterhead.

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