Duffing a simple chip

Afraid of catching the ground before the ball on a chip shot, the club golfer typically moves the ball back in the stance and pushes the hands forward, reasoning that a more downward strike encourages clean contact. In fact it promotes the very contact he’s trying to avoid.

Use maker’s angle

Put the club down as its designer built it, the sole flush to the turf, and you’ll see gentle forward shaft lean. At this angle the curved, forgiving part of the sole engages the turf.

Why this set-up digs the turf

‘Ball back, hands forward’ creates massive lean in the shaft, which seats only the sharp, leading edge of the wedge’s sole against the turf. This sharp edge digs as soon as it makes contact with the ground, meaning any pre-ball ground contact results in heavy contact rather than ‘bruising’ it.

See the bounce

Your wedges were built with a duff safety net – bounce on the sole. It sets the middle of the sole lower than its leading edge, with the club soled in its designed position. Using it means that, even if you hit behind the ball, the club will resist digging and rescue the strike.

Focus on the shaft angle

Hit some chips in practice to get used to the feeling of using the sole. Place the club behind the ball in the middle of your stance and deliver it with that slight forward shaft lean you set at address. You’ll soon develop a consistently clean strike.