WINNING SHOT #2
THE PURE CHIP RECOVERY
The typical club player misses a lot more greens than they hit – and that means a frequent reliance on chipping to save par. In matchplay, the ability to chip the ball close is a powerful weapon – not just because it can turn the fortunes of a hole, but also because your opponent knows that even when you miss greens you will probably get it up-and-down ... and that puts pressure on them.
For many amateurs the problem with the chip shot is that it is often the hole’s make-or-break shot – and that can make us nervous and prone to dung. To counteract that, you need to make your technique as simple as possible; take out the extras and the reliability of your action grows. That’s why I recommend the chip-putt as your go-to stroke. Here’s how it works.
HEAT OF THE BATTLE HUNTER MAHAN, 2010
The importance of a reliable chipping action under pressure was laid bare by Mahan’s unfortunate du at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. Having just gone 1-down with two to play to Graeme McDowell in the pivotal singles match, he fatted a simple chip from the front of the 17th green. The shot could hardly have been more costly; it handed the match – and the Ryder Cup – to Europe.
WRISTS: THE DEAD ZONE
Most club golfers overuse their wrists in their chipping actions. Wrist hinge and cock is a source of power not needed in the chipping stroke, and using your wrists merely creates an angle that’s tricky to restore at impact. The key benefit of the chip-putt is it takes the wrists out of the stroke.
WHY THE CHIP-PUTT WORKS
In the putting stroke we use the big, non-twitching muscles of the chest and shoulders to control and direct the motion. It’s a controllable and repeatable action, far more dependable than using your fast-twitch hand and wrist muscles, that can work just as well when you chip. So employ your putting grip – this more palmy hold mutes the wrists – and take your putting mindset into the stroke.
VERTICAL LIMIT
One of the secrets to chip-putt success is to play the shot with a relatively upright shaft. This lifts the heel of the club o the turf, making your chances of fatting the ball much slimmer. As a guide for ball position, place your lead toe cap opposite the ball and pull your trail foot halfway back from that. Set up around this trail foot position.
1. ADDRESS: SET UP FOR A CLEAN STRIKE DON’T GET STEEP
Most golfers feel they need to hit down sharply to guarantee ball-first contact. But get too steep and you are effectively driving the sharp leading edge of the club down at the turf, encouraging that duff.
SUBTLE SQUEEZE
Instead, promote a slight downward strike; play the ball just back of centre and lean your upper body slightly towards the flag until your shirt buttons are ahead of the ball. This moves the low point of the arc forward of the ball, promoting a naturally subtle downward attack.
NEUTRAL PATH
Keeping things simple means playing the chip-putt with a neutral path, the club swinging straight down the line through impact. Encourage this by setting up with square shoulders ... though you can pull your lead foot back to open your hips a touch and give your arms a little extra room to swing.
2. BACKSWING: AVOID SWAY
So much work for this shot is done at set-up; for the swing itself, all we have to focus on is using the arms and shoulders to move the club back and through, just as with a putt. Going back, keep a constant pressure under your lead foot to avoid sway; you can also feel your lead ear, if anything, moves slightly towards the target.
3. DOWNSWING: HANDS-FREE
Keep the same feel and even rhythm for your downswing, using gravity to help your arms swing down and through. Avoid any instinct to control the strike. Your attack angle guarantees clean contact and your clubface assures launch; all you have to do is hold your position as the club sweeps forward.