How to chip from muddy lies
Analysis by Top 25 Coach John Jacobs
1
When you’re faced with a muddy lie, your first thought will often be, “Don’t duff it!” Replace that negative thought with a positive one, because commitment to the shot is key. For a wet, muddy lie, choose your wedge with the most bounce, because bounce is your friend; from a firm, muddy lie, choose your wedge with least bounce. Then just use a normal chipping set-up and technique and commit, as it’s so easy to stop on it if you’re anxious.
2
I advocate the hinge and hold technique for chips – slightly hinge the wrists early on the way back, then hold on to that angle on the way down, especially in the right hand. There is still some release to allow the club to rotate a little, but avoid getting flicky at all costs. Commit to the shot, keep accelerating and turn your chest through to the target. Any hint of deceleration will be bad news.
3
As for ball position, resist the temptation to move it too far back in your stance thinking it will help to guarantee the strike. All it will do is de-loft the club and stop the bounce from working. Set the ball just inside your left heel at address and keep your sternum over the ball so it’s over the strike point. It’s the same technique you’d use for a good lie – just trust fully that it will also work from a bad lie.
1
Set- up. Jimenez has what we call a strong ‘S’ posture, so his pelvis is quite well tilted at address and you can see that curvature through the spine resembles the letter ‘S’. There’s plenty of distance from his toe line to the golf ball, which gives him a nice amount of room.
2
Takeaway. It’s a quirky takeaway – up and outside initially, and then he quickly flattens it back with his forearm rotation. It’s not one you’d necessarily coach, but it emphasises that golf is not all about the backswing. The arms and hands work the club initially, then the shoulders catch up.
3
Top of backswing. It all culminates in a really good position at the top. The left arm plane and the right elbow are very orthodox and so too is his rotation. You could say he’s off plane in the takeaway and three quarters of the way back, but it’s lovely at the top.
4
The shaft exits on the left shoulder
Downswing. Compared with the shaft plane on his backswing, he’s now very neutral. If you drew a line from the butt of the club to the ball, the extended line would go straight through the shaft as well. The shaft is just starting to fall on to the tip of the right shoulder – a good plane position.
5
Impact. Nothing is out of kilter. The position just after impact is one of the best you will see; it’s a classic good player’s position where we can still see the arms fully extended and the face square. Anyone who consistently finds this position after impact is likely to be a good driver.
6
Finish. The shaft was coming under the right shoulder on the way down, but it’s on the left shoulder on exit, indicating a good plane. He has beautiful width and height and he rotates around his spine angle really well. From the start of the downswing to the finish, he’s as good as anyone.