I still cannot chip

[jfurr]

Can’t do it. I have no idea what the correct technique is. I’d say last weekend if I had chipped better it would have taken 10 strokes or so off my score. I either blade them completely over the green, or hit fat and thevdont even make it to the green.

I just watched several you tube instruction videos which were not in agreement as far as technique.

The chipping tips have been plaguing me for too long. Takes all the fun out of the game.

[legitimatebeef]

Have you tried "hinge and hold"? Where you feel like you let the wrist hinge on the way back, but then hold on to the hinge on the downswing.

GTFO here with this "I have no idea what the correct technique is" nonsense. The objective is to the strike the ball cleanly with a short stroke, probably at a slightly descending angle. You know this, you have seen people do it probably millions of times. Here, watch this guy, copy what he is doing. Don't even think about it, just try to copy.

[GBOGEY]

I will comment on chipping and putting because that is what I do think I know about golf - full swing much less so. The two links below are the basic videos I used to watch over and over when I first started playing. Very good for the basics. I've since learned that this technique is very good for getting on the green but maybe less so for strong distance control. Still, first things first.

[jasonfish11]

The biggest change I made in my chipping is being 100% committed to the shot I want to play. I realized that most of my chipping issues were on "straight forward" shots where I had options. I wouldn't have as many issues with shots that were harder and really forced you to play only 1 type of shot (ex flop shot over a bunker to a tucked pin, or a bump and run out of a bad lie where the ball is sitting down).

So I started paying more attention and I realized nearly every bad chip I hit was because of one of the following.
1) Didn't have the right club for the shot needed and was too lazy to go back and get it.
2) I stepped up to the ball with 2 different shots in mind. Example I have a relatively straight forward shot and thought "hmmm, I'm super awesome at this game I could either fly it up on the top shelf with some spin so it checks, or hit a low runner into the slope" I'd take my back swing with out making a decision then proceed to do something terrible.

Since I started walking way more often #1 isn't that big of an issue, even when I don't walk I commit to taking 8i, PW and LW with me unless I know 100% what my shot is.

#2 is hard, I try to be committed on every chip, but I'll be honest focusing for 4 hours and reminding myself on the 16th green to choose 1 shot after I just 4 putt doubled the prior hole is something I still struggle with.

[gpickin]

Can’t do it. I have no idea what the correct technique is. I’d say last weekend if I had chipped better it would have taken 10 strokes or so off my score. I either blade them completely over the green, or hit fat and thevdont even make it to the green.

I just watched several you tube instruction videos which were not in agreement as far as technique.

The chipping tips have been plaguing me for too long. Takes all the fun out of the game.

I feel your pain... you are so right about the no good way.
I lean towards Phil when i feel bad about that part of my game. I just watched all of his short game videos again the other day.

I like the 3 club approach for hitting, but i forget to take them with me.
I'm trying to just use my 54 everywhere so i get some feel built up.
Its starting to work... but its not easy.

[DougE]

Like GBogey, chipping is one place I feel I have a much better than average ability. I have a whole bag full of different short game shots with a whole bunch of different clubs, but my chipping is typically done with a 58, 54, or 50 degree wedge, depending on lie, distance and topography. I have given my advice to many I have played with, who have struggled around the greens and look to me for help. Some things I typically point out:

1. Your back leg is not really necessary to make a good chip. Keep most of your weight forward on the backswing. I use no more than 10% weight on my back foot. This definitely aids a downward strike.
2. You don't need to put the ball real far back in your stance, unless there is a good reason to deloft a lot, like maybe off hardpan.
3. Set up so the bounce will help you if you happen to come in a tiny bit fat, particularly in softer conditions.
4. Use only your shoulders on short chips. Hinging of wrists is usually not necessary until the distance you need to carry is greater than around 5 yards, but let it happen naturally. Don't force your hinge. A good shoulder turn through the ball is all you need . Adding hinge adds another variable, making perfect contact more difficult.
5. Hit DOWN on the ball, but do not CHOP down on it. Come into the ball as you would with a full iron shot, from the inside. Think shallow, not steep, which people tend to do when they think about hitting down on the ball. You can hit down without coming in steeply. I focus on the inside back of the ball and think of taking my divot (if there is one) in front of the ball.
6. Just like with putting, keep your eyes on the ball until after it has been struck. No peeking.
7. Most important in my mind because all the other things are 2nd nature to me now, NEVER, EVER hit AT the ball, or JUMP at it, but instead go through it with a nice smooth motion and a natural follow through (no forced stop) with your shoulders turned toward the target upon completion. Hitting AT the ball on ANY swing, from driver down through putter, is the kiss of death.

This all works extremely well for me. I certainly don't get up & down every time, but 90% of the time I make a respectable chip. It's that other 5% that gets my blood boiling, BECAUSE I feel I should never hit a bad chip (assuming the lie is somewhat playable) with all the time I spend working on that part of my game. (Probably 200-300 chips a week, average.) But, it happens. Sometimes due to nerves, tension, pressure, distraction, pissed at the slow group ahead, whatever.

[sjduffers]

I definitely second Doug’s thoughts on this, but pay particular attention to his #1, weight preset forward.

IMHO, this is critical. It took me literally years to figure out this simple concept, but when I did, my chipping improved a lot, seemingly overnight.

Practice chipping standing on the front leg only, just putting your back foot down for balance, if needed. Then, after this has become second nature, do all the other stuff!

[jasonfish11]

6. Just like with putting, keep your eyes on the ball until after it has been struck. No peeking.

Umm Id argue that most people will putt better looking at the hole.


Other than that good advice.

[DougE]

6. Just like with putting, keep your eyes on the ball until after it has been struck. No peeking.

Umm Id argue that most people will putt better looking at the hole.

You might argue that, but I'm not sure you'd win. Certainly, some good players look at the hole when putting, like you and sometimes Jordan Spieth. But, more don't. Arguably, the best putter to ever play the game (Tiger) does not look at the hole, nor did he ever look at the hole when putting. So, you can argue it out with him if you'd like. The fact that nearly all Tour pros look at the ball, not the hole when they putt would lead me to believe they are doing it the best way, at least for them.

There is no problem looking at the hole if it works for you. I have done it myself on occasion, and practice it very often on the practice green. It usually works quite well for me on long lags with lots of break. But, under pressure, I am not confident enough to look at the hole. Whatever works for you is obviously best for you. The real problem is looking at the ball and then cheating and looking up to see where the ball is headed a split second before actually striking it, as many poor putters do. It can change your perspective in the middle of the stroke, causing an over reaction at impact.

As far as chipping goes, it is so important that the club face contacts the ball properly. Looking up too early can lead to skulls and fats. I make the cleanest contact when I focus on a spot on the inside back of the ball until after contact. I don't worry much about my mechanics anymore, because chipping is 2nd nature to me now. But if I look up too early, even with the best mechanics, I can miss my intended spot of ball/clubface contact. But, that's just me.

[Duke of Hazards]

I would argue it's far more important not to look up while chipping than it is for putting. Looking up early kills my chips.

[jasonfish11]

6. Just like with putting, keep your eyes on the ball until after it has been struck. No peeking.

Umm Id argue that most people will putt better looking at the hole.

You might argue that, but I'm not sure you'd win.

Feel free to site studies that show putting looking at the ball is better for average golfers, I'll go first.

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... king_Putts

[jasonfish11]

Certainly, some good players look at the hole when putting, like you and sometimes Jordan Spieth. But, more don't. Arguably, the best putter to ever play the game (El Tigré) does not look at the hole, nor did he ever look at the hole when putting. So, you can argue it out with him if you'd like. The fact that nearly all Tour pros look at the ball, not the hole when they putt would lead me to believe they are doing it the best way, at least for them.

This is a logical fallacy that has no bases in stats. Just because the best putters in the world do x doesn't mean x is the best practice for average putters. I'm not saying that you are wrong I'm just saying this isn't a valid argument. It's like saying that Ben Crenshaw used a bullseye putter so everyone should use a bullseye putter. Obviously that is not sound advice. To use a tiger example since you mentioned him, he has one of the highest rates of face rotation on the PGA tour. Would you recommend having an average golfers keep their putter face square as long as possible or have them focus on having the club face open and close rapidly? Obviously square longer will be best for MOST average golfers as it reduces the number of variables to hitting a good putt.

Now back to chipping...

The real problem is looking at the ball and then cheating and looking up to see where the ball is headed a split second before actually striking it, as many poor putters do. It can change your perspective in the middle of the stroke, causing an over reaction at impact.

As far as chipping goes, it is so important that the club face contacts the ball properly. Looking up too early can lead to skulls and fats. I make the cleanest contact when I focus on a spot on the inside back of the ball until after contact. I don't worry much about my mechanics anymore, because chipping is 2nd nature to me now. But if I look up too early, even with the best mechanics, I can miss my intended spot of ball/clubface contact. But, that's just me.

I agree with this, I just had to pick on you a little because most studies I see say that for putting looking at the hole results in closer misses for average golfers.

[legitimatebeef]

In a very short time this thread has become one of the worst golf-related discussions I have ever seen. No offense obviously.

[legitimatebeef]

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... king_Putts

Jesus Christ college is such bullshit and this type of study exemplifies that perfectly. I mean, college experience is great for graduating high schoolers, to ease into adulthood and learn about themselves and all that shit. But the research aspect of universities is mostly bullshit. These people were given money to clinically study the putting tendencies of teen handicappers. They are probably paid well too, live fat lifestyles, drive nice cars, drink Starbucks every day etc. Not only that these kinds of people enjoy such validation from society, as if they are important members of society and not total navel gazing fringe losers.

[GBOGEY]

[/quote]

As far as chipping goes, it is so important that the club face contacts the ball properly. Looking up too early can lead to skulls and fats. I make the cleanest contact when I focus on a spot on the inside back of the ball until after contact. I don't worry much about my mechanics anymore, because chipping is 2nd nature to me now. But if I look up too early, even with the best mechanics, I can miss my intended spot of ball/clubface contact. But, that's just me.
[/quote]
If you are struggling with your chipping as JFURR says, this is the most important thing - making good contact. Good contact, on the green, two putt range - all one should consider. Then once the confidence comes start working on getting the ball closer to tap in range.

[jfurr]

Re: “Hinge and Hold” - never heard if that until I watched the Phil M videos. Haven’t tried that yet.

But, even in this thread, there’s one method suggested of using wrist hinge, and one suggestion to not hinge.

[gpickin]

I think the hinge complicates the swing, i try not to, unless i'm going for a full flop.
Chipping not flopping, i do better when i keep the Y in my arms and not break the wrists on the way back or forward.

[legitimatebeef]

Re: “Hinge and Hold” - never heard if that until I watched the Phil M videos. Haven’t tried that yet.

But, even in this thread, there’s one method suggested of using wrist hinge, and one suggestion to not hinge.

[DougE]

I think the hinge complicates the swing, i try not to, unless i'm going for a full flop.
Chipping not flopping, i do better when i keep the Y in my arms and not break the wrists on the way back or forward.

Bingo!

[jfurr]

Seems to have worked it out over the past few days. Instead of warming up on the range or putting, Ive been chipping. Much better.

So, I figured out that I was doing a big forward press shaft lean, then hinging, and I think doing both was getting me all out of wack. Starting with a more vertical shaft, then the hinge and hold is working.

[legitimatebeef]

the hinge and hold is working.

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[bkuehn1952]

I had one of my better chipping/pitching days. 29 putts with lots of up & downs. Some of the suggestions/tips presented in this thread helped. Thanks guys!

[jfurr]

I had one of my better chipping/pitching days. 29 putts with lots of up & downs. Some of the suggestions/tips presented in this thread helped. Thanks guys!

Good for you!

I regressed. Terrible chipping day today. In a panic over the ball again.

[bkuehn1952]

I had one of my better chipping/pitching days. 29 putts with lots of up & downs. Some of the suggestions/tips presented in this thread helped. Thanks guys!

The entire year, when I paid attention to the advice you guys gave, was a great short game year. It hide a lot of poor ball striking.

Thanks again.

[jfurr]

Guys. I've only played like eh 8 or 10 rounds of golf this year. But above scoring or any other part of the game what I've been trying to overcome is the massive chipping yips which has reduced my golf enthusiasm down to self pity. Well, what I realized, and it took some work, is that I've just been doing it wrong for years. Through a lot of mental effort and what seems like too much overthinking however I think right now for me I need to stay on it - is a change in technique. It's been working better. And maybe, as I'm now getting to be an older golfer, that my tactics are changing with my age. So it's more bump and run than flop shots, if you know what I mean. It might not look as sexy, but a correctly lofted chip shot that hits where you want it and rolls out becoming a putt and curves towards the cup is a good feeling shot.