Chipping is a part of the game that players simply can't ignore. It would be nice to hit every green in regulation but due to all the different factors in the game of golf, this is not likely to happen. So we have to learn to accept it and develop some ninja skills around the greens.
The biggest mistake i see players make is that, no matter what, when they are with in 30 yards of the green they take out their lob wedge and use as much air time as possible. This causes the most inconsistent chipping results. What they should be doing is trying to use as much of the green as possible. The more roll you can put on a golf ball the better and more consistent the results will be.
I am going to share a few tips with you in this article that will help improve your chances of not only getting up and down more often but chipping the golf ball in every now and then. I refer to "STEPS" in the next section as it is far easier for you to count consistently when you walk normally. Its harder when trying to pace in meters or yards as this is not the natural way of walking for you. So when i say "STEPS" I mean your natural walking motion.
A 10 step chip shot with 2 steps of fringe is a great example of how most players worry about getting up and down because its a delicate shot with a LW. So you end up decelerating into the golf ball and not executing the golf shot like you want to.This golf shot should actually be thought of as an opportunity to knock it in the hole. If a golf ball is rolling it has a far greater chance of going in the hole than if it is in the air. This means you need to use a golf club and stroke that allows the golf ball to roll. The putting stroke is the best stroke for producing roll and a lower lofted golf club is a better club for allowing less air time. If you use a 9I or PW for this shot and use a putting stroke to carry the golf ball in the air some 2 or 3 steps it will roll out the next 7 or 8 steps giving you your total 10 steps. I know this from practice and experience and have put together a reference table. This reference table is for green speeds of 10 on the stimpmeter and so you need to use it a few times in practice to see the difference on the greens you normally play on and adjust it accordingly.
Refer to the table for this example and picture a completely level surface:
You are 18 steps away from the hole with 4 steps of rough and fringe before the start of the green. You need to pick a golf club that will give you enough air time for the golf ball to land at least 2 steps onto the putting green but roll out no more or less than the remaining steps to the hole. This means that you need a total air time of 6 steps (4 steps for rough and fringe, and 2 steps on the putting green) and roll length of 14 paces (total distance of 20 steps minus the 6 steps air time). So if we look at the chart above and we use a GW,52deg and fly the golf ball 6 steps it will roll out another12 steps (Simple multiple of three. 2 steps flight now became 6 steps so there for 4 steps roll becomes 12steps ) for a total distance of 18 steps.
Similarly if you are 12 steps away from the hole with 4 steps of fringe and rough, you need to fly the golf ball two steps on to the green, so need a total flight of 6 steps. This means you need a roll of 6 steps to make up the total 12 steps. Looking at the chart a SW,56deg would be perfect as it offers 6 steps of flight and 6 steps of roll. So you use the SW,56deg pick out a landing spot on the green 6 steps from your golf ball, make a putting stroke and get the ball to fly to this. You can admire it as it goes in the hole!!!
Copy down this table and practice your chipping with it. Try out all the different golf clubs and distance variations with these clubs. You will soon get a feeling for yourself of which clubs are more comfortable and suited for which chip shots. Remember that the reference table is only a guide and can be modified to how you feel or chip. You might find a difference in one or two steps. This is certainly not an issue and instead of trying to practice to get the same results as my chart, change it and make your own. But remember that it is important to find a landing area after looking at the slope of the green and then making the club decision. When down hill obviously the golf ball rolls out further and when going up hill the golf ball will not roll out as much.
If you need further help or demonstration just leave a post and ill get back to you ASAP.
Aim Small, Miss Small
The biggest mistake i see players make is that, no matter what, when they are with in 30 yards of the green they take out their lob wedge and use as much air time as possible. This causes the most inconsistent chipping results. What they should be doing is trying to use as much of the green as possible. The more roll you can put on a golf ball the better and more consistent the results will be.
I am going to share a few tips with you in this article that will help improve your chances of not only getting up and down more often but chipping the golf ball in every now and then. I refer to "STEPS" in the next section as it is far easier for you to count consistently when you walk normally. Its harder when trying to pace in meters or yards as this is not the natural way of walking for you. So when i say "STEPS" I mean your natural walking motion.
A 10 step chip shot with 2 steps of fringe is a great example of how most players worry about getting up and down because its a delicate shot with a LW. So you end up decelerating into the golf ball and not executing the golf shot like you want to.This golf shot should actually be thought of as an opportunity to knock it in the hole. If a golf ball is rolling it has a far greater chance of going in the hole than if it is in the air. This means you need to use a golf club and stroke that allows the golf ball to roll. The putting stroke is the best stroke for producing roll and a lower lofted golf club is a better club for allowing less air time. If you use a 9I or PW for this shot and use a putting stroke to carry the golf ball in the air some 2 or 3 steps it will roll out the next 7 or 8 steps giving you your total 10 steps. I know this from practice and experience and have put together a reference table. This reference table is for green speeds of 10 on the stimpmeter and so you need to use it a few times in practice to see the difference on the greens you normally play on and adjust it accordingly.
| CLUB | FLIGHTED STEPS | ROLL STEPS | TOTAL STEPS | BEST RESULTS |
| 7I | 2 | 12 | 14 | 30-40 STEPS |
| 8I | 2 | 10 | 12 | 25-35 STEPS |
| 9I | 2 | 8 | 10 | 20-30 STEPS |
| PW | 2 | 6 | 8 | 15-28 STEPS |
| GW,52DEG | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12-25 STEPS |
| SW,56DEG | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8-20 STEPS |
| LW,60DEG | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6-15 STEPS |
Refer to the table for this example and picture a completely level surface:
You are 18 steps away from the hole with 4 steps of rough and fringe before the start of the green. You need to pick a golf club that will give you enough air time for the golf ball to land at least 2 steps onto the putting green but roll out no more or less than the remaining steps to the hole. This means that you need a total air time of 6 steps (4 steps for rough and fringe, and 2 steps on the putting green) and roll length of 14 paces (total distance of 20 steps minus the 6 steps air time). So if we look at the chart above and we use a GW,52deg and fly the golf ball 6 steps it will roll out another12 steps (Simple multiple of three. 2 steps flight now became 6 steps so there for 4 steps roll becomes 12steps ) for a total distance of 18 steps.
Similarly if you are 12 steps away from the hole with 4 steps of fringe and rough, you need to fly the golf ball two steps on to the green, so need a total flight of 6 steps. This means you need a roll of 6 steps to make up the total 12 steps. Looking at the chart a SW,56deg would be perfect as it offers 6 steps of flight and 6 steps of roll. So you use the SW,56deg pick out a landing spot on the green 6 steps from your golf ball, make a putting stroke and get the ball to fly to this. You can admire it as it goes in the hole!!!
Copy down this table and practice your chipping with it. Try out all the different golf clubs and distance variations with these clubs. You will soon get a feeling for yourself of which clubs are more comfortable and suited for which chip shots. Remember that the reference table is only a guide and can be modified to how you feel or chip. You might find a difference in one or two steps. This is certainly not an issue and instead of trying to practice to get the same results as my chart, change it and make your own. But remember that it is important to find a landing area after looking at the slope of the green and then making the club decision. When down hill obviously the golf ball rolls out further and when going up hill the golf ball will not roll out as much.
If you need further help or demonstration just leave a post and ill get back to you ASAP.
Aim Small, Miss Small
Thanks so much this really does work!!!!
ReplyDeleteIts simple and after 10 mins of practice i felt like i could hole out almost every time.
Thanks again and keep up with the post :)