Ladies Golf Academy Week 3

 Chipping and Pitching

Chipping is used when you are close to the green, have no real obstacles between your ball and the hole, and feel that using a putter will not work as well.

A chip shot flies lower and rolls further than a pitch shot. I use a variety of clubs when chipping: my 50 degree wedge is my favorite chipping club, but for very long rolls, I like a 5 or 6 iron. I also use my pitching and sand wedges to chip. Deciding on the club is influenced by many variables, such as: rough or short grass, length of roll desired, undulations on the green, etc.

The type of shot you will play is dictated by variables such as 1. your lie, 2. the amount or green between your ball and the hole, 3. how much rough is between your ball and the green, and 4. any hazards between your ball and the hole. These conditions will tell you what club to use and what type of shot to play.

Good solid chipping technique. good flow to the motion wrists solid through the downward blow contact at impact.   

Avoid the "broken wrist syndrome". This is the magic move to chipping disaster. If you do this consistently on any golf shot you will skull the ball, hit the ground behhind the ball or just generally hit bad golf shots.

Illustration of how a chipping swing aid device works.

The Clock Analogy

For chip shots take your club back to 7 o'clock then forward to 5. For pitch shots take the club back to 9 or ten, then forward 3 or 2. Let the length and requirment of each shot dictate how far you take the club back and through.

Great picture of how the follow through should look on a properly executed chip or pitch shot. Kepp in mind that the club still has to release to a follow through position that is dictated by the type of shot you are playing.

PITCH SHOT