Hello, my game from Tee to close to the green is not bad. Putting comes along occasionally. BUT, I seem to go brain dead with short chips. I hit them everywhere. Skulls, ground first, too hard, too easy, etc. I need something to make me better and more consistent on these short @#$%^&* shots. I am even willing to listen and practice. I can't be much more cooperative than that. Thanks and I enjoy your tips.
Danny Shepherd
Hello Danny,
Here are three things to try. First, for the chips that are just barely off the green, always use a putter unless the grass is too tall. Second, if the grass is too tall, but you are still close enough to the green, putt with a 5-wood, it should loft the ball just enough to carry over the tall grass. Since the shaft is rather long, try the belly-putter stroke. Third, if the chip is a little too far from the edge of the green, you must use a more lofted club to carry over the tall grass and land on the green. Here is where most people have trouble with ball contact as you described. Most of the trouble is caused by the wrist action. Use a wedge, play the ball at your back foot, and keep your wrist locked so you only use your arms. Contact the ball with a downward stroke. Your hands must stay ahead of the club at all times, even after you hit the ball. For distance control, hit the ball twice as hard as you would for a putt of the same distance. Let me know how this works for you.
Joe
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Hi,
I can never remember where to position the ball in my stance if I want to hit a low shot versus when to put it if I want to hit a high shot. What is the answer?
Paul Larsen
Hello Paul,
For lower shots, play the ball more toward your back foot. For higher shots, play the ball more toward your front foot. However, this takes a bit of practice because there is danger of chunking shots whenever you feel awkward with unfamiliar ball positions. So rather than risking this danger, you might do just as well to pick a lower lofted or higher lofted club without changing your ball position. Of course it depends on the situation, the amount of distance needed is also a factor, so you may have to adjust how hard you swing according to the distance, and that again may feel awkward and therefore is also a risk for chunking shots. Try both these ideas on the range and see which one works best for you before you risk it on the course.
Joe
I can never remember where to position the ball in my stance if I want to hit a low shot versus when to put it if I want to hit a high shot. What is the answer?
Paul Larsen
Hello Paul,
For lower shots, play the ball more toward your back foot. For higher shots, play the ball more toward your front foot. However, this takes a bit of practice because there is danger of chunking shots whenever you feel awkward with unfamiliar ball positions. So rather than risking this danger, you might do just as well to pick a lower lofted or higher lofted club without changing your ball position. Of course it depends on the situation, the amount of distance needed is also a factor, so you may have to adjust how hard you swing according to the distance, and that again may feel awkward and therefore is also a risk for chunking shots. Try both these ideas on the range and see which one works best for you before you risk it on the course.
Joe
