Don’t get distraught when you miss the green. Look at it as a chance for you to get up and down and walk on to the next hole salvaging your score. Most top PGA and LPGA Touring Professionals average 11 greens in regulation (G.I.R) per round. This means that they must chip and putt with a high conversion rate to shoot a good score. This month we look to boost your conversion rate by raising the level of your chipping.
First establish a better setup to help influence sound technique during your chip shots
1) LEFT, LEFT, LEFT (For a right-handed golfer and RIGHT for a left-handed golfer)
This simple statement relates to the position of your stance, weight distribution and shaft angle at address.
1-a. The first LEFT refers to your stance. Make sure that your clubface is aiming at the intended target. Next aim your feet in a more open position, aligning your stance LEFT of the target. This gives the clubface more dynamic loft at impact and allows you to clearly see down to target leading to the next LEFT.
1-b. The second LEFT refers to the handle of the club or butt end (cap of the grip) pointing to your LEFT shoulder. For most clip shots, I would encourage the ball to be played in the middle of the stance. You can move it back but this will decrease the loft on the clubface resulting in lower shots with less spin imparted on the ball. By pointing the handle of the grip at your LEFT shoulder forward of the clubhead you will create angle and help keep the leading edge stay lower to avoid thin shots that result in no spin and less control.
1-c. The final LEFT is for your weight distribution. I prefer my pupils to have a 60% to 40% split of weight favoring the LEFT foot. This again encourages forward shaft lean and if done with the second LEFT will force the leading edge of the clubface to stay lower to the ground thru impact that promotes solid contact.
2) ROCK THE PENDULUM
With a correct setup using the LEFT, LEFT, LEFT technique make sure to rock your shoulders retaining the angle by leading with the handle. This is like a putting motion as your backswing and forward swing should match up in length. This can take the inconsistency of your hands out of the swing to produce a more solid downward strike. To ensure that the leading edge stays down try and keep it low to the ground after impact as well.
Click here to use the tee drill to produce better contact
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