As a golfer, there's nothing more satisfying than pulling off a perfect chip shot. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, improving your chipping technique is essential. Today, we'll delve into the art of how to chip in golf, helping you avoid common mistakes such as chunking, duffing, or laying the sod over in your wedge game.
Chipping Technique and Body Movement
One of the most common issues golfers face when chipping is their body movement - specifically the act of standing up and then coming back down to the ball. This error often results in the club getting stuck in the turf. If you've been told that you're "dipping" or your "head's moving all over", it's likely because you're standing up during those crucial wedge shots.
Understanding the dynamics of body movement in golf is key to improving your chipping. Remember, if you go up, you must come down, and if you go down, you must come up. The best wedge players in the world utilize a particular technique: they start with their weight on the left, press more to the left, and then their heads work up and around to their finish.
How To Improve Your Chipping Technique
To improve your chipping technique, try the opposite of what you've been doing. Start by shifting about 65 to 70% of your weight to the left. Then, press a little bit more to your left and feel extended and around in your finish. This adjustment should help you avoid the 'up and down' movement that often leads to poor contact with the ball.
Interestingly, a statistic from about ten years ago revealed that the average tour player's head moved four inches forward on a wedge shot. To implement this in your game, tilt into the forward movement and then move forward again by going up and around. This technique is particularly effective for 30 yards and in shots.
To see the result of this adjustment, try a practice shot. You should feel a little press up and around, leading to a solid shot where the bounce meets the ground beautifully, resulting in good contact with the ball.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you've been struggling with creating contact at impact with the little wedge shot around the green, consider focusing on how your head moves. Avoid the temptation to lift up and then drive back down. Instead, feel a little press or extension of the torso up and around.
Improving your chipping in golf is an ongoing process, but with consistent practice and attention to technique, you'll soon see progress in your game. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more golf tips and techniques, and we look forward to seeing you again for another segment of our Wedge Wednesdays.
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