Having a good short game is crucial to lowering your scores out on the golf course and chipping is a key area where for most golfers things tend to go wrong, scores mount up and confidence ebbs away. I would like to help with you with a key area of your chipping technique to help you improve your ball striking, build confidence and help lower your scores.
The key thought needed when chipping is that we must strike down on the ball to get the ball into the air and your body positioning within your set-up should be geared to creating the descending blow needed for a positive contact and the desired ball flight. For me there is a key part of the set-up that amateur golfers, notably beginners seem to struggle with and it is this part I would like to help you with and offer you a small tip.
Ball Positioning
For a standard greenside chip always favour the back of your stance toward the inside of your back heel with your ball position (so for a right handed golfer this would be the inside of your right foot) this will help you strike the ball with a descending blow and reduce the chance of fat and thin shots around the green, which usually occur when the ball position is too far forwards in the stance. I have noticed at times amateurs play the ball too far forwards in the stance due to trying to “scoop” or “lift” the ball into the air. So remember ball back and strike down for better strikes!
Interact
If you struggle with your ball striking when chipping try this quick tip and let me know how you get on, I hope this helps you become more confident and consistent around the greens.
I definitely have had more success with these types of shots since I started to play them off the back foot with hands forward. Crucial scoresavers!!
I find chipping is a shot most amateurs really struggle with, especially ball position. The other notables are lack of weight on the left side and the actual theory of not “scooping” or “trying to get under the ball” to get the desired flight when in actual fact you require a descending blow.