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The Chip Putt
By Chad Jones
If chipping isn’t one of your strengths, here is a simple tip on technique that I call the “chip putt” to help get your ball up and down easier. You don’t have to be a touring pro as much as you have to be more consistent. The first step is the correct club selection. For this shot I recommend using one swing method with different lofted clubs, depending on the distance to the pin. For close pins I use a Lob wedge, while for longer chips I’ll go as low as a 7-iron.
[2]Notice in the photo how I’ve gripped down on the club enough so that you can stand fairly close to the ball like a putt, and let the heel of the club come off the ground. Standing close to the ball helps you to swing the club more in front of you which gives you excellent contact and better directional control of the golf ball.
Consistent contact is the most important element, so take a practice swings to ensure a nice brush of the grass just in front of the ball. Then step up to the shot and repeat the same practice swing (backswing and follow through length and tempo) as you chip the ball. Once you learn to make clean and consistent ball contact with the heel off the ground, you’ll find that your approach shots will roll the correct distance and stop near the hole for closer putts.
[1]Chad Jones teaches at The Concession Golf Club [3] in Bradenton, Florida. He is a PGA of America Certified Instructor, Certifed Titleist Club Fitter, and has certifications in junior golf and golf fitness from the Titleist Performance Institute. He was named a 2009 and 2010 US Kids Top 50 Coach. Chad can be reached at ChadJones@pga.com [4] for lessons.
Copyright © 2011 REAL Magazine
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