ABC GOLF INSTRUCTION

Written by Mark Officer - Australian AAA PGA Member
REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION © Copyright 2006
PERFECTSTROKE Mark Officer Version 1.2

TRAINING PROGRAM

1. The Grip
2. Alignment
3. Set Up
4. Power Sources
5. The Full Swing
6. Shaping Shots
7. Ball Flight Laws
8. Putting
9. Chipping
10. Pitching
11. Bunker Shots
12. Video Analysis
    Analysis & Performance

Section 9 - Chipping

When chipping there should be two styles of shots that you can use when required. The first style is similar to putting where there is no wrist action and mostly club head speed is developed through the arm swing.

 The second style is where there is a breaking action with the wrists in the backswing and an un cocking in the downswing and then a hold off of the release on the through swing. This chipping style is known as a break and block method.  Generally when more distance and elevation is required for the shot, the break and block style is going to be used. So, particularly when using a lofted club this style is effective.

For a normal chip and run style shot, any club can be used from a 3 wood or 3 iron through to sand iron.

Normally, the ball is positioned further back in the stance to promote a bit of shaft lean forward with the hands slightly ahead of  the ball. Your grip should be down shorter on the club which will encourage standing a little bit closer to the ball. A little bit more weight on the left side will encourage a slight downward blow with this style of shot. 

The stance alignment is normally a little more open than usual which will help to lessen lower half movement.

There will appear to be a “Y” formed between the arms and the club shaft at address.  This relationship should be maintained during the shot which will ensure very little wrist action.

A short back swing and a long follow through or a long back swing or short follow through can be employed but in order to help develop a feel for distance required in the short game it is recommended that you try to match up the backswing and through swing when using the arm type chipping action, for chip and run style shots.

The club head end of the shaft should still point along the target line in the backswing, then back down along the target line in the down and through swings.

The clubface should also appear to open in the backswing and appear to close in the through swing.

The grip should be the same as normal for these shots, with the exception of gripping lower down on the club and the clubface should be square.

The break and block method of chipping normally will be used when some more distance and height is required for the shot and when the club needs to be swung back a little bit further. So you would use a normal wrist cock in the back swing.

If the club head reaches hip height, a little bit of wrist should be employed.  On the downswing the wrists are uncocked, then on the through swing there’s no re cock, so the left arm and club shaft remain in a straight line at the conclusion of the swing.

Variations in ball position will alter the trajectory of the shot so if you are required to hit a lower shot then the ball should be further back towards the right foot with a little bit of shaft lean forward and with the hand in front of the ball.  For a higher shot the ball position can be more forward in the stance with the body more behind the ball.