Set-up
Chipping is close range so the length is from nearly nothing up to hip height in length. I always think of chipping as a comparison to throwing a ball under arm. Wrists should feel firm but allow a slight hinge on the backswing and hold firm on the follow through. The club head should not over take your hands or flick. There is a natural body rotation during this backswing but weight remains on the forward foot. My best advice to aid a natural flow and movement to your swing is focus on allowing your hips and knees to rotate through impact, your hands, arms and club will follow. Hold your follow through to aid balance and tempo. Think about the length of your swing as a mirror image both sides of the ball. Imagine a clock face with you stood in the middle, the ball is at 6 o’clock and your head is 12 o’clock, as a right handed golfer if your backswing goes back to 7 o’clock, your follow through should be 5 o’clock, 8 to 4 and 9 to 3.
BackSwing (using an alignment stick to keep arms and wrist firm)
Through swing (using an alignment stick to keep arms and wrist firm)
Normal conditions which I would class as spring and autumn are approx as follows.
The above are carry to roll ratio and will alter slightly depending on personal traits and in winter, for example LW 90/10 because it is so soft and summer could alter to LW 60/40 due to harder ground conditions and faster greens. If you use a 2 piece or distance ball the ball will roll out further so start your calculations at LW 70/30 and so on.
Have a look at where you think the most forgiving landing area will be, this is usually 2-3 yards on the putting surface, then roughly calculate the ratio from your ball to this area and then from that area to the hole. Using the above carry to roll ratios you will be able to select the optimum club. Remember when considering the landing area, allow for slope and ground conditions. Often you will be faced with several options, my advice is go for the one that you are most confident in playing and stick to it. Imagine the landing area to be bucket and you are simply trying to land the ball in it.
Imagine the landing area to be bucket and you are simply trying to land the ball in it. Focusing your eyes on the imaginary bucket while rehearsal swinging, this will give you the ‘feel’, your eyes program your brain to control your muscles.
Keep the image in your mind as you set up to the ball, don’t take too long now just let your preparation in analysing and programming allow you execute to shot.
Putting Chip
this is an alternative to playing chip shots in the traditional way. The principal is simple, play the shot like a putting stroke. Set up as though your were putting but with a wedge in your hand. Grip like you were putting. The stroke is the same as a putt but your trying to get the leading edge of your wedge below the equator of the ball. This will lift the ball naturally due to the loft angle of the club.