Using the Chip and Run for Consistent Shots, Golf (Video) - by Pete Styles
Using the Chip and Run for Consistent Shots, Golf (Video) - by Pete Styles

Now, one of the shots that most marvel at when they see it played on TV is that Phil Mickelson’s lob wedge shot, the flop shot. So from the side of the green, he is hitting this parachute shot that shoots right up in the air, comes down and stops like a stone. But I just wonder if that is the most efficient shot that you can be playing on the golf course or whether the one time that you hit that and it comes off well is out weighed by the countless times when you skull the ball half way up, thin it to the green and it goes straight over the other side into more trouble?

Now, what I would suggest that whenever you can, when you are chipping from around the green or pitching from around the green, think about keeping the ball as low to the ground as possible, get it on the flow, get it rolling as quickly as possible. The best idea I could suggest for you is imagine that if you have the ball in your hand, how would you throw it onto the green? Would you throw it really high or would you roll it? Now, if there is a lake in the way, clearly, you would throw it really high and land on the other side but if that is not the case. If you just have nice smooth, flat fairway in front of you. Most people I think would just bumble the ball across the floor and get it rolling. Now, you good shots when you do these will be good but then again your good shots with the high-lofted shot would be good. The difference comes with your bad shots. The bad shot when you are playing the high-lofted Mickelson shot is very bad. The bad shot when you are playing a little bump and run tends to be a little bit better. First, because you are not using too much power and you don’t have to swing the golf club too far then if you make a bad contact you thin it a little bit but it doesn’t go knifing off through the other side of the green. So just try and make a little mental change, a little course management changed, a little club selection change when you are thinking about playing a chip shot or a pitch shot, go with the idea of keeping the ball down, and get it rolling as quickly as possible. So the ball is played from the center of the stance, down the grip, leaning on to the left side. Use the least lofted club you think you can manage to use, maybe and 8 or a 7-iron, bumble it forward with a nice little action, get it on the floor and get it releasing. It is the much more efficient and more safer shot that the high Mickelson pitch shot.

 2012-05-11

Now, one of the shots that most marvel at when they see it played on TV is that Phil Mickelson’s lob wedge shot, the flop shot. So from the side of the green, he is hitting this parachute shot that shoots right up in the air, comes down and stops like a stone. But I just wonder if that is the most efficient shot that you can be playing on the golf course or whether the one time that you hit that and it comes off well is out weighed by the countless times when you skull the ball half way up, thin it to the green and it goes straight over the other side into more trouble?

Now, what I would suggest that whenever you can, when you are chipping from around the green or pitching from around the green, think about keeping the ball as low to the ground as possible, get it on the flow, get it rolling as quickly as possible. The best idea I could suggest for you is imagine that if you have the ball in your hand, how would you throw it onto the green? Would you throw it really high or would you roll it? Now, if there is a lake in the way, clearly, you would throw it really high and land on the other side but if that is not the case. If you just have nice smooth, flat fairway in front of you. Most people I think would just bumble the ball across the floor and get it rolling. Now, you good shots when you do these will be good but then again your good shots with the high-lofted shot would be good. The difference comes with your bad shots. The bad shot when you are playing the high-lofted Mickelson shot is very bad. The bad shot when you are playing a little bump and run tends to be a little bit better. First, because you are not using too much power and you don’t have to swing the golf club too far then if you make a bad contact you thin it a little bit but it doesn’t go knifing off through the other side of the green. So just try and make a little mental change, a little course management changed, a little club selection change when you are thinking about playing a chip shot or a pitch shot, go with the idea of keeping the ball down, and get it rolling as quickly as possible. So the ball is played from the center of the stance, down the grip, leaning on to the left side. Use the least lofted club you think you can manage to use, maybe and 8 or a 7-iron, bumble it forward with a nice little action, get it on the floor and get it releasing. It is the much more efficient and more safer shot that the high Mickelson pitch shot.