Adrian Fryer – PGA Teaching Pro

If you like to strike your chips well it's really important you get all your components of the swing all happening together. One of the biggest issues with people chipping badly is when you try and scoop the ball or help it in the air. Inevitably for a right handed golfer this means the right hand is flicking lifting trying to help it or add a loft to the club. One little tip I want to show you is if I set up here with two clubs notice I'll put the shafts parallel I've lent them forwards. So now I've got a little kink in my trail wrist. What I'm going to do is practice swinging these two clubs together keeping them parallel that's retaining this angle in my wrist, and what that's doing is stopping me if I went like this you can see that this hand is dominating and passing my lead hand. So I'm trying to get both hands and our arms working together as a unit.

Notice how this angle stays the same I'm just carrying it with my pivot or my turn and that stopping me trying to scoop and bottoming out too early. So two clubs practice swing in them in harmony keeping them parallel this is really going to give you a feel of the correct chipping motion, and what they are and body are doing in the stroke when we felt that then. We can practice it with one club notice the angle in my wrist keeping it firm here. My body is just helping me pivot so I'm getting away from this desire to try to lift the ball and scoop it but I can keep this angle here that's going to allow me to really squeeze that golf ball keep the angles in tact that's really going to help you trap the ball with a nice descending blow you get a really good contact on it and a lot of control.

Chipping is a crucial aspect of the game that can significantly impact your scores. Here are some valuable chipping strike lessons by PGA Teaching Pro Adrian:

1. Proper Ball Position:

• Place the ball slightly back in your stance, closer to your back foot.
• This position encourages a descending strike and helps ensure a clean contact with the ball.

2. Body Alignment:

• Align your body slightly left of the target (for right-handed players) to promote an outward swing path and prevent excessive scooping.
• Maintain a square stance with your feet shoulder-width apart and your weight slightly favoring your front foot.

3. Soft Grip Pressure:

• Hold the club with a soft grip to promote a relaxed and fluid motion.
• Avoid gripping the club too tightly, as it can restrict your natural swing and cause tension in your hands and wrists.

4. Controlled Backswing:

• Keep the backswing short and controlled to maintain consistency and precision in your chipping stroke.
• Avoid excessive wrist hinge and focus on using your shoulders and arms to create a compact and repeatable motion.

5. Quiet Lower Body:

• Keep your lower body quiet and stable during the chipping motion.
• Minimize any unnecessary movement, such as swaying or lifting, which can disrupt your balance and timing.

6. Solid Impact:

• Focus on striking the ball first, just above the ground, to generate a consistent and clean impact.
• Avoid hitting the ground before the ball, as it can lead to fat or thin shots.

7. Follow-through and Finish:

• Maintain a smooth and controlled follow-through after impact.
• Allow your arms to extend naturally, and ensure the clubface remains square to the target throughout the motion.
• Aim for a balanced finish position with your weight predominantly on your front foot.

8. Club Selection:

• Choose the appropriate club based on the distance and trajectory required for the shot.
• Experiment with different clubs to develop a feel for the distances each one produces with your chipping technique.

9. Practice Variety of Lies:

• Practice chipping from various lies and conditions, such as tight lies, rough, uphill, and downhill slopes.
• This will help you develop adaptability and confidence in different situations on the course.

10. Mental Focus and Visualization:

• Maintain a positive and confident mindset when chipping.
• Visualize the desired shot trajectory and landing spot, and trust your skills to execute it.

11. Target-Oriented Approach:

• Aim for a specific landing spot or target on the green rather than focusing solely on the hole.
• This helps improve your accuracy and gives you a clear intention for each chip shot.

12. Recorded Practice:

• Use video recording or training aids to analyze your chipping technique.
• Review your swing to identify any areas that need improvement and track your progress over time.

Remember, consistent practice and dedication to improving your chipping strike are key. Work with a PGA Teaching Pro or qualified instructor to receive personalized guidance and feedback. With time and effort, you can develop a reliable and effective chipping technique that will enhance your overall game and lower your scores.