Chipping is a tough part of the game because no two chips are alike. You can practice driving off the range and recreate the exact same setup on the tee. You can practice putting on the practice green and find a similar surface at the end of each hole. But when you get out a wedge that means that something different is going on and you have to learn to deal with it. A well hit chip shot is a very satisfying feeling as it seems almost effortless as the steeply angled club face slides under the ball and the ball soars upward going as high as it goes far.
Chipping is important because where you leave the ball can make a big difference in a one putt for par or a three putt for a double bogey. Think of it as the assist before the score, a setup that is every bit as important as the final shot. I mention this because some people view the only goal of chipping as just getting on the green. In reality, there are a lot of spots on the green that are worse then where you started. So improving your chipping involves working on the stroke itself and also learning to think about precision in placement, especially from short chips.
Wedges are short clubs and that should tell you that you do not want to be swinging hard. You have a whole bag full of clubs so pick the one that will go the distance without you having to swing too hard and mess up you consistency. If you have practiced with all of your clubs, then you should know about how far you will hit with each one. I always recommend using more club than you need and swinging easy or even shortening your backswing to lower the power output. For example, from thirty yards out I will swing a nine iron at about three quarter power with a shortened back swing instead of trying to hit a pitching wedge full strength. By swinging slower and easier you have much more control.
Any closer and I am going for a pitching wedge or even a sand wedge. Often the grass right around the green is allowed to grow up into a pretty sizeable rough and I find that the weighty bottom of the sand wedge is very effective at cutting through it and getting to the ball. If you are really close, trying choking way up on the wedge and swinging with your wrists. This small snapping swing will give you a short punchy shot that will make the green but not roll too far.
And remember if you are really, really close, you may not want to use a wedge at all for your chipping. Often a two iron is a great choice for the shortest of chips. Use it almost like a putter and you will get a short low loft shot that is easy to control. Often this is far easier to manage then putting the ball up in the air. So trying different clubs and practicing is how to improve your chipping technique.
A few years ago Johan retired and decided to put together the online golf instructions web site where he shares his knowledge and reviews hundreds of golfing products, provides golf tips and the latest news on various golf topics.
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