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Chip and Pitch Shots
By Frank d’Marco, PGA
Clubs to choose is based on the lie and distance to the target. % of fly and roll:
6 iron 25% flight, 75% roll These distances are on medium speed greens
8 iron 40% flight, 60% roll
PW 60% flight, 40% roll
SW 75% flight, 25% roll
PGA players hit 13 greens per round on average. How many greens do you hit? You need to get the ball up and down in 2 strokes, if you don’t your score will go way up.
Before you make the chip shot, check the green’s firmness, should be able to feel it under your feet. The ball will be effected drastically by firm greens, ball will bounce and roll farther. Do you know what they do to the greens for the U.S. Open?
Whenever you can putt the ball, you should. Rolling the ball on the green, there is less chance for error than chipping, putting the ball in the air. The chipping swing has more chance for error.
Sometimes you need to land the ball short of the green. This is called chip and run. Do this when the flag is close to the edge of the green. What is between the ball and the flag makes the decision for the shot.
The chip shot stroke is much like a putt as far as the stroke is concerned.
The grip should be lowered, weight is more on the left side, hands ahead of the ball and stance open. Do not use wrist or muscle in pitch shots. Never use muscle in any golf swing!!! If you want to use wrist in pitch or chip shots, it will take countless hours of practice to improve your short game, much longer than it takes if you don’t break your wrist.
Distance control on short shots is determined largely by club head speed, which is influenced mostly by the length of the back swing.
Setup: Shorten the grip for greater control
Grip may be firm or light but never tight.
Feet and hips are open to the target.
The stance is narrower than in full shots.
Ball is played in center of the stance.
Practice by Tour players of the short game is considerably high. That is the reason Tour players score better than we do.
