Let’s discuss chipping. There may be no more frustrating feeling than hitting a great tee or fairway shot that ends up just short of the green in the fringe. The thick bluegrass can turn a birdie opportunity to a double-bogie save if you have not developed a consistent short game. Chipping from the grass is a difficult skill, but with the correct technique, these shots can become much more manageable. Golfswapper is a marketplace made for and by golfers. Today we would like to offer some tips for improving your short game. Our golf lessons series begins today with chipping from the grass.
Judge the Lie
First and foremost it is important to get an idea what kind of trouble you are in. Not all roughs are created equal, and finding your ball buried in a thick patch of grass is not uncommon. The thicker the grass, the more force that will be needed to get the ball out.
Place your club a few inches behind your the ball to measure how deep the grass is, then take a few swings near the ball to get a feel for the resistance the grass will offer. The judgment needed to recognize lies and how to react takes time to develop. Golf lessons can help you to learn more quickly, but in general, this is a skill you will naturally develop by playing.
Prepare Your Shot
First, select a club with more loft. Clubhead speed and loft are needed to get out of thicker grass. If the lie is alright, use an eight or nine. If the lie is much worse, a sand wedge or similar will be needed. Hold the club shaft in an upright position so the heel of the clubhead is off the ground and only the toe is touching down.
This helps to reduce the amount of edge exposed to the grass and should allow the clubhead to get through the grass a little easier. Stand a few inches closer to the ball than usual and keep your elbows close to your body. This approach will help to reduce the amount of grass your clubhead encounters, saving the swing energy for the ball. Open your clubface slightly to account for the inevitable closing when you make contact with the grass.
Steepen Your Swing
Now that you have set yourself up for success it is time to actually hit the shot. If you take nothing else from our golf lesson, at least remember that you have to steepen your swing to get out of rough grass. Swing down on the ball with your wrist slightly ahead of the point of impact to ensure a downward blow. Make sure your shaft remains in line with your left arm through the impact in order to avoid scooping.
Your weight should remain on your front side throughout the entirety of the shot, with as little movement of the lower body as possible. Follow through your swing to ensure clubhead speed through contact, while keeping your eyes on the point of contact.
Find Golf Lessons on Golfswapper
While reading golf lessons on a blog may not be the most efficient method of learning golfing skills, we hope this lesson will help your short game. If you are more of a visual learner, consider finding golf lessons on Golfswapper’s market. We have a large selection of equipment and services, including golf lessons. Check out the great deals we have available today!
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