Chipping (TBD 24.8)
We’ve already discussed putting and how important it is to eliminate 3 putts from our game and how we can practice lag putts. Now lets discuss that other part of the all important short game, Chipping! The short game basically comprises 3 aspects of golf skills: Putting, Chipping and Pitching. Some may question what’s the difference between a chip and a pitch. Even the experts will disagree on where the division occurs. For us, the chip is within about 1-15 yards of the green and is a finesse shot taken with a wedge or short iron. A Pitch is further away from the green and requires more power than finesse. Typically we think of the chip as being fairly close to the green and fills us with dread as we walk up to it thinking “Don’t Duff Don’t Duff OMG Just DON’T DUFF IT!”
As anyone I’ve played with can tell you, I’m no expert at chipping. I have my good days and bad days. But I am more aware of what I’m doing and have drastically cut my double chips. Tiger Woods tracked his double chips ( DC’s) and its a stat you should track too. Ideally we want the DC’s to be Zero, but realistically 1-2/round for a high HCP is ok. Rather than think “Don’t Duff it!” Think “Get it on the Green!” GIOTG!! Initially on your journey of reducing DC’s, we don’t care how far from the hole it is, just GIOTG!
There is no way to improve at chipping without practicing it. I can’t really talk you through all the ways you can chip. But for the high HCP I might be able to offer you a few things to think about so you may better understand the principles of chipping. However, I highly recommend a lesson with a real coach.
First off, chipping is typically done with a wedge, but which wedge? Wedges typically come in 4 lofts: Pitching Wedge (PW) 45-48 degrees, Gap Wedge (GW) also called an Approach Wedge (AW) 48-52 degrees, Sand Wedge (SW) 54-56 degrees and Lob Wedge (LW) 58-62 degrees. Wedges come with different grinds also which is how fat the bottom is and how its angled and other technical stuff. But basically, we don’t want the bottom/leading edge of the wedge to get caught in the turf, but rather bounce off the turf when we chip. And the grind helps with this.
If you are NOT a mid-low HCP player, You Should Not Play a Lob Wedge. This is a very technical club that most of us high HCPers should not try to play. I learned to chip with just a PW and a SW. I did fine with that for a long time. When I bought my new clubs, they offered me a GW and I said sure. I like it! If all you have is the PW and SW, you are OK. You’ll do fine.
We’ve already discussed putting and how important it is to eliminate 3 putts from our game and how we can practice lag putts. Now lets discuss that other part of the all important short game, Chipping! The short game basically comprises 3 aspects of golf skills: Putting, Chipping and Pitching. Some may question what’s the difference between a chip and a pitch. Even the experts will disagree on where the division occurs. For us, the chip is within about 1-15 yards of the green and is a finesse shot taken with a wedge or short iron. A Pitch is further away from the green and requires more power than finesse. Typically we think of the chip as being fairly close to the green and fills us with dread as we walk up to it thinking “Don’t Duff Don’t Duff OMG Just DON’T DUFF IT!”
As anyone I’ve played with can tell you, I’m no expert at chipping. I have my good days and bad days. But I am more aware of what I’m doing and have drastically cut my double chips. Tiger Woods tracked his double chips ( DC’s) and its a stat you should track too. Ideally we want the DC’s to be Zero, but realistically 1-2/round for a high HCP is ok. Rather than think “Don’t Duff it!” Think “Get it on the Green!” GIOTG!! Initially on your journey of reducing DC’s, we don’t care how far from the hole it is, just GIOTG!
There is no way to improve at chipping without practicing it. I can’t really talk you through all the ways you can chip. But for the high HCP I might be able to offer you a few things to think about so you may better understand the principles of chipping. However, I highly recommend a lesson with a real coach.
First off, chipping is typically done with a wedge, but which wedge? Wedges typically come in 4 lofts: Pitching Wedge (PW) 45-48 degrees, Gap Wedge (GW) also called an Approach Wedge (AW) 48-52 degrees, Sand Wedge (SW) 54-56 degrees and Lob Wedge (LW) 58-62 degrees. Wedges come with different grinds also which is how fat the bottom is and how its angled and other technical stuff. But basically, we don’t want the bottom/leading edge of the wedge to get caught in the turf, but rather bounce off the turf when we chip. And the grind helps with this.
If you are NOT a mid-low HCP player, You Should Not Play a Lob Wedge. This is a very technical club that most of us high HCPers should not try to play. I learned to chip with just a PW and a SW. I did fine with that for a long time. When I bought my new clubs, they offered me a GW and I said sure. I like it! If all you have is the PW and SW, you are OK. You’ll do fine.
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