How many shots per round do you waste around the green? Four or five? More? A good way to improve your chipping – especially when you can’t make it to the range – is with a mirror. Practising in front of a mirror helps you consistently maintain a correct setup position.
Starting with your alignment, feel that everything is aiming slightly left (for right-handers): your feet, hips, shoulders, with the ball positioned forward of the heel on your lead foot. Your weight should be 60 percent on your lead side and your swing for a chip shot should only be from 8 o’clock on your backswing to 4 o’clock on your follow through. After you get your setup right, and have time to practise beside the chipping green, work with each of your short irons to check the different flight and roll they produce. This will give you all the shots you should need around the green. Work on the nine most common shots you need on your course and your score is sure to improve.
Jason Laws is the NSW PGA Teaching Professional of the Year and if you have any questions, e-mail him at [email protected]
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