When students come to me for a chipping lesson, I will often incorporate a drill that enables them to sync up their body and arms. This drill focuses on chipping with only their right arm (Right Handed Golfer) while the left hand is attached to the right bicep. I will then have them solely focus on turning the body back and through. This exercise often allows them to start chipping better even more so when having two hands on the club. This is because they are finally having the feeling that their big muscles are doing the work instead of overusing the hands.
The reason why it works so well is due to the following three factors. Firstly when gripping with only one hand, you will naturally feel the club heavier which will allow you to swing the club rather than dominating the club with both hands. Secondly when the left hand is attached to the right bicep, the club will naturally release through impact rather than you consciously having to. Releasing simply means that the handle of the club points more at the left hip just after impact rather than the handle being driven through excessively.
Lastly when combining the turn of the body, the big muscles will start to dominate the action which again will allow the club to naturally swing through instead of being forced. This drill is perfect for those who have identified striking issues with their chipping. Like most people who had started young, chipping often came easy as we were taught to place the ball back in the stance and drive the hands through. However as I've seen countless times when they've reported back over the years, this method often lets them down as it creates such little margin of error.
The reason why it creates such little room for error is that when you drive the hands forward, you will tend to use only the front part of the club (leading edge). When you start to use the weight of the club combined with the turn of the body, you will start to use more of the bounce of the club. Just ensure that when you set-up that you have around 55-60 % of weight on the front foot with the ball position in the centre of the stance. To enhance your ability to use the bounce, you can also have the face slightly open.
If you'd like any further help with your Short Game just contact myself at David Waters Golf.
Comments