Insights to Chipping,

I have always been amazed at the number of students I have come across through my years in coaching that believe a short chip shot is somehow different to a full swing motion.

Yes, they have different length swings and different power being applied to the golf ball, but the fundamentals and theory behind achieving consistent results are the same.

First, we have to establish a decent hold of the club to control the club head and club face.

Then we have to position our bodies in a balanced manner that enables us to maintain balance throughout the motion as well as use the pivot to its full capacity.

The impact alignments are the same – flat left wrist and bent right wrist (for a right-handed golfer).

Be able to deliver a descending impact to the ball (depending on what shot is being played).

We also need to swing the club on plane and with the right amount of force to move the ball to the desired target.

All of the above concepts are used in the full swing and nothing needs to change when playing a chip or a pitch shot.

All questions welcomed.

Happy Golfing

Effective use of the pivot, I believe, is a key ingredient to having more success with achieving better ball striking.

In the back swing, the body moves to support the movement of the arms and club. Yet in the downswing, the lower body should move back towards the ball first before the golf club starts its journey back towards impact.

This will help achieve these points below:

1) Create better angles on the downswing
2) Load the shaft with better wrist cock
3) Help maintain the wrist cock in the downswing.
4) Help achieve impact correct alignments

These above 4 points will help any golfer achieve a much stronger and more consistent ball striking.

More to follow…....

Happy Golfing

Nice to see a skilled coach with English skills.
Hopefully, we’ll be able to follow what you’re describing.

Hand Positioning,

Placing the hands on the golf club correctly will definitely help achieve a free following rhythmical move throughout.

I like to see the hands in a neutral position as this allows you to use your forearms correctly, which is key for hitting a variety of shots around the greens.

When I say Neutral, I mean with both palms facing each other and applied to the golf club from either side. The grip would be felt in the fingers of the left hand with the wrist on top. The right hand works onto the left thumb which sits in the lifeline of the right hand. The right index finger is directly on the aft side of the shaft.

If you have a strong grip for example, the clubface will tend to be de lofted in the backswing. This usually leads a compensating move in the down swing like adding loft, which causes all sorts of varied outcomes and inconsistencies.

Now I’m not saying you can’t be successful with a strong or weak grip in fact far from it. Just be aware of what either of these grips might create with your procedure. Cause and Effect, understanding & identifying these two elements will help you make the right changes to achieve better results.

Happy Golfing

It doesn’t matter where the clubface is pointing in the backswing, it is only of significance at impact. If it is not facing in a ‘traditional’ direction, it may possibly indicate the player has a fault in some other part of his action but, on its own, it means absolutely nothing.

I changed my left hand grip fron neutral to stronger and it has helped straighten ball flight and improve consistency.

Yes, I may have other swing faults. But that also depends on which swing methodology one is relying upon for guidance.

What you have to remember is that although it only makes contact with the golf ball at impact what it does before that will influence your ability to be consistent.

Although I half agree with your comment, I don’t believe that totally disregarding what the club face is doing pre impact is a wise one.

If the arms are allowed to swing off the pivot we get a natural rotation of the arms and hence club face too. If you’re club face is shut in the backswing for whatever reason then an adding loft in the downswing is normally what we see in the downswing. Not allowing the natural rotation will effect timing and rhythm.

No bracing on the target side in the setup??

This can be a personal preference but its not a must. Yes we want you into the left side at impact, but we still want some pivot action in the backswing.

It would be helpful if you were to describe pivot action. It is a loose term that can have different meanings especially in a short chip. If you are referring to a shift of weight being the motive force of the chip then that is not a pivot but a shift of weight.

I’d take it to mean a pivot ….... as in rotating around thru the ball, with the arms staying in line with the chest for the complete swing.

Rotate the body slightly on the backswing to get the club back the desired chipping distance whilst maintaining it in the centre of your body …..... and then rotate back thru to facing the target, to arms straight at the finish.

Let the pivot catch the ball on the way thru to your finish, eg, use the pivot to power and control the shot, and not just the arms.

That’s my understanding of it at least.

(Still start with weight on the front foot and leave it there, but rotate around that forward leaning position.)

SG, you havent mentioned the weight in setup, do you suggest weight on front foot for duration of swing as GPJ has commented

Pivot motion, is the movement of the following parts

Feet, Knees, Hip turn, Hip Action, Shoulders. So what I like to see is all of these being active even when playing a chip shot.

Weight positioning, a good question.

I’m happy for a player to start with the weight slightly on the left side or even between the feet. Which ever feels more comfortable or is more efficient to the individual.

I also don’t mind some weight movement even with a chip shot. Now I’m not talking about a major shift to the right in the backswing but a gentle movement with all the pivot components mentioned above.

I wouldn’t like to see too much weight being moved to the back foot for any shot especially a chip, as it only makes it more difficult to get back to the left side for a solid consistent impact.

But I do believe by having a gentle motion in the backswing and forward swing this helps maintain an arc like fashion movement of the arms, hands and golf club.

Hope this helps

Sydneygolfer,
What is the motion used for bump and run?
What is the Motion used for pitching?
Your knowldege of short game is great reading some great advice.

Welcome aboard S/golfer,good to have you here.

This guy is good.

Hi Guy’s,

Thanks for all your comments and I’m glad to be of help. My intention behind coming on here and sharing my beliefs is that I hope this may be beneficial to help people improve their golf.

Questions:

What is the motion used for bump and run?
What is the Motion used for pitching?

My belief with these 2 shots above are basically the same as a chip shot. Utilise the pivot motion, as this movement will, for me undoubtedly help shape the movement of the club head orbit. (Arc)

Ensure you have the ball positioned in the correct position between your feet for the shot in hand. I do prefer to have the ball favouring left of centre as this helps to shallow the angle of attack. (again depends on the shot in hand)

Also with these shots we do have options on how we move the club face through impact. This will help us achieve different flighted shots and will change how the ball reacts when landing on the green.

More on that to come later.

SG, an issue I have with chips and small pitches (probably more the small pitch) is that, with a modicum of pivot, I tend to pull the shot to the left. Then, even if I get the length spot on, I’ve still got a 2m putt because the ball didn’t go in the intended direction.

OB,

Thanks for your question, it sounds to me like your movement from the top of your backswing is being governed by your upper body (shoulders) causing the golf club to come over the plane.

I see this with a lot of players as they start to introduce a pivot motion to this shot. The change of direction has to start from the lower body.

When throwing a ball you will be able to sense this change of direction and the sequence it follows.

I would suggest trying to get this feeling without a golf club first, then with a club then finally with a club and a golf ball.

If this is something you struggle with still then it would be beneficial to check your Pelvic Rotation and Lower Quarter Rotation.

Titliest Performance Institute exercises for players who struggle to disassociate their upper and lower bodies when making a swing.

Thanks SG. I was referring to half shots, or less. Basically horizontal to horizontal. Not looking for a pronounced pivot, but I find (or suspect) that I’m still getting a bit of pivot from impact through.

I don’t usually have a problem with the full swing and manage to have the pivot leading and the downstroke following. But this is something I have only recently developed from what previously felt like one action instead of consecutive actions.

I’ll have a look at those TPI exercises because I think it’s a fault that comes back to haunt me from time to time.