Hello, Daily Duffer readers! Sarah Chen here, coming to you from the practice tee. As a PGA-certified instructor with over 15 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how focusing on the fundamentals, especially in the short game, can transform a golfer’s scores. And let me tell you, it’s rarely about a huge swing overhaul. Often, the biggest gains are made just a few yards from the green.
The truth is, even the pros only hit a limited number of greens in regulation. As the article points out:
“But even the Tour players that you watch on television only average 13 to 14 greens hit per round. But in their case, if they weren’t getting up and down the vast majority of the time they would be playing for club championships and not US Opens.”
This tells us something crucial: the ability to save par, to “get up and down” when you miss the green, is a scoring superpower. This is often the “low hanging fruit” that many instructors, including myself, encourage golfers to pick first. Let’s dive into mastering your chips and pitches so you can start seeing those scores drop!
Mastering Your Setup for Chips and Pitches
Your setup is the foundation for any successful shot, and it’s especially critical around the greens. We need a stable, athletic base that encourages clean contact.
For **chip shots**, which are generally shorter, lower-flying shots with more roll, I want you to bring your feet closer together – think perhaps a clubhead’s width of space between them. For **pitch shots**, which involve more air time and a longer swing, you can widen your stance a little bit. In both cases, maintain that crucial 60-70% of your body weight on your lead foot. This forward pressure helps you strike down on the ball, getting it airborne and creating spin. Place the ball slightly back of center in your stance for chips, and closer to middle for pitches. Your hands should be slightly ahead of the ball, helping you preset for a descending blow.
One critical checkpoint is what the original article calls the “Y” and “L” shapes. For chip shots, you want to maintain the “Y” shape formed by your arms and the club shaft throughout the stroke. This keeps your wrists firm and prevents excessive hinge. For pitch shots, an “L” shape will form between your lead arm and the shaft at the top of a slightly longer backswing, and also on the follow-through. This indicates proper wrist hinge and release.
Rotation is Your Friend: Avoid the Scoop
One common issue I see with high-handicap golfers, which the article highlights, is the tendency for chest rotation to stall in the downswing, leading to a “scooping” motion. Your body needs to keep moving through impact. Imagine your hips and chest rotating towards the target, pulling the club through. This rotational movement ensures you hit down on the ball, making ball-first contact, rather than trying to lift it up.
“A frequent mistake that many higher handicappers make is for their chest rotation to stall in the downswing. When that happens, there is a much greater tendency to scoop. It is virtually the same as casting in the full swing but on a much smaller scale.”
To help with this, I often have my students focus on their “shirt buttons.” For short game shots, if your shirt buttons (or sternum) are aligned slightly forward, pointing towards the target at address, it naturally encourages a descending blow and ball-first contact. This simply moves the low point of your swing slightly ahead of the ball.
Actionable Drills to Try
Here are a couple of drills you can implement immediately to improve your chipping and pitching:
Drill 1: The “Lead Foot Only” Chip
Purpose: To ingrain the feeling of having weight on your lead foot and rotating through the shot.
How to: Set up for a chip shot as described, with 60-70% of your weight on your lead foot. Now, lift your trail (right for right-handers) foot entirely off the ground, balancing only on your lead foot. Make small chipping strokes, focusing on keeping your balance and turning your body through the shot. You’ll quickly realize how important that lead-side stability and rotation are for clean strikes. Aim to swing and hold your finish without losing balance.
Drill 2: The “Clock Face” Pitching Drill
Purpose: To develop consistent distance control for your pitch shots.
How to: Head to the practice green with a pitching wedge or sand wedge. Starting with a set ball position (centered or slightly back) and weight forward, vary the length of your backswing. Think of your lead arm as the hour hand on a clock. Practice swings where your lead arm goes to:
- 9 o’clock: This is generally a shorter swing. Hit 10-15 balls and note the average distance.
- 10 o’clock: A slightly longer swing. Hit 10-15 balls and note the average distance.
- 11 o’clock: A longer swing, but still not a full swing. Hit 10-15 balls and note the average distance.
The key here is that the backswing and follow-through should mirror each other in length. This consistency is vital for accurate distance control. You’re effectively calibrating your own personal launch monitor! Remember, this works best with solid contact, so focus on striking the ball first.
Drill 3: The “Towel Under the Lead Arm” Drill
Purpose: To promote arm and body connection, preventing a “flailing” arm independent of the body.
How to: Take a small hand towel and place it under your lead armpit. Hold it there by gently squeezing your arm against your body. Now, make slow chip and pitch swings, trying to keep the towel in place throughout the entire motion. If the towel drops, it means your lead arm is disconnecting from your body. This drill helps you feel what it’s like to turn your body and arms as one unit, leading to more consistent strikes.
Assessing Your Lie and Club Selection
Never underestimate the importance of understanding the lie you’re facing. A ball sitting up nicely in the rough might offer more options than one buried in a divot on a tight fairway. Always take a moment to assess the situation before choosing your club and shot. As the source wisely states, “Learning assessment takes some practice and experience.”
When it comes to club selection, remember this golden rule:
“When it comes to club selection, always remember that the less loft you use the less risk you take.”
This is fantastic advice! For simpler shots, especially with plenty of green to work with, consider using a less-lofted club like a 9-iron, 7-iron, or even a hybrid. These clubs naturally promote a lower, rolling shot that is much more forgiving than attempting a delicate lob with a high-lofted wedge. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your hybrids for chipping – many of my students are pleasantly surprised by how effective and easy it is!
Your Road to Improvement
Improving your short game isn’t just about technique; it’s about confidence and consistency. By implementing these setup principles, practicing your body rotation, and utilizing these drills, you’ll be well on your way to saving more pars and reducing those frustrating high scores. Remember, practice truly does make perfect, or at the very least, much better! Keep learning, keep practicing, and enjoy the game!
