Hello, Daily Duffer readers! Sarah Chen here, your golf instruction editor. I’ve spent over 15 years on the range, working with everyone from aspiring tour pros to weekend warriors, and one thing I’ve learned is that passion for the game, combined with proper instruction, is the ultimate recipe for improvement. That’s why I was so excited to dive into the latest episode of “Fore Love of Golf,” featuring golf legend Tim Reardon, who spent an incredible 45+ years with Ping.
Tim’s journey, from the club repair shop to building drivers that defied convention (like one made from a telephone!), is a testament to innovation, dedication, and a deep understanding of what makes a golf club perform. While we might not be building clubs out of household items, the principles behind optimizing your equipment and your swing are timeless. Today, I want to take a cue from Tim’s remarkable career and discuss how you can bring a Ping-like spirit of precision and thoughtful design to your own short game, specifically your chipping.
The Karsten Solheim Philosophy: It’s All About Precision
Karsten Solheim, the founder of Ping, was famous for his engineering approach to golf club design. He wasn’t just guessing; he was meticulously measuring, testing, and refining. This precision-focused mindset is exactly what we need to bring to our chipping. Too often, golfers treat chipping as just a “feel” shot, but by understanding some fundamental mechanics, you can bring engineering-level consistency to your short game.
“Tim spent over 45 years with Ping and worked everywhere from the club repair shop to Japan.”
Think about it: Tim’s journey started in the club repair shop. He understood clubs from the ground up. Similarly, before we can execute a beautiful chip, we need to understand the fundamental building blocks of the motion. It’s not just about hitting the ball; it’s about controlling the loft, spin, and distance with intention.
Mastering the “Small Swing” for Big Results
When I teach chipping, I emphasize what I call the “small swing” concept. This isn’t just a miniature full swing; it’s a distinct motion designed for control and consistency. The goal is to create a downward strike on the ball, ensuring solid contact and activating the club’s bounce, which is crucial for preventing fat shots.
Here’s why it works: By keeping your swing short and compact, you inherently reduce variables. You’re not relying on perfect timing of a long backswing and follow-through. Instead, you’re focusing on a controlled acceleration through impact, driving the club down and through the ball.
Drill 1: The “Lead Arm Only” Chipping Drill
This drill is fantastic for developing the feel of a compact, controlled chip. It emphasizes using your body and lead arm to guide the club, rather than relying on wrist hinge, which can lead to inconsistency.
Try this: Take your normal chipping stance. For a right-handed golfer, place your left hand traditionally on the grip, but place your right hand on your left forearm, just below the elbow. Your right hand acts as a stabilizer, preventing your left wrist from breaking down. Now, make a chipping motion, using only your left arm and the rotation of your torso. Focus on keeping your left wrist firm and leading the clubhead through impact. You’ll feel how the club’s loft and bounce naturally do the work. Repeat this 10-15 times, focusing on clean contact, then try it with both hands, replicating that same feeling.
“From his relationship with Karsten Solheim to building drivers made from a telephone, Tim has some wonderful stories and experiences to share.”
Tim Reardon’s anecdote about building a driver from a telephone reminds us that sometimes thinking outside the box, and understanding the core principles, can lead to incredible breakthroughs. Your “outside the box” thinking for chipping might just be simplifying it down to its most basic, efficient motion.
Understanding the Angle of Attack
A common mistake I see among high-level amateurs and professionals alike is trying to help the ball into the air with their hands, leading to a “scooping” motion. This often results in thin shots that fly over the green or fat shots that barely leave the ground. The key to a good chip is a slight downward strike, allowing the club’s loft to do its job.
Drill 2: The “Tee Gate” Chipping Drill
This drill provides immediate feedback on your angle of attack and contact.
Here’s a drill: Place a golf ball down. About 1 inch in front of the ball (towards your target), stick a tee into the ground. About 1 inch behind the ball, stick another tee into the ground. Now, your goal is to chip the ball without hitting either tee. If you hit the back tee, you’re coming in too shallow or scooping. If you hit the front tee, your club path might be too much from the outside-in, but more often, it indicates a proper downward strike. The ultimate goal is to clip the ball cleanly, removing the grass just after the ball, which means your clubhead is traveling downwards at impact. This gives you that crisp, consistent contact you’re looking for.
The Mental Game of Chipping: Confidence Through Consistency
Just like Tim Reardon’s commitment to quality at Ping, your commitment to consistent practice will build your confidence around the greens. Chipping, perhaps more than any other shot, benefits from a positive mental approach. Don’t fear the chip; embrace it as an opportunity to save a stroke and showcase your skill.
In my teaching experience, the most transformative moments for golfers happen when they realize they have more control than they thought. It’s not about superhuman strength or perfect timing; it’s about understanding the mechanics and executing a repeatable motion. Even the pros dedicate significant time to their short game, because they know every stroke counts.
“…Tim has some wonderful stories and experiences to share.”
Our goal as golfers is to create our own wonderful stories – stories of incredible up-and-downs, saved pars, and consistent rounds. By applying a methodical, almost engineering-like approach to your chipping, just like the minds at Ping have done for decades with their clubs, you’re well on your way to adding those exciting chapters to your golf journey. Keep practicing with purpose, and I promise, your short game will thank you!
