Help with my golf game

Question

i am an amateur golfer and i have some problems with my game. first off i can drive 250 yds. consistently on the fairway with an occasional 300-325 yd drive. i can putt very well, i have made a few putts over 40-50 ft. and am money from inside 10 ft. the only problem is I CANNOT CHIP FOR ****!!! i have tried everything from reading golf tips to watching golf channel all day. every time i go to use my irons or pitching wedge, i either top it, or shoot it sideways. and the only times that i hit it well it is way off target. if anybody has any advice please let me know.

Answer 1

this is something that you need to practice without pressure when you are not in a match (in your backyard is a great place).

make sure to keep your wrists locked (VERY IMPORTANT, don't try to flick the ball up) people often do this to try to get more feel on their shots, but it makes them very inconsistent.

open your stance and take a short backswing (almost as if you were putting)

Answer 2

Chipping is very different from a normal golf swing and also uses different muscles.  There are 2 basic chipping methods, in both cases, keep your feet closer together (about 1 to 1/2 feet apart) than a normal stance.

For short distance chipping (around green-side or within 10 feet of ball flight, use your wedge like a putter and use a putting stroke, except you want to make sure you intentionally scrape the ground under the ball.  Don't try to lift or push the ball forward, the club face will do that.  Just concentrate on keeping your hands/wrist/arms quiet and use the pendulum turn of the shoulder like a putt.

ps: you can use longer irons to chip too or hit a bump & run if you want more roll than air time.  Same motion as above.

For longer distance chipping (3-20 yards), address the ball like your normal iron shot (but feet closer together), your back swing should be directly back away from the ball and swing upwards on the SAME take away line instead of a take away, c**k your wrist and bring club around motion. Come back down but use a little more right hand to 'dig' the club face under the ball.  Again, this is more of a pendulum swing path like putting, but more power because your back swing is higher.  Your ball will pop up forward, land with a forward release and roll about 1/2 to 2/3 of its flight distance.  Again, don't try to help the ball up, just dig down.

Practice this on the driving range to get the distance and flight feel, I bet you'll get the hang of it within 1 bucket of balls!!

ps: You can use the same technique with longer irons to chip too (or hit a bump & run) for longer roll and less air time.

Answer 3

lots of time practicing around the greens.   i;m a five handicap and this what i did for chipping

take a 7- iron and chip to a target(not a hole) to about 20 feet.

about 10 balls

do this until all 10 are close, repeat , repeat etc.

this will give touch and feel ,  its hard with a 7-iron i know , but it does help

after, club down 8, 9 , pw, sw until all are perfect.

when your on the course , choose the club you are most comfortable with and execute.  don't let anybody tell you ,  "why are you using an 8-iron,  use what you want and chip it in.  have confidence.

good luck on links!

Answer 4

1.  Weight on the left foot (if you're right handed).

2.  Hand ALWAYS AHEAD of the club.

3.  Swing with the shoulders and arms in synch, NEVER with the hands!.

4.  Stay low on the shot.  Don't lift the head.

Answer 5

getting chipping lesson from a PGA teaching  professional .and spend more time chipping and putting .best money spent  

Answer 6

one way that i learned for chipping the right direction is,

if you are a righty hold the club in your left hand when squaring up, and if you are a lefty hold the club in your right hand when squaring up.

Another thing u can do is have a playing partner watch the ball for you when u hit it. Just keep your head down and let your partner watch the ball for you this will prevent topping it.

Answer 7

First off...chipping unlike most other golf shots ( with the exception of putting) is all about feel.  It sounds like you are having a contact problem.  I'd advise a trip to your local pro to have him or her take a look and see what you are actually doing.  They can fix it pretty quick.

Answer 8

The most important thing to remember is it's just a miniature swing.

If you're breaking your wrists while you chip, then that could be the problem. Just take your back swing just like you would for a regular swing, but don't take it all the way back. Then follow through just like a regular swing. (The size of the swing will obviously depend on the length of the shot.)

However if you are trying to execute a bump-and-run shot, the ball should be back in your stance while your hands are almost over your left foot. And the swing is almost like putting the ball.

Good luck. Hope I helped.