There is nothing more depressing for an average golfer than to be right beside the green in 2 and end up with a 6 or 7 on the scorecard – or sometimes even worse. The reason for all those shots is generally due to a lack of knowledge about how to make those close-in shots count.
The short game, says Gretchen Scheuermann, Director of Golf and Head Pro at The Highlands Golf Park in Ruckersville, begins with the chip shot, sometimes called the bump-and-run.
“This is one of my favorite parts of the golf game,” Gretchen said from her Highlands Golf Park practice facilities on Route 29, about a mile north of Ruckersville. “Of course I would rather be on the green, but I love the challenge of getting it close, getting it up and down with a good chip and a short putt.”
The chip shot looks easy when the pros do it. A simple shot, really. Just hit the ball and watch it run up to the flagstick.
Well, if you know how to do it properly, it’s simple. Otherwise you can duff your first shot, then skip the next one across the green and then three putt. Been there. Done that.
Here’s how Gretchen says to save lots of strokes and master the chip shot, one of the most important shots in the bag.
“If you’re close to the green, use the chip shot whenever possible, because you can get it up on the green and rolling quickly, and there is less chance for error,” she explained. “In golf, keep it simple. Less is better.”
“For a bump-and-run, I recommend either a sand wedge, a pitching wedge or an 8-iron,”she said. “The ball will settle quicker with the sand wedge. You’ll get more roll with an 8-iron.”
The chip shot begins as the golfer chokes up on the club, sliding the hands down the shaft. The stance is similar to a putt.
“Get close to the ball, stand over the shot, like you would a putt,” Gretchen said, “but position the ball so it’s back in your stance. Your weight, however, will be on your front or target leg.”
Next, Gretchen says to move your hands forward, in front of the club head.
“This will de-loft the club,” she said. “The stroke is similar to a putting stroke. There is no hip movement, no head movement and most importantly, no wrist movement. Only the arms and chest turn.”
With light pressure on the grip, not a death grip, aim at the grass behind and under the ball and bump the ball with a downward stroke.
“The key element,” Gretchen said, “is to always keep the hands ahead of the club head through impact.”
The mortal enemy of a good chip shot is flicking the right wrist, as well as hesitation or deceleration on the downswing.
“Hesitation or deceleration can cause you to muff the shot or knock it across the green. You must accelerate through the ball on impact.”
Gretchen also noted that a shot similar to the bump-and-run in technique is the punch shot, used to get out of the woods or under a limb, for example. With a 5-iron, the grip, stance and weight position for the punch shot is the same as the chip shot, just a slightly longer swing.
Still, there are few more gratifying shots in golf than chipping close to the flagstick, and leaving a tap-in for the putt.
With a little practice, the chip shot can take lots of strokes off your scorecard, no matter your handicap.
Gretchen Scheuermann is an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional. She is available for individual or group instruction, as well as clinics. Call 434-985-2765 or go to www.highandsgolfpark.com.