Striking Your Chip Shots Crisply Every Time

If you stand over a chip shot and feel a level of anxiety over whether or not you are going to make a good connection then you are not alone. Concerns over mis-striking our chip shots is an almost universal experience shared by golfers of all levels.

What I love about this exercise is that everyone can very quickly establish there intended scuff in the ground during a practice swing. Taking that motion into the ball though can be a very big step. As I say in the video, if the scuff is different when the ball is there then it can only be down to a change in focus as we get drawn to intentions to 'strike' the ball or distracted by anxiety.

When you can keep your mind on the scuff and disassociate yourself from the 'hit' your strike will become crisp, predictable and reliable.

Do NOT Stare at the Ball

One thing is for sure, good chippers do not focus on the ball. At least not intensely so. In fact, when we do have a narrow focus on the ball it creates more anxiety and affects our coordination. The movement gets directed at the ball instead of being a smooth arcing motion that skids on the grass.

There is more on short game focus in the 'Chipping Mastery' course (COMING SOON)

Effective Chipping Focus

Instead of concentrating on the ball, really good chippers develop a heightened awareness of how they want the club to interact with the ground. Much like the process in the video. This gives our brain a clear task to coordinate our movements around.

Clear Intentions

It is important that we know exactly what we are trying to create: I am always looking for the bounce of the club to hit the ground first at a slight downward angle so that I can hear a 'thud' on the ground but create a 'sliding' pattern in the grass and at no point have the leading edge dig into the ground. I actually feel as though I am using the ground to regulate the arc of the swing so that the club hits the ground and slides under the ball.

Mental Skill

As in any physical skill, there is a large mental aspect to chipping. Developing a solid technique is of limited use if there is any ambiguity in your actions or your mind is being pulled in different directions.

To strike your chips with a level certainty one needs to work on the focus that leads to a steady fluid motion of the clubhead.

Chipping Pre-Shot Routine

If you watch the pro's on Tour you will see that having planned the shot, everyone has a number of practise chips to hone the interaction of the club in the ground before they hit. There would then be a level of visualisation to get a feel for length and speed of swing. It is then a case of just repeating that feel of swing and skid on the grass.

Please try the exercise, you will find it harder than it seems but stick at it and you could make a significant breakthrough with your short game.