Golf Chipping Requires Core Motion
Putting and golf chipping are lumped together and labeled “the golf short game”. Those who are new to the game of golf mistakenly tend to address both shots in the same way – with a rigid stance. It is a natural mistake to make, but one that will cause your golf chipping to suffer.
It is true that when putting the torso remains quiet and the eyes must not follow the golf ball to its final destination. That is entirely not the case when golf chipping however. When a golf player takes their shot the stroke must be smooth and flowing. If you try to maintain a motionless torso through the swing, the necessary mechanics of a good golf chipping shot will be impossible.
Just remember that the navel should follow your shot. A good way to get a feel for the proper motion required for a successful chip shot is to place the grip of the golf club against your navel. Choke down on the golf club so that you are grasping the shaft. Take a few practice swings and notice how your torso flows naturally with the motion of the club. Next, grip the golf in your usual way and take a swing being mindful to maintain the same body mechanics experienced during the drill.
Golf Chipping – How To Shorten Your Backswing
Golf chipping mandates a shortened backswing. Those who take a full swing while golf chipping will quickly become frustrated with shots that travel much farther than intended. When you shorten your backswing it allows the club face to strike the golf ball with less force, while also letting you accelerate through your shot.
The best way to reliably shorten your backswing is by keeping your back arm straight. There is only so far that the human body can rotate the golf club without bending the elbow. Shortening your backswing in this way will bring consistency to your backswing and golf chipping. Each shortened swing will be just like the last instead of being randomly longer or shorter.
Golf Chipping – Work On Quieting Your Wrists
You are right, there a lot of things to remember when making a golf shot! Good golf chipping places a lot of demands on the body; the torso must rotate, the arms must remain straight, and the wrists must remain relatively quiet but not rigid. It takes practice to find the right balance here. Practicing your wrist control is just as important as practicing any other aspect of golf.
One of the best drills to improve wrist control for golf chipping requires the use of two golf clubs. Hold one golf club in each hand. Make sure that the clubs are parallel to each other. Go through the motion of making a shot endeavoring to maintain the golf club’s relative positions to each other. This is a difficult drill, but mastering it will benefit your golf chipping greatly.
Click to set custom HTML