FAULT NO.51 Chipping - no 'touch', no imagination

If you are one of those golfers who seem to strike your chip shots fairly well, but rarely get the ball close to the hole, then the problem isn't necessarily in your method. It could be that your strategy around the green is letting you down.

Certainly, there's a lot more to honing a sharp short game than simply working on a good technique. To be fully versatile, you must also develop the ability to visualize and manufacture a whole array of different shots. One of the reasons why many players struggle to get up-and-down consistently is that they lack this imagination, often reaching for their favorite 'chipping club' long before they have even examined the lie of the ball or the nature of the shot they have to play.

True, it is possible to develop a good touch around the greens using only one club, but doing so calls for an exceptional amount of 'feel' and requires lots of practice. Unless you are able to invest that time and effort, I suggest that you develop a chipping system that involves learning one basic swing, and then simply vary the club that you use to play chips of differing length.

FIX NO.51
Simplify your strategy

The most effective chipping strategy is that which seeks to get the ball on the putting surface as soon as possible. Naturally, the situation your are in must determine the ideal combination of flight and roll that you need to get the ball close to the pin, but as a general guideline you should always aim to land the ball within ten feet of the fringe. Visualize the shot in your mind; remember, the more run you need, the less lofted the club you should take, and vice versa.

Try the following test. Starting with a 9-iron, and adopting the procedure as described in Fixes Nos. 49 and 50, hit a few shots, and concentrate on swinging the club with the same tempo every time. Note the reaction of each ball as it rolls across the green. If your swing is repeating, they should all finish fairly close together.

Using the same strategy, now hit different clubs ranging from a 5-iron to a sand-wedge, and not the reaction of these shots. With practice, you will have a good idea of which club produces what roll. With this knowledge, you will then be able to select the correct club and hit different length chips close to the hole on the course.