Hit Down and Chip Better – Golf Tips
December 14th, 2009 | 
Author: Does this sound familiar, you have hit 2 great shots on a par 5 and now only 15 yards from the pin. There is no bunker, nothing to go over, just a 15 yard chip. You take a practice shot, then step up to the ball and make your swing. You chunk it. Yes you hit behind the ball and only advancing the ball 6 yards, leaving yourself with another 9 yard chip. You try to brush it off, telling yourself “it’s ok , I can still chip it in for birdie or get it close and tap it in for par”. Again you take your practice swing, step up to the ball, this time you skull it. You stand in disbelief, looking at the ball that is now 33 feet away from the pin. The only good thing is, you are on the green and don’t have to chip again. Anyways you end up 2 putting the green for 6. What should have been an easy birdie, ends up being a boggie. What happened?
Here is what happened:
First, we are hitting up on the ball instead of hitting down. The shot where we hit behind the ball (chunked), we tried to get the club under the ball to get the ball in the air. When the clubhead hits the ground first, all the speed of your clubhead (the power) is absorbed by the ground, leaving nothing for when it hits the ball, resulting in shorter than expected distance.
The skull is again caused by hiting up on the ball and in this case, because of the chunked ball. On this shot we tried to miss the ground and the leading edge of the clubhead hit the ball above the equator. This sends a low shot that rockets past the cup.
Golf Fix It :
The key to better chipping is to hit down on the ball. We want to strike the ball first and then the ground just forward of the ball. We also need to remember to accelerate through the ball at impact, this acceleration through impact gives us better distance control and we will strike the ground after crisp contact with the ball.
Here is a video that will help you with your chips around the green. There is a practice drill that will help you get the feel of making solid contact with the ball by striking down on the ball first and ground second.
Practice this drill and I’m sure that you will be striking better chips and lowering your score.
Posted in Golf Tips | 
Tags: Ball First and Ground Second, Chip Better, Chips Around The Green, golf, Golf Tips, Hit Down, Key to Better Chipping, practice drill, Solid Contact 
Fantastic work. You have gained a new fan. Please keep up the good work and I eagerly await more of your absorbing posts.