Chip like a putt for control

BY T.J. TOMASI

If you’re having trouble chipping, try employing your putting stroke when you chip. This method allows your shot to hug the ground and take advantage of the accuracy of a rolling ball with no side spin.

The key to the chip is not to introduce any cocking or uncocking of the wrists. You chip with a movement of the shoulders, arms and hands together so that the butt of the club moves with the face of the club until after the golf ball is hit.

The image word to keep in mind is “staccato,” which describes the firm, chipping action where you trap the ball against the ground. Most good chippers of the ball hold the club very firmly, more firmly than in their regular swing, since they do not want their wrists to hinge.

Before you make your motion, you want to take a practice swing and actually clip the grass. It will measure your distance to the ball. I think you’ll find that this chip-like putting method is the most forgiving of the chipping methods because it has the fewest moving parts. It’s just straight back and through to the target.