GOLF ARTICLE

Improved Chipping: Better Golf
Club Selection by Ron Hanson

One of the most spectacular shots we witness on Sunday afternoons is Phil Mickelson's high flop shot. He sets up with his blade wide open and takes a mighty cut. The ball flies high in the air and lands almost dead on the green. It is definitely a gorgeous shot but it is full of peril. Most of golfers don't have the ability to hit the shot during play with any consistency. They will hit behind the ball leaving the ball where it is or blade the ball sending it shooting across the green. Those of you that have tried a lob shot can attest to its difficulty. It is a very low percentage shot. Granted, there are circumstances that a lob shot is necessary, (over a bunker to a tight pin) but more often than not, the use of a high lofted club is a riskier shot than is needed. Hopefully, the club in your bag that you have the most control with is your putter. Its appeal is the ability to keep the ball on the ground. You have much more control of a ball when it is on the ground than one that is up in the air. The putter, as opposed to other clubs, is used on the green because of that control. As we move off of the green, we should be seeking to maintain much of the same control as possible. On the fringe, use the putter as much as possible. If the fringe is uneven or bumpy, a putter may be inappropriate because the ball will bounce. The club to transition to is not a wedge. Consider using a 5-iron or a 7-iron. The objective of the shot is to carry the ball over the questionable surface and onto a safe haven, the putting green. The proper club to use is the club that has enough loft to carry the ball safely onto the green and will allow the ball to come to a rolling stop at the hole. As you move further away, a more lofted club may be needed dependent on how much green there is to work with. On a 30 foot chip shot near the edge of the green with green to work with, a 5-iron may be the club of choice. The ball will travel about 5 feet in the air and roll the remaining 25 feet. When there is less green to work with and more fringe to carry, a more lofted club is needed. On a 30 foot chip shot with a wedge, the ball will carry about 15 feet and roll 15 feet. Spend some time chipping with a less lofted club. You will like the results. Golf Tip:To make the most effective use of your short game practice time, vary the distance of your shots. Many golfers dump their balls beside the green and chip to the same target repeatedly. This practice is good for creating a chipping motion but it doesn't develop feel. To create feel, set up targets at varying distance (i.e. 20 feet, 30 feet and 40 feet). Hit one shot to the first target, one shot to the second target and the third shot to the last target. Repeat the process several times, then change distances. By changing the distance each shot, you learn to react to the shot at hand and develop a feel for distance. Ron Hanson is the Director of Instruction at Interbay Golf Center in Seattle, Washington. Through countless hours of instruction, numerous appearances at exhibitions and published articles, he is one of the most highly regarded instructors in the Pacific Northwest. Ron received national exposure on the Golf Channel as a featured instructor for an episode of The Golf Channel's Golf Makeover Challenge. He recently completed the first in a series of instructional DVD's. "Golf in Balance, Volume I" is a simple, understandable overview of the golf swing appropriate for golfers of all levels. To see more about "Golf in Balance" visit http://www.ronhansongolf.com Ron Hanson, PGA Professional Director of Instruction - Interbay Golf Center Seattle, Washington For more help with your golf game, visit http://www.ronhansongolf.com. Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide by Mike Pedersen Click Image To Visit Product Website "I Recommend Mike's E-Book Unreservedly!" Mike Pedersen has done two different things very well: he has 1), written with authority, knowledge, and unquestionable expertise on how to get and to stay in shape specifically for golfers, and 2), he has done it in a pleasurable, easy-to-read, and crystal clear manner... The book is, first of all, very well organized--so you can start right from the beginning and take things at your own pace. Mike covers areas in addition to those you would expect, i.e., psychological factors, aging, motivation, enjoyment ...it is right there up front with the applicability to every step of a golf swing--from setup to the end of the swing--and the end of the whole round, for that matter. I recommend Mike's book unreservedly: it is the work of a true professional. All the more so given that its cost is the smallest fraction of the cost to obtain a personalized regimen, or compared to a few visits to a gym or health club. -George Hibbard Author, Golf's Critical Details www.PerfectImpact.com