Chipping golf lesson?

It’s like raking the lawn.

Actually I would like to change my first name to Chip and my surname to Putt. It would please my students as they are of the opinion that it would suit the way I play the game. What makes a golfer talented at chipping?

I once read, “this game gets harder the nearer you get to the hole”. It’s so true, we often knock three-footers wide of the hole or we often fluff or scuff a fifteen-yard chip, ten yards or more, short or past the hole.

When you compare this to the consistent 100yds a middle handicapper would hit a 9 iron or his 200yds tee shot, then this rings true. Can 'touch' be learned.

Most teachers of the game have always preached that most amatures would shave at least 5-10 shots off their handicap with a better short game.

The problem is that macho man would rather impress his playing partners with the long game than with a tender touch around the green.

The art of chipping is closely related to the finer art of putting. The main difference is that it doesn’t require the same level of self-confidence or give the mental torment associated with putting.

I have always considered both to be the simplest moves to learn but somehow the general consensus is that 'simple is difficult'.

Have you ever picked up an instruction book and read the tips on chipping, or for that matter had a personal chipping golf lesson?

You will have noticed that the basic theme is don’t use the wrists, keep the arms straight, don’t turn the hips, keep the lower body quiet and so on. Click here to read an important tip.

Many years ago I was lucky enough to receive a demonstration showing that the mechanics of chipping were very similar to raking a lawn.

Of course the dynamics are a little different as one drags a rake but swings the golf club.

However this observation led to the following method, which I use when I give a chipping golf lesson.

I have found that my students respond wonderfully to this teaching technique and I would now love to share it with you.

Before I start, let’s discuss the art of raking a lawn.

I personally can’t remember having much trouble learning this task and find that most people perform this very similarly.

Let’s face it; it’s hardly rocket science. You hold the rake with both hands and drag it along the ground and the rake’s simple design takes care of gathering the grass cuttings, moss or leaves.

Now if someone gave you a golf club to perform the task, you could do the job with it, albeit not so efficiently. Also, as the golf club is designed to be dragged sideways in front of your body, then the mechanics are automatically a little different.

Most importantly, however, is the way all of your attention is directed to the contact the sole of the club is making with the ground. Click on this link to read more on this chipping golf lesson.