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When observing my pupils, the most common fault I notice is a big break in the wrists through the impact zone.
This is best described as a 'flick' when striking the golf ball. The 'flick' will produce lots of funny looking shots which really hurt your confidence. The most destructive is the thin shot, shooting straight over the other side of the green.
If you follow these simple steps you will see a big improvement to this part of your short game.
Stance: Your stance should be closer and narrower compared to the full swing stance, measuring about four to six inches between the insides of your shoes. You will adopt an open stance (aiming left of target) that will allow your weight to favour the front shoe, give or take 60-70 per cent. This will help you make a descending blow into the turf.
Grip: A light grip pressure keeps the hands and arms in touch with the flow of the stroke. If your grip becomes too tight, the hands will become far too active and you will lose your feel through the shot. To help gain control over the shot, grip down the shaft about two or three inches, almost to the bottom of the grip.
Ball position: Your ball position for a chip shot should always be back from the centre of your stance. I like to have my ball position quite far back but then I experimente with it. I suggest you do the same.
Arms: Imagine that your arms form two sides of a triangle, with the line across your shoulders the third side. When chipping, try to keep the shape of the triangle constant and swing it in sync with your body.
Hands: By standing closer your hand position will become upright which is a good thing. I like to see a slight press forward of the hands so the butt end of the shaft points to your left hip. When making the stroke, be aware of a little flexing in the wrists as you start the downswing. Many players struggle with their chipping as a result of 'flicking' the wrists through impact (See picture). Keeping the wrists firm through impact will help ensure more solid and consistent shots.
Swing: Make a nice smooth swinging motion back and forth. The subtle flexing of the wrists helps in getting the perfect pinching strike that all good chippers create. During the backswing, the lower body should be very quiet but allow the weight of the club to create a little turn of the lower body as you through swing. This will give you great rhythm through the shot.
Distance control: The length of the backswing, downswing and the tempo of the swing dictates the distance the ball travels through the air. My favourite tip for distance control or 'feel' is just make a few practice swings but looking at the hole, not the ground. This gives you a fantastic judge of depth to the shot.
