Hitting the chip shot

This week PGA Teaching Professional, Tim Backhouse gives tips on tackling the elusive chip shot

THIS part of the game is so important to our overall score and is often neglected.

When I walk around practice areas I see a lot of people hitting ball after ball on the range and not bothering to spend anytime on the short game area. The long game is obviously very important, but if improvements to our chipping are made, numerous shots are saved during the round, ultimately resulting in lower scores.

As the Ryder Cup is on at the moment it is interesting to see how well the players chip as a result of hours and hours of practice. Most of the professionals will spend at least 60 to 70 per cent of their practice time on short game (pitching, chipping, bunker play and putting).

Practicing the right way is essential to improving your game quicker. On the chipping area I always select different locations to play from using three or four balls rather than staying in just one area.

We need to test ourselves on the practice area to try and replicate the choice of shot we would use on the course. As I stand behind the ball I make sure that I look at where I need to land the ball to get it running as soon as possible, imagining I was throwing a ball underarm to the flag.

If I had two or three yards of rough to carry and 20 yards of green, I would choose a club with low loft such as a 7 iron. If it was the other way round I would use my most lofted club (lob wedge). The less room we have to run the ball, the more loft we use.

The best way to improve our shot choice is to play games around the chipping area. Game one is called Par 18. Place nine balls in different locations, take a 7 iron up to a lob wedge with you as well as your putter. The aim is to get up and down with each ball (hit one chip and one putt) nine locations 18 shots in total. If the first attempt is a total of 26, try again and attempt to beat it. Keep a record of how you get on, trying to improve every time. Change the location to make it harder every so often. If the practice area is busy and putting is difficult, place circles around the hole and attempt to get into the circle with each shot.

If you are practicing with a friend, get two balls each - nearest the pin gets one point. If you get both closest, two points are awarded. Play first to 10. The winner of each shot will choose the next location.

If practice time is used properly your golf game will improve very quickly. Don't waste time as most of us don't have all day to practice like the tour pros. Playing games like the ones above place you under pressure like you would experience when you are on the course, so the next time you have a difficult shot on the 18th to beat your handicap or win the match, you will have know what shot to choose and how to play it!