Indoor Practice Series - Shoe Box Chipping Drill

What you need:

• ·         Wedge of your choice

• ·         Shoe box

• ·         Golf balls (regular of foam depending on your level of confidence)

• ·         Small swatch of carpet to hit from (if your floors aren’t carpet)

• ·         Small hand towel or wash cloths

This drill is best done in one of the bigger rooms in your house or possible a hallway.  Place the hand towel (or a couple of wash cloths) inside the show box, as this will help keep the balls from bouncing out. Place the shoe box approx 3 to 5 yards away and begin chipping into the box.

After a few minutes move the box closer or vise versa. It’s good to change your chipping distance often just as your chipping distances vary on the course.

Obviously there is no roll after the chip while doing this drill. Never fear, chipping is about hitting a spot. As your doing the drill take notes on a few key elements; 1. Distance of the chip & length of backswing necessary for that distance. The more in-tune you are with the length of your backswing to cover a certain distance, the more up & ins you’ll start to see.

Remember chipping to a “spot” on the green and putting less focus on the hole will have you making more up & ins!

 Blog written by Vince Fratercangelo-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy

Part 5 of My 8 Part Series - How Do I? - Chip Shots

Chip Shot Definition: A chip shot should have less "air time" and more "roll time" which is the opposite of a pitch shot.


It's important to know the difference between these two shots.


 



 
What To Do:

1. Set up with your stance very narrow (feel close together).
2. Ball position should be off the inside of your back foot (right foot for righties).
3. Place about 70% of your weight on your front leg and 30% on your back leg.
4. Choke down to the bottom of your grip.
5. Press your hands forward slightly so you hands line up in front of ball.
6. The actual swing/stroke should be much like a putter. Very little wrist and body motion.
7. Try to keep your back swing and follow through equi-distant as this will greatly help with distance control.

It's important to know the difference between these two shots

Things To Remember: 1. Swing should have an even tempo, slow and controlled. 2. Deceleration is a killer so trust your swing. 3. use the 1/3 - 2/3 rule. That is, find a spot 1/3 of the way to the hole and try and land your shot around that spot. The ball should then roll the other 2/3 of the way to the hole. If you calculated and executed correctly, you will have a nice short putt remaining.
Club Selection: Some golfers use the same club for all chipping duties, other change it up depending on the shot at hand. Either method is acceptable and can be effective if practiced.
Recommendation: I tend to lean towards using multiple clubs depending on the shot. For example the less green you have to work with the more lofted club you should use (SW, PW, GW, LW). And the more green you have to work with use a less lofted club (mid to longer irons typically however we carry 14 clubs and most can be multi-functional....be creative.

 Blog written by Vince Fratercangelo-Director of Instruction at VJF Golf Academy