Help with Chipping and Pitching

[Yooper]

Everything is off the heel

I'm from Michigan and it is the early season for us. Well I was out working on my short game today when I noticed that I'm hitting all my chip and pitch shots off the heel. I checked my distance from the ball and it was in good shape so I have no clue what the heck I'm doing wrong. I really haven't noticed any really bad effects from it but I'm sure it isn't helping any either. I'm afraid if I let it go it will keep getting worse and then will come the shannnnnnnnnnnnnks!!! :) If anyone knows of anything I can do to fix this problem please fill me in. Any drill or technique you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Oh....on a side note, no I don't do it on my full swing and that is what is puzzling to me.


Thanks

Yooper

[tarik]

It sounds like your getting "handsy" on your downswing and trying to flip through the ball. Once the weight is placed on you left side (if your right handed), you just need to remember, "dead hands". The upper body will control this shot, and you need to let the shoulders do the work. The hands shouldn't be locked but should give a little as you start your down swing, and as long as you hit down on the ball you should be in the clear. Good luck!

[Yooper]

Thanks for the tip tarik but I'm pretty sure this isn't the problem seeing on chips I really don't use my hands very much. When I'm chipping I use a little shoulder turn to control and hit my shots while my hands and wrists stay more in the position they were at address. Even when I'm playing shots like the bump n run it seems like I'm catching more off the heel and I know for a fact I'm not using a handsy motion in that shot.

As I was trying to go to bed last night I was thinking about it. Is it possible that I'm taking the club to far outside and then coming across the line on the down swing....hell I dunno. Anyway thanks for the suggestion though.

 

Yooper

[taylormadefan]

Hard to tell without seeing you, any chance you can post a video?

 

I'd say the opposite, usually when I see people hit the ball on the heel, they're taking the club too far to the inside to out (although it could be the outside to in as well). Either way, I'm guessing you're usually a "straight back straight through" chipper?

 

Stick a club on the ground right in line with your target line and make sure the club travels down it.

 

FYI, you can be an inside to insdie chipper, you've just got to make some changes to your ball position and alignment. I really like Stan Utley's short game methods because they really mimic and reflect a one planers around the body motion. I can't wait for his book to come out on June 1.

http://www.golfdigest.com/search/index.ssf...0506utley1.html

http://www.golfdigest.com/search/index.ssf...0403utley1.html

[phil75070]

I've been having chipping problems for a while now. I went to the practice green yesterday after work and started taking the club back inside instead of straight back, more of a mini-swing. It shallowed out my swing and seems to be much more consistent. My biggest problem has been on tight lies and, more often than not, I've been pulling the putter out of the bag. Yesterday, I basically chipped from bare lies and chipped quite well for me. I just need to develop "on the course" confidence. Then I read the Utley articles linked to above and they confirm what I have discovered, although I still use an open stance.

[Yooper]

Taylormadefan, thanks for the link to the articles. I know what you mean about being hard to tell without seeing it on camera. If I was able to tape my swing right now I actually prolly wouldn't have to be hear asking others for some help seeing I could see it for myself. My brother has my video camera with him on his honeymoon!!!!

I believe I'm more of a straight back and straight through kind of guy for chipping. Anyway thanks for advice Taylormade...I will try the club on the ground drill today and see how it goes.

 

Yooper