ANATOMY OF A LOW CHIP

By T.J. Tomasi

Universal Press Syndicate

When you're just off the green and you're not using your putter, your next choice should be the least-lofted club that will get the ball onto the green using your putting stroke. This allows your shot to hug the ground and take advantage of the accuracy of a rolling ball that has no side spin. For this type of shot, side spin is the enemy of accuracy.

A properly executed putting stroke with any club keeps the clubhead low to the ground, and with this predominantly horizontal path in relationship to the ground, you increase your chances of making dead center contact at impact. The advantage of contacting the ball on the sweet spot of your clubface is that solid contact minimizes the twisting of the clubface, giving you an accurate roll in terms of distance and direction.

The key to the chip is to minimize any cocking or uncocking of the wrists. You chip entirely with the rocking motion of the triangle formed by your shoulders and arms. It's a movement of the shoulders, arms and hands together so that the butt of the club moves with the face of the club until after the golf ball is hit.

To groove the feel of chipping with your putting stroke, do this drill: