Sometimes it’s the quick tips that stick and make a difference in your game.
Demolition doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need a plan. Most golfers get into trouble around the green because they reach for the wrong club, try to hit a shot they don’t really have, or add too many extra moves to something that should be simple.
If your chop needs a refresh, here are three strategies to try.
Shoot ’til you can’t
Putting is the safest thing you can do in golf. Even if you’re not a great pitcher, it’s usually safer than scratching or pitching.
That may not seem true when you’re standing off the green with a wedge in hand, but think about the worst mistakes. With one shot, your bad shot probably ends up 10 or 15 yards away. With a wedge, the bad shot could be a chip, a blade, or another chip from almost the same place.
Before you automatically grab a wedge, ask yourself one question: Can I fit this?
If the answer is yes, set it. If the grass is too long or there is a lot of fringe to get through, then you may want to start thinking about another option. But the shooter must get the first sight.
This is especially true for people with medium and high disabilities. Sometimes the goal is just to make sure the next shot is a putt.
Add loft to the club, not the swing
When you need the ball to hold a little more grass, you don’t always need to change your entire swing.
This is where golfers make the chip more difficult than it needs to be. They take a lob wedge, add wrist action and speed, and try to help the ball into the air. This is when the strike gets messy.
A better strategy is to keep the swing simple and let the club do more of the work.
Start with a placement style move. Then change the club based on the amount of carry and spin you need. A pitching wedge, ditch wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge can all produce different results without the need for four different swings.
The less you change the motion, the easier it is to control the stroke. The club has a loft. You don’t need to produce more with your hands. Try this on the green using four or five different clubs, making the same stroke and seeing what results you get.
Stop fighting the club’s natural decline
This is one that most golfers don’t think about, but it can be a problem for even the best golfers.
The club should fall back towards the ground due to gravity. This sounds obvious, but many scratches and poor pitching come from fighting that natural motion.
Golfers get nervous, push their hands forward, drive their knees into the target, or try to pull the grip through the shot. They force something instead of letting the club fall naturally. The club gets stuck behind them and the only option left is to roll, hit or save the shot with the hands.
Instead, let the club fall.
This does not mean that you throw the ball at the ball or get lazy with your body. This means you stop trying to force the strike. Take a controlled backswing, keep your body turned and let the momentum of the club help it return to the ball.
Around the green, manipulation is usually where the trouble starts. The more you try to lift it, aim it, or save it, the harder the shot becomes.
Keep the strategy simple. Kick when you can. Add clubhouse loft when needed. And when you have to make a chip or putt, let the club drop instead of fighting it.
