Around the green
When around the green and faced with a shot under 50 yards, many players will opt for lofted club and chip the ball towards the flag. However, there is an alternative when there is nothing (eg a bunker) between you and the green - the pitch or bump and run - using a less lofted club. Here we look at both options.
The Setup: The setup for the chip shot is probably the most unique of all stances in the game. With your feet a maximum of one foot apart and the ball lined up off the inside of the back foot, place the hands in a position so that the club face is square to the target and the hands are lined up even with the inside of the front thigh. From this position place a little extra weight on the front foot and bend the knees slightly more than during a normal (full swing) setup. Often when chipping it is good practice to choke down on the club anywhere from half an inch to 3 or 4 inches. This allows golfer to get closer to the ball and to be more aggressive with the shot. The closer your hands are to the club head, the more control over it you will have.
Address: When addressing a ball before making a pitch and
run, place some extra
weight on your front foot. This allows you to mimic having completed
a weight transfer during the swing without actually having to move
your body and transfer any weight.
Having extra weight ahead of the ball creates a stronger anchor
on which to pull the club towards. This is especially helpful when
facing a chip from deep grass. The extra weight forward will allow
you to pull the club through the grass, make good contact and
getting the chip onto the green without much risk of having the club
get caught in the grass and producing the dreaded flub.
The 7-iron shot: Sometimes referred to as a 'bump and run", this is by far the best way to get the ball close to the hole for the majority of amateur golfers!
The 7 iron chip shot is so effective due to its sheer simplicity. By making the shot simple we can drastically lower the margin of error as compared to the classic ship shot.