The alternative chip shot

It’s no secret that chipping is not my strong point. The pros who have excellent short games always have a variety of shots that they can play and then choose the one they think will be best based on their particular situation. Unfortunately, I am only able to see one shot these days, but I’ve got to the point where I am reasonably proficient with it.

Here’s how to play it:

1 Club selection

In this position, with the ball a few metres off the green, you could choose one of three chipshots: a wedge, a mid-iron or a hybrid and each club comes with varying degrees of difficulty. I now recommend the hybrid as the safe option every time as the large sole minimises the risk of a duff.

2 Setup

You should set up the shot exactly the way you would with a putter – in other words with the same square stance, the ball positioned just inside the left heel and with slightly more weight on your left leg. Your eyes should be set directly over the ball with your hands slightly ahead of the golf ball.

3 Grip

I even grip the club as I would my putter. I drop my hands down the shaft a few inches so it feels very similar.

4 Backswing

I use the same swing as I would with my putter – a combination of shoulders, arms and hands, which allows the clubhead to move away from the ball close to the ground and slightly inside the line of the shot.

5 Follow-through

Keep your eyes on the back of the ball and try to strike that spot. After the strike, allow the clubhead to follow through naturally, about the same distance as the backswing.
As with any golf shot, the key here is practice – learning to judge how the ball will react off the clubface so that you can control your distance better. This shot works for the pros, so I’m sure that with a little practice it will work for you too.

Considered one of South Africa’s great golf personalities, Dale Hayes is a former winner of the World Cup of Golf and the European Tour Order of Merit. His playing CV includes six European Tour titles and 15 Sunshine Tour wins. Dale is an Adams Golf staff player.

Contact Dale Hayes Golf Events on 012 660 3640.