It's great to be home again with my family, pets, good friends, and teaching at AZCC.  There's nothing like hugs, home cooking, and a familiar bed to warm the cockles of my heart.  I'm anxiously waiting for our golf season to begin once the temps drop but in the meantime you can get a head start on grooving your swing by visiting with me at the range.

High School Golf: It's that time of year when high school golf is in full swing. If your son or daughter didn't play well enough to make the golf team now is a perfect time to begin  improving their skills so they will excel next year.

Chipping

Drive for Show and Chip for Dough: Yeah, I changed that old adage a bit because it's just as applicable for chipping as putting since golfers don't always hit the green in regulation numbers. Actually, most golfers struggle around the greens trying to get down in two with a chip or pitch and a putt, so let's talk about chipping. The chip shot has a lower ball flight and will roll more than a pitch shot. Use it when your ball has to land near or on the green because its reaction to the surface and resulting roll will be more predictable than if it lands in the rough or fringe. 

How To Chip: The chip shot can be performed with a variety of clubs. When chipping it's critical to determine a ratio between where you land the ball, i.e., the landing spot, and the amount of continuing roll to the hole. On a level shot to a medium speed green I visualize flying the ball 1/3 of the distance to the hole and letting it roll the remaining 2/3 of the way.

As with club selection for regular shots, all conditions must always be considered and appropriate adjustments made to the normal ratio between the landing spot and the roll out. Some typical conditions to consider are as follows:

• Fast greens or downhill shots - move the landing spot closer because the ball will roll faster.
• Slow greens and uphill shots - move the landing spot further away to allow for more ball flight. 
• Breaks in the ground after the ball lands - account for these by moving the ball right or left as appropriate to get a true line to the hole.

Best Clubs To Use: In order to determine which clubs are best for you to chip with use simple ratios such as 1/3 - 2/3 and 1/4 - 3/4 and experiment on a medium speed level chipping green because it presents a neutral condition.  It's easier to make adjustments to your landing spot if you base the chip shot off of neutral conditions.

Hybrids and fairway metals can be best used for chipping when the ball is sitting up in light rough. Both clubs brush through the rough more effectively than any iron and are less likely to get caught or snagged in the grass. Their ball flight is flat with a significant amount of roll. 

The Texas Wedge: At the British Open many players used their putters to cover a long distance from their ball to the green on several holes. In the US the putter is known as the "Texas Wedge" when used to stroke that delicate shot.  It's most effective for running the ball up to the green or hole from a tight lie or narrow fairway because chipping and pitching here will greatly expand the chance of poor contact and result in a bad shot. Using your putter in that situation will minimize the chances of miss-hitting the ball and gives you a better chance to get down in fewer strokes.

It's In Your Hands: Chipping is a matter of feel and far more difficult than it looks, particularly when seen performed by a touring pro live or on TV.  What you don't see is the number of practice hours that precede their play around the greens. I strongly recommend practicing these shots enough to gain confidence before using them on the course.

I look forward to seeing you on the range hitting 'em long,  straight, and stiff.

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