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Instruction

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Fringe Benefits

Learning how to chip properly will lead to more confidence and lower scores Associate editor Al Petersen is working with Tustin Ranch director of instruction Erik Horve on reworking his swing. Actually, they're starting from scratch - or starting over - since a lot of bad habits need to be corrected. We're monitoring their progress.

By Al PetersenPublished: November, 2006

There isn't a more frustrating feeling on the golf course than taking two strokes to go 395 yards and three or four strokes to go the remaining 90 feet. Been there, chunked that.

It's fun to smack drivers on the range, but if you want to avoid smacking yourself upside the head every time you three-putt or fail to get up and down from the fringe, work on your chipping.

"If you're going to practice for one hour every day, you should hit balls for 15 minutes and this for 45," said Tustin Ranch director of instruction Erik Horve, motioning toward the facility's short-game area. "Chipping, pitching, putting and 100 yards and in is where the average golfer should spend 75 percent of their practice time."

When it comes to chipping, Horve suggests dividing the green into three sections and experimenting with clubs to see which one gets the ball closer to the hole with the proper trajectory, such as a sand wedge for a pin on the front portion of the green and an 8-iron for a hole near the back edge.

"I want the ball to get on the green as soon as possible and get it rolling like a putt along the intended aim line," Horve said. "Pick a spot on the green, land the ball there and let it release to the hole."

Even though the shots vary in length and a variety of clubs can be used, Horve says using the same setup will simplify things and make the shots easier to execute:
• Narrow your stance.
• Move closer to the ball.
• Hold the club so the shaft is more upright.
• Position the ball in the middle of your stance.
• Lean your weight to the left side.
• Move your hands forward and lean the club's shaft toward
       the target.
• Rock your shoulders in a pendulum motion and keep the  
       majority of your weight on the left side throughout the shot.

"If you keep the hands forward and the club leaning toward the target, that will help you maintain the angle through the shot, which will get the ball in the air with the proper loft," Horve said. "Using the same setup keeps things simple in your mind, and when you learn what club works best for you in different chipping situations, your scores will start to drop."  n

Next month: Pitching

Erik Horve can be reached at (714) 734-2104.