Most golfers realize that the amount of loft they have on their
clubs influences the trajectory and overall height of the shot. But
what a lot of you don’t know is the angle that the club strikes the
ball at also affects the shot.
Most golfers realize that the amount of loft they have on their clubs influences the trajectory and overall height of the shot. But what a lot of you don’t know is the angle that the club strikes the ball at also affects the shot.
Most golfers have a tendency to “skull” a chip shot by hitting the equator of the ball with the edge of the club. Often times this is caused by your backswing being to shallow on your chip. If the clubhead is only a foot or less off the ground at the end of your chipping backswing then your angle is too shallow.
Put more weight on your left leg and try to take a steeper angle on your backswing. This will give you a better chance of a descending arc swing and hitting the ball in the center of the club and not with the edge.
To achieve this put a golf tee in the ground about 6-8 inches behind the ball. Now on the backswing lift your club up over that tee with your arms not by just breaking your wrists. This will get your take away angle nice and steep. On the downswing the angle should be just the same and miss the tee on the way down. Strike the ball first and then the turf under the ball. With a little practice you’ll be hitting chip shots more solid and will be able to control your trajectory.
Remember when all else fails, take a lesson, you’ll be surprised how much we can help.
To schedule a lesson with PGA-certified instructor Don DeLorenzo, call Gilroy GC at 848-0490.
