Unfortunately, most of you who read the sports page have
probably sprained an ankle or two in your days. As a result, you
will be able to relate to this week’s tip on chipping and weight
distribution.
Unfortunately, most of you who read the sports page have probably sprained an ankle or two in your days. As a result, you will be able to relate to this week’s tip on chipping and weight distribution.
Most people who fail at their chipping do so because they but their weight on the back foot and try to scoop under the ball to lift it up in the air. This causes two problems. First, you will probably hit the turf behind the ball and cause the ball to go nowhere or hit the middle of the ball and line drive it across the green. Now that you are nodding your head and saying “Yep, that’s me” lets fix it.
Set up to the ball as if your back ankle is sprained. You know the feeling of not being able to put any weight on it because it hurts too much. Keeping the weight on the forward leg throughout the entire swing allows you to strike the ball on the downswing and pop it up in the air as a result.
The bottom of the swing is where the ball is with your weight this way. When your weight goes to the back leg, the bottom of the swing moves back with it and the turf gets hit before the ball.
Don DeLorenzo is a PGA-certified instructor at Gilroy Golf Course. To schedule a lesson with Don, call Gilroy GC at (408) 848-0490.
