Tip From The Pros: Your Best Chip Shot, With Your Putter
Your golf ball has come to rest in front of the green, with nothing in between you and the hole but bright green grass. Well, maybe not the bright green grass that’s on TV, but at least no water or sand is in front of you. When faced with this scenario, most golfers will immediately reach for their sand wedge. Most of you hit the dreaded thin shot that skids over the green, or you hit so far behind the ball that you chunk it a couple of inches in front of you, or do I say it…..the shank! Well, I don’t like seeing those shots and I know you don’t like hitting them. The tip I have for you today is a fool proof method of getting the ball onto the green and possibly rolling it right up to the hole.
Have you ever heard the old saying, your worst putt is better than your best chip? You have a higher percentage of knowing what your ball will do on the ground than sailing through the air. So, when your golf ball is at rest in the fairway or fringe around the greens with no trouble between you and the hole, pull out the putter. You are going to have to hit it harder than you normally would when on the putting surface, so take some longer, faster practice strokes to try and gauge how hard you’ll need to hit it.
Try this on the course next time you’re in this scenario. I guarantee you’ll begin to get up and down more often.
Alan Unruh
Alan Unruh is a Class “A” member of the PGA of America, and holds PGA Certifications in General Management, Golf Operations and Player Development. With these certifications, he is among the 1% of PGA members that hold multiple PGA Certifications. He has a profound passion for the game of golf along with extensive experience and knowledge regarding planning and strategy for golf operations, rules of golf, tournament operations and golf swing fundamentals. Alan has also played a crucial role helping manage multiple high profile tournaments throughout his career including the USGA Women’s U.S. Open, PGA and LPGA Tour events, and multiple NCAA and AJGA events.