If you're not comfortable with chip shots, GOLF Top 100 instructor Trent Wearner says two common mistakes can be a problem. Here's how to fix them.
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I'm not sure what's been going on lately, but my short game continues to cripple my scorecard – a common theme for other novice golfers, too.
Over the past few months, I've been hitting the ball off the tee and hitting above average shots, but as soon as I get close to the green, everything seems to be falling apart.
A chunk here, a skulled shot there, and don't even get me started on how bad my range control has been on pitch and chip shots.
As frustrating as it all is, I know there is hope – as the quickest way to shave lashes is to dial in the short game. But to fix the problem you need to pinpoint where the problem starts, which is why I tapped Top 100 Golf Instructors Trent Wearner to help.
So read on to see two of the most common pitching mistakes Wearner says he often sees with players — and some simple tips on how to fix them both.
Avoid these mistakes when hitting the chip shot
“If you can record well, it takes a lot of pressure off your instrument game,” Wearner said. “While putting up and down is a two-part skill – one part chip and one part putt – it all starts with hitting the perfect chip shot.”
However, he says that many people with disabilities are afraid or don't know how to do well because of bad habits.
“A lot of golfers worry about chips,” he adds. “It usually boils down to one setup thing and one turning point — both of which are easily fixed if you follow these tips.”
In the setup, you stand too far from the ball
“If you stand too far from the golf ball at address, it puts your hands too low, leaving the wedge to sit high in the air,” explains Wearner. “The team should be like that a lot vertical, so you will stand very close and tall in the address.”
Wearner says a simple home drill can help dial in your setup.
“The easiest way to test your setup is to use your hardwood floor at home,” says Wearner. “Simply place a wedge on the floor to see and feel what it takes to get the bottom of the flat (or the heel slightly up) at address. If the toe is high, the heel tends to grab the grass, which will not allow the club to enter the grass properly for proper contact.”
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You don't turn your body
Another common issue Wearner sees in the short game is one that beginners often struggle with in the full swing – enough rotation in the body. But in the short game, it's a different kind of turn.
“People just don't turn their body enough on the downswing, on impact, all the way through — especially in the hips and chest,” says Wearner. “Instead, their arms tend to swing downwards without an optimal body pivot. This causes the club to hit the ground ahead of the ball, resulting in a shorter shot, and often leads the golfer to inadvertently pull their arms, resulting in a bladed chip shot.”
Hitting or chipping your chip shots is no way to live, so Wearner suggests the following to improve your short game rotation for faster progress.
“You should strive to open your body through the touch, leave your club shaft to finish low, but keep your body open and long at the end,” he says. “When you watch golf on TV, notice how open and long the bodies of the Tour players are in the end zone when they hit short shots.”
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