Eureka! A revelation about chipping . .

I used to be obsessed with keeping the clubhead on the correct path when chipping, but have just realised that this isn't anywhere near as important as the angle of the clubface at impact, so I now forget the path and concentrate on the face angle with dramatically improved results (two chip-ins, 3 lip-outs in the last two rounds and the October medal last Sunday)
It's obvious really, as you are never going to see a chip slice or hook because you have cut across the intended line as in a full shot, but I've never seen it mentioned before.
The other thing to do is allow for very little break when chipping with anything shorter than an 8 iron, 8 times out of 10 go straight at the flag and you won't miss by much.

I think the ratio for initial direction is something like 80% clubface angle and 20% clubhead path. So unless you are opening up the clubface alot and very open stance and "cutting across" the ball will you see an off line shot ... I only do this for a very short lob shot.

I think you're saying the same thing - that the path is more or less irrelevant ESPECIALLY on these short shots - it's face angle (coupled with lie angle!) that move the ball.

Don't believe me about lie angle?

Chip to a target 15 feet away with your highest lofted club.

Make the sole flat at address, and chip at the hole.

Next ball, line up the same as above, but before you swing, make the club noticably toe down.

Same as before, but go noticably toe up.

But generally, where the face is pointing in chipping is where the ball is going to go. Just like in putting.

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My key thought when chipping is that a chip is a putt with a different club. That's why I'm not sure about your advice about the break of pitch, Mariner - I would assess the break of a chip no more or less than a putt - because it is one, if you see what I mean (though in fairness my putting is very "shoulder-oriented").

I always chip with an 8I, but I think this is a terminalogical difference. If I was using my 56^ wedge, I'd be calling it a pitch anyway, I suspect (ie; if I wanted it to float high, and soft ,and not roll...)

But between 8I chips and 56^ pitches, that accounts for 95% of my greenside shots.

That's just me, though...

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Personal bests 2007;
Best 18: 78 (+12)
Best 9: 37 (+4)
Best Stableford: 45 pts
Best total putts: 28
Best total length sunk putts (ft): 54

Club tourney history this year: Captain's Day - 1st; Club foursomes - 2nd; Dimex Stableford - 2nd; Club Championship - 13/28 gross, joint 5/28 nett; Ferebee Shield - 2nd; Sept Medal 2nd; Autumn Stableford - 1st

I appreciate the thread on chipping, it's been a part of the game I've been struggling with. I'm not sure if you're saying the same thing,but are you talking about taking the club in and swinging outward and cutting under the ball... actually this would be used for a distance slightly more than a chip. I've been finding lately, [I am a lefty] that when I chip the ball goes to the left. I think this may be owing to the fact that my weight is too far forward, or so I've read.



Thanks,


James

"Lefty chipping left of target" can be either of two things: clubface open at impact or severe in to out clubhead path at impact (or both). Start with making sure that you clubface is square at impact ... I would try to find a straight putt from the fringe of a practice green then practice putting from there BUT using an 8i (I would also need to remind myself to keep my wrists "locked").

If you are a "wrist" putter then this may not work for you ... I putt from the shoulders ... putter face square to the target (as much as humanly possible) throughout the swing.

Charles

^^^ Yup! Good post I don't try to keep the putter face square all the way through, particularly long putts/chips, but I agree with the spirit of what you're saying

Yeah for long and really long putts it would be very awkward/clumsy to keep the face square with a square path throughout so I do break down ... but I don't worry about it.

Most of my chipping is with a wedge, so the ball spends more than half it's journey in the air (initial flight and bouncing) therefore the slope of the ground will only effect it when it's rolling. If I'm a long way from the hole but only a couple of yards off the green I'll maybe use a 6 iron and then you do need to allow for more break as 80% of the journey is on the ground.
It all depends on the situation (I chipped in for birdie with an 8 iron yesterday) but I do find that when I finish wide of the hole it's always because I've played for some break that I know is there but the ball has just gone straight where I've aimed it.
There's probably a mathematical formula for it - say a 20 yard chip with a wedge only rolls for 25% of that distance then you only need play for the break of an 5 yard putt (25% 0f 20 yards)