Chips

Chips from tight lies get me sweating, most are ok but once in awhile I either blade or chunk. Any advice?

I hate that shot too. What works for me, after figuring what club I need for the distance, and landing area required, is to remember a couple of things. One is not to get to "wristy" while using more of a putting stroke, keeping the hands ahead of the club head through impact. Another is to use the club with the most loft, but with the least amount bounce, that will get the job done. A club with too much bounce does not collide very well with a thin lie, especially if it is on firm ground. I don't ground the club behind the ball either. What I might do is ground the club as close to the front of the ball as I can with out touching the ball, then moving the club head to the back of the ball with out changing my address position. This gives me my proper clearance between the ground and the bottom of the club head at address. I do this alot on wetter, muddy lies to avoid the fat ones. A little thin is not so bad, and much better than a fat one. These are just what I do. Being self taught, I have so mant bad habits, that work, that if there was "golf" comedy club I'd be the main act.

If you need to use a club with bounce, be sure to close the face a bit to eliminate some of that club's bounce. You will need to practice this shot to know how to aim it.

As for a drill, get yourself a piece of wood (1 X 6 works well) about a foot, or so long and practice picking the ball clean off the board. Make some marks on the board to match the position of your feet, and help locate the proper ball position needed for the shot. Make a mental note the ball position reference point between your feet to use when the real, on course situation shows up. You will have to choke down on the club to make up for the ball sitting up on the board, above your feet.

Worst case scenario, get the course marshal to agree to "unmarked" ground under repair. I've seen it done before, LOL.
Hope this helps.....GJS

Play the ball of your right toe and place a club on the ground about six inches back. In your swing dont hit the club going back or thru. Steep desending swing and pinch the ball off the tight lie.

Horrible. My course is like a runway right now, its so dry (think Hoylake) and anwhere on the fringe is now a tight lie so chippings become really difficult. Kind of evens out the 50 yard roll you get on downhill drives

putter or 7 iron for your conditions. I need to stop fussing over those little fluffy yet tight lies around the green where there is grass but very tight and you can't putt it.
I have been taking a pw, playing it back of center, weight on left, but here's the key for me----I turn my head to the right, ala jack Nicklaus----to keep from lifting up or helping the shot. Works like a charm.
I bought my wife a chipper which she uses with great success; I am just too macho to use it.
Also, I have tried 3 wood and hybrid from off the green; no control whatsoever.

Hi Pal .
I have the ideal sulution for your problem.
Take a 9 iron and stand closer to the ball so that the heel of the club becomes lifted off the ground.
Grip down the shaft and adopt your putting grip and you are going to use a putting stroke ( pendulum type swing with shoulders only ).
Now , the ball is going to come slightly off the toe so you have to alter your alignment to the left to compensate.
What this shot achieves is, the heel of the club will not scuff the ground becuase you have lifted it. your height will be constant because you are not using any part of the body except the shoulders and best of all, the ball will still pop up off the clubface and run nicely to the hole.

Good luck mate.

aft

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Thanks much, I really appreciate the tip and I will try it and let you know. Anything I can do to help you , just let me know. I am a bit of a seer when it comes to swings and full club problems.