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Tom Gleeton
PGA Professional
Tip 11: Chipping and Pitching
Chipping and pitching are two areas that can really shave strokes off your score. But unfortunately, golfers don't practice these skills enough. The first thing to work on is your set-up. Keep your feet close together with your weight favoring the left side. The ball should be back in your stance. Now you're ready to make a swing. Use small arm swings for short shots, longer arm swings for longer shots. Brush the grass to get the ball up in the air. Another important part of chipping and pitching is club selection. You should try to hit the ball about one-third of the distance in the air and let it roll the remaining two-thirds to the hole. To do this, you can use a wedge, 8-iron, 5-iron or another club. By combining the use of different clubs and different length arm swings, you can get the desired results and become a very proficient short-game player.
Tom Gleeton is the head professional at the Country Club of Waterbury, Waterbury, CT. To improve your game, visit a Connecticut Section PGA Golf Professional.