How to hit a chip properly

Chipping and pitching the ball from various areas around the golf course is sometimes the hardest thing to do.  There is the lie, the turf, the space on the green to hit to. Then hitting over a bunker or to a tight pin.  The trick is using a soft grip on the club and playing with the wedge open at the face.  This allows the bounce of the club to work for you - not against you.  Use your soft grip and turn with your shoulders, slow back and all the way through, never fast and quick.  A slow tempo wins this race! Always practice feeling the ground and the turf before hitting the ball.  This gives you a sense of how the ball might react when the club makes contact.  Don't hit up on the ball, simply sweep through the ball like you are putting.  Sometimes it makes it easier to pick out a spot on the green to hit it to.  Especially if you know how far the ball is going to run out. 

Keeping the hands soft on the grip and swinging to the target you are aiming at.  Bump and run is a good phrase for this activity.  Simply get the  ball moving towards the target.  If this is a flop shot, as going over a bunker - executing a bump and run isn't going to work.  A flop shot is entirely different and needs the most practice.  Opening up your stance so it seems like you are aiming left of the target (if you are a righty) but squaring your shoulders to the target.  Feet should be wider that the shoulders and the club face needs to be open.  You should see most of the face of the wedge in your hand.  A flop shot simply slides the wedge under the ball, making enough contact to pop the ball into the air.  The more open the face is, the less distance the ball will travel.  This is why you need more practice with this shot. 

The differences of an open face a very dramatic.  Usually this activity is used with a 56 to 60 degree wedge with minimal bounce.  Bounce is the heavy flange on the bottom of the club - this is used mostly in the sand bunkers so the club 'bounces' out of the sand.   With a flop shot, a wedge with minimal bounce is desired.  Like an 8-10 degree bounce.  A flop shot is a full swinging shot.  Just make sure to slide the club UNDER the ball, not into it.  You are not trying to hit the ball, just clip it with the face of the club when it is sliding under the ball.  Practice swings are essential to feel where the ground is under the grass, then replicating that with the final swing at the ball.  Practicing on the range with different turfs is a great idea! 

Developing a feel for pitching with the brand new Wedge Game. Also an excellent way to begin feeling pitch, chips and flop shots.  Spending 10 minutes a day pitching balls into the different trajectory panels brings all who use it a much better wedge game!   Wedge Game has 3 different panels.  A 3 door panel that allows you to open either the low, medium or higher door to practice trajectory shots.  The ball comes right back to you via the patent pending Auto Ball Return!  It's really fun.  Then add the 9 hole panel to hone in on aiming and hitting low, medium or higher holes. Challenging friends with the 9 hole panel is a blast! 

Flip the 9 hole panel over and you can play a game of Tic-Tac-Toe against a friend!!  Pick our your color, green or white and when you hit through a hole, cover it with your color!  Play until someone gets a line.  Perfect backyard game!  Toss aside corn hole, Wedge Game is making a splash in the backyard games!