Hitters Pilgrimage to 5000 Chips (long post)

[rvwink]

On am committed to hitting 5000 chips this winter. (NY) I had originally imagined that I would see steady progress throughout my practice sessions. But, appearing at irregular intervals are chips leaving the ball signifcantly to the right. Amazingly after hitting 20 successful chips in a row, hitting one bad chip is usually followed by another 3 or 4 bad ones, before I am able to begin another run of more accurate chips. To solve this problem I continue to study The Gallery for ideas on how to refine my chipping stroke. I have to be selective, because alot of the material is meant for swingers, not hitters. Through my first 4,000 chips, improvements come in fits and starts, and inaccurate chips always seem just around the corner. I had expected that by now I would be able to hit most chips consistently close to my target, (a bucket) situated 50 to 60 feet away. But it hasn't happened.

The original ideas that I started with was Ted Fort's backswing and zero pivot chip swing. I practiced his backswing by imitating his holding his left wrist with my right hand. I also tried to get the feel of his piston like forward swing. Further, I tried to incorporate his other suggestions such as concentrating on hitting out to right field (his occassional waggle) and watching my hands, and watching the club hitting through the ball. But unfortunately my consistency did not seem to improve as much as I had hoped. I even added Yoda's suggestion of hitting the balls with my pressure points. During this time period, my record of what I considered satisfactory chips (maybe 12 feet from the bucket) was somewhere around from 25 in row.

I then figured out that I was wasn't consistently hitting the turf, (mat) past the ball. Based on Ben's video of the student in the sand trap, found a mat with a straight line across it. I placed the ball behind that line and concentrated on hitting down through the ball onto that line. Progress seemed to improve after I adopted this practice. I also discovered a Yoda video in which he talked about students not focusing on hitting the ball with the clubhead, but rather focusing on hitting the ball with the presure points in the hands. Finally I tried adopting the idea that I should hit the ball with the whole forearm. The result of combining practice on these ideas was a new record of 40 satisfactory chips in a row. But even this progress didn't avoid my occassionally hitting balls off line to the right.

In another of Ben's tapes, I saw him teach a student to insure the elbow moves foward down below the belly and close to left leg. I remembered watching in slow motion the swings in the long drive contest between Yoda and Ted Fort and noticing how after their elbows dropped down, the elbows began to steadily move forward. That wasn't happening in my swing. In general when my ball path was off line, I found my arms extending inside of where I thought they should be. Even though I knew Ben was teaching a "swinging" student, I thought that this idea had promise and I was running out of time. The immediate result this morning was a string of 100 satisfactory chips in a row. Also the quality of the chips was alot higher than previously as a much higher precentage were relatively easy one putts. I then tried hitting 1 handed swings employing the same principles of moving the right elbow further forward and actually had much greater success than usual in this endeavor. The quality of my full swing with my sand wedge, the only club I allow myself to bring to the range, was also better than before. Hopefully I am finally on to something.... Any further suggestions from skilled chippers?

[bts]

To me, it's just a downward putt with lag and more loft.

[Theodan]

Not a veteran but... Is your ball going right because of the Hinge, or because the ball is getting on the hosel?

It's hard to tell what the thought would be, to get your hands in your head. I chip from Square-Open stance, single action strong, and use a Push action. From there i use an Angled or Vertical Hinge depending upon what I want to do with the ball.

If my chip is off line, invaribly it is because i fouled the plane by an improper right forearm trace. Discounting throwaways, if I chunk or thin the ball, it was because of failed extensor action. Extensor action ensures a full radius, and pulls the upper body appropriately to Top in the full swing. In the chip, it assures my left arm is "measured" (fully extended) so I return exactly to ball, then lowpoint.

I just Push the dragging "wet mop" with PP1, feeling the pressure back into PP3. Getting the clubhead and clubface out of your head, and your assembled right and left hand into your head is very important. I have a whacky nighttime exercise in which you have to depend on your hands because you can't see the clubhead.

At least that is the way it has worked for me. YMMV.

[rvwink]

Is your ball going right because of the Hinge, or because the ball is getting on the hosel?

Based on the improved success I have had once I began concentrating on moving the right elbow down and forward, it appears I wasn't getting insufficient forward extension. Plus while I try to hit to both arms extended, on bad chips, my extended arms were not pointing out as I desired, but finished pointing too far left. Looks like I was swinging outside in too much or perhaps your suggestion of a bad forearm trace. I think I might have been running out of right arm, because my right elbow was stuck back at my side.

I must admit that I haven't actually thought extensively about extensor through the chip as you have suggested and I should focus on that more going forward. I really like the downswing waggle for acquired and full swing motions as a means of getting the right shoulder closer so the right forearm can drive further through the ball. But because the foreward hip movement doesn't take place in a zero pivot chip, the right shoulder doesn't drop and my right elbow was stationed too far back. When I concentrated on the piston like arm straightening bringing the elbow foreward, I found a better way of insuring my right elbow ended up where it belonged.

Today I reached 4600 chips, pretty close to the end of my journey. I had another day of favorable performance. When I hit acquired motion. right arm swings and full motion shots concentrating on feeling my right elbow under my belly, I liked the results better than my swing before I went on this chipping journey. With my remaining 400 chips, I will indeed work on what you have suggested, both the left hand extensor action and pushing the dragging wet mop with PP1, feeling the pressure back into PP3. I already really like concentrating on where the hands end up and not worrying as much about the clubface. Thanks for your suggestions and help.

[rvwink]

To me, it's just a downward putt with lag and more loft.

I undertook the challenge of hitting 5000 chips, not because my chipping was so bad. I did it because if I could perfect my basic motion swing, indirectly I hoped my acquired motion and full motion swings would also likely be improved in the process. I was impressed that a number of pros practiced basic motion chips regularly, and sometimes didn't begin full swing practice without starting with basic motion chips. Also why did Yoda when he decided to get back into golf start by hitting so many bags of chips? While treating the basic motion chip as a downward putt might well improve my chipping technique, I am after far bigger goals than than just improving my chipping.

[Thom]

For me it's:
-hit down on the inside aft with the pp#3, and always resist the tendency to let the hit forward take over.
-always focus on the landing spot, to teach the pp#3 how much pressure is needed for different lenghts.
-change target, procedure, lie, sidespin, trajectory or hingeaction on all shots. Hit or swing, and go through your routine everytime.

....and this is true for chipping, pitching and full shots with anything from lobwedge to driver.

[rvwink]

It is becoming clear to me that my 5,000 chip Pilgramage is not going to created the results that I had hoped for. While I have had a few encouraging days since my journey began, as I have experimented with other people's suggestions, some of the inconsistencies that I previously suffered have started returning. At the same time, the further changes have also improved the feel and accuracy of my new chip when things are going well.

I started out working hard to duplicate a backswing similar to what one achieves by grabbing ones left wrist with his right hand and then swinging back from there. In focusing on the feel of my new backswing, I tuned out the need for the right arm to also apply consistent extensor action. The more accurate measuring of extensor action does make for more accurate ball contact so it must be added. I also have been trying harder to get pp1 and pp3 to play more important roles in each chip. Finally, I am trying to focus more on tracing the delivery line to assure an in to out delivery path.

So, the 5,000 chip pilgramage needs an alternation. I am going to need 6 or even 7,000 chips to assure a chip that I can depend upon for the 2007 golf season. Thanks to both Thom and Theodan for sharing productive ideas to help perfect my swing mechanics. Also while chipping accuracy from my disciplined practice is a good start. When I allow myself a few full swings with sand wedge occasionally during practice, it is clear to me that I am favorable reshaping the mechanics of not just my basic swing but of my full swing as well. Thats what really has me excited.

[solarbear]

This sounds similar to my golf pligrimage. I hope what helped me helps you. Here are the 2 big realizations I had:

Are you set up correct? Chipping is 95% setup. Once I set myself up right it became infinitely easier.

Lay down a dowel and trace along the dowel, straight back, straight through. Then duplicate the motion with a ball. You may find a new set of feelings. For example, I found going straight actually felt like pushing out. Once I realized this, my chipping took off.