Short Game Suggestions

Chip Shot is a shot played with a DE-lofted clubface position. We hit the ball first, and a little contact with the leading edge of the club slightly in front (target side) of the golf ball. A pitch shot uses more wrists and you are contacting the ground with the bounce on the bottom of the club. How to use the club properly is so important in the short game. 

CHIPS AND PITCHES

• Grip the club more in your fingers than higher up in your palms. This enables you to play a wider variety of short shots. Use a neutral grip, relax the pressure (and your mind). For those of you who play a slightly stronger grip in your full shots, DO NOT use a stronger grip in your pitches and chips. With forearms already rotated you’ll hit shots low and left (unless you “hold it off”). 
• Narrow stance is suggested because it is easier to pivot, not sway.
• A square alignment is suggested (parallel to line of flight). An open stance is commonly taught and might work for some, but I have found that the open stance creates a “late” hit and a skulled shot into the ball. Of course, if you suffer from an inside-out swing path on full shots, slightly open may help. 
• Be careful of playing the ball too far back in your stance. This is often suggested. It might be fine for ball-first contact, but it can promote too steep a shoulder motion into the golf ball.   
• The lead wrist controls trajectory of the shot (bowed low, cupped high, flat neutral). Because of that, the lead wrist should be bowed for chipping, cupped for a flop shot, and neutral for pitching.
• At set up, you want a DE-lofted shaft for chipping and a slightly lofted (or rear-leaning) shaft for pitching. DE-lofted promotes low, running shots (chipping) lofted helps higher pitches. Note: be sure not to de-loft the club too much; most of the de-lofting should happen in the downswing

Your toe line is best square at set up. An open front foot makes it difficult to correctly place the ball in your stance. A ball seemingly forward may be back and vice versa.

BUNKER PLAY

• At set up, it is best to widen your stance with more knee bend, and your hands should be LOWER than normal.
• The weight is best 60% to 70% on your lead side and never really leaves that distribution.
• The biggest problem in bunkers I see is playing the ball too far back. This is the cardinal sin of bunker play. Center to forward might be better. 
• The “secret” to good bunker play is learning to release the club head. In this shot, swing the hands and release the club far earlier than you would on any other shot. UNCOCK the wrists early.
• DO NOT let the club ROLL OVER coming down into the ball. This is a killer mover. On your follow through, check the clubface - it should be looking at the SKY! This is the only way you have a chance of using the BOUNCE of the club to enter the sand. If the leading edge enters first, it DIGS and you cannot get away with that very often. 

Short games require much practice. The shots are about technique and feel, not strength or even athleticism. In my opinion, anyone can develop a decent short game if he/she is willing to work on it. The key is this:  Develop good solid technique and execute without thinking.