Good morning. Dave Cahill here with Cahill Golf at the Cimarron Golf Resort in Palm Springs, California. Today I will be talking about two chip/pitch shots. On the first the wrists will be firm on the backswing and on the foreswing. I will call that none-none, no wrist bend on the back – no wrist bend on the forward. The second shot will be a wrist-oriented swing. I will call this shot some-some, some wrist bend on the back – some wrist bend on the forward. Which shot to choose is situational, depending on your lie, the grass, etc. I will describe when to use each shot.
For both chip/pitch shots we need to have the club traveling on a downward path so the ball can hit the proper spot on the golf club face. Striking the ball on the center of gravity point on the face of the club will force the ball up. The center of gravity point on the face of the wedge is a little higher than the actual center. So, we need to strike the ball at the center point or a little above it for the ball to pop up. Otherwise the shot may skitter across the green.
None-none or the no wrist method is best used in a grassy lie. This method will allow the club face to contact the ball on the club face sweet spot. The golf ball will pop up into the air, but not too high. The ball will still have roll, unless you strike the ball with too much loft on the club.
With no wrist action, the set up for none-none will allow for a little downward angle from the club face as it strikes the ball. Place the ball in the middle of the stance. Move your weight a little over the left side which moves your body center of gravity points a little ahead of the ball. Also place the hands a little ahead of the ball. So, the club shaft leans a bit forward giving that little downward angle to help get the ball in the air.
When you come down do not jab at the ball. Come down and then follow through, wrists stay firm, hands and arms feel extended and quiet throughout the shot.
But what if the lie is poor, downhill or the grass is thick, and I need to get down in it? I must increase the club angle of descent. In other words, I must take the club back steeper so the club face contacts the ball with the correct angle. An easy way to do this is to use the wrists.
Both left and right wrist hinge on the way back and then they hinge on the way down, some-some. Do not just use the wrists. The arms move in unison with the wrists movement. As the arms move back, cock the wrists. Get the club back, up and then down. Arms and wrist together. In this case on the setup it is not necessary to have your weight on the left side nor your hands ahead of the ball. But I like to do both at least a little as an insurance. So back … I cock my wrists … down and then into the shot. Using the wrists on difficult lies makes it easy both to get to the ball and get the ball up in the air.
None-none and Some-some, two types of pitch shots to that will help you play better. PGA Instructor Mike Cahill and PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill are here to help you enjoy the game of golf. To learn more about pitch and chip shots please come see us in Palm Springs for golf lessons or visit us for a Palm Springs a Golf School.
PGA Instructor Mike Cahill 612-501-9015 mikecahill@cahillgolf.com
PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill 952-994-0387 davecahill@cahillgolf.com