Chipping Practice Ideas

If you want to improve your golf game, getting your short game in order should be the first order of business. Most beginning golfers make the mistake of spending the majority of their time practicing making explosive shots off the tee, and while the drive is important, most scoring on the course depends on how well you play within 50 yards of the green.Master the close game, and the occasional errant tee shot becomes merely an irritant.Here are some hints to improving your chipping which will enable you to place more balls within one or two-putt distance from the hole and lower the strokes on your card.These 4 simple exercises can be done in your backyard, and don't require a lot of equipment.The first thing to remember in making a chip shot is that it is different from tee shots or long approach shots. Similar to putting, the secret is to keep the body still and use the arms. Infact, a chip shot should be executed in much the same way you putt; a simple, smooth swing of the arms, with the club face open, and getting it under the ball to get it up in the air. Unlike fairway shots, where you sweep the ball, to get the right trajectory on the ball in a chip shot, a sharp angleis required on the return stroke, and don't forget to follow through. For most chip shots, the ballshould be back in your stance, at about mid-point or a few inches further back.For chipping drill you need a space of about twenty yards, and if there is different lengths of grass from which to launch the ball, you can practice chipping from different lies.Mark a target area or place a small basket at one end of the area (making sure there is nothing nearby that could be damaged from an errant shot). Practice chipping from different distances,beginning close in (about five to ten yards), and gradually moving back to the opposite end of your practice area. Using your pitching wedge, chip five balls from each launch area, aiming to get them inside the target. When you have put all five balls into the target, move back five yards and repeat the exercise.Repeat the above exercise using different clubs such as a sand or lob wedge. Notice the differences based on the loft of the club.If you have an area with undulations or tall grass,practice chipping with the ball above or below your feet, and from long grass.Once you feel comfortable with the basic chip shot, try doing the exercise again with a closed or partially closed club face, and notice the difference in ball flight and the amount of roll you get after the ball lands.Many golf courses also have a chipping practice area near the putting green. A few minutes of chipping practice before a round will also improve your performance on the course. Doing chipping exercises each day, or before each round, combined with some time on the putting green will do more to improve your game than time trying to blast the ball into low-earth-orbit.For an instructive video on how to correctly chip on Bermuda fringe courses go to:http://www.golfingswing.net/chipping-practice-ideas.htmlAnd for more great free advice and videos on helping you get the golf swing that you desire then feel free to drop by my website at http://www.golfingswing.net/