Golf Tip For Irons - That Nasty Little Chip Shot

The chip shot is probably the scariest shot in golf next to the down hill putt. In all their sadistic wisdom, course designers have made the penalty for not getting on the green in regulation full of surprises and very painful, just like Bagdhad. My advice is if you don't think you can hit the green lay up 30 or 40 yards short but in the fairway. From here you have a relatively easy shot at the pin. And you avoid the perils of missing the green.

If however, your brain thinks it's better than your body and you go for it and wind up short, or left, or right or long, you will probably be facing a challenging golf shot. Side hill, down hill and up hill lies, lies at the base of a slope; anything but a good flat lie will be your reward for not hitting the green.

When you find yourself in this position here are a few tips for a right handed player to keep in mind:

Tip 1
Use the club you are comfortable with, not the one that the manufacturer tells you to use. Confidence is a huge part of this shot. Did you know that Tiger only has one wedge in his bag? He uses a 60 degree wedge from 50 yards in and can get a remarkable number of different shots with the same club. Why? Because he knows he can.

Tip 2
When you're faced with other than a flat lie, the objective is to make adjustments so that the club head will strike the ball in the same fashion as if it were on a flat lie. This means adjustments in your stance, where you grip the club and the shape of your swing.

Tip 3

If the ball is above your feet and on a fairly straight uphill lie, consider yourself lucky as this is the easiest of the scenarios. In order to compensate for the ball being above your feet, or closer to you than it is on a flat lie, do two things. First when you assume your stance, lean further to the right. Next place the club behind the ball and then grip it. You'll notice you are gripping down on the club shortening the distance from your hands to the ball. If it's a straight uphill lie use your normal swing. If it's a side hill lie, make your swing a little rounder to compensate.

Tip 4
If the ball is below your feet you want to do just the reverse of tip 3 as the ball is now further from your hands than it is on a flat lie. First take your stance and lean to the left and shift more weight to the left leg. Next place the club behind the ball bend at the hips and then grip the club. You'll notice that you are gripping the club well above where you would be with an uphill lie. Your swing should be steeper and a tad bigger than a normal flat lie shot. If the lie is also side hill, well good luck with that. Aim further to the left and hope for the best.

Tip 5
This is the tough part. Commit to the shot. The most common mistake made is a golfer decelerating the swing resulting in the ball just popping up and going inches. Commit to the shot. What's the worse thing that could happen? You fly the green and have to do it again? If the option to not committing is trying again 8 inches from your original position, why not swing away.

Stay down. Blading or skulling the ball is the result of the golfer getting the equivalent of a case of the yipps while putting. This is always caused by a lack of confidence. Be sure you practice the swing before you hit so you know you've got a shot to get on the green

Follow these five tips and you will improve your score. I can't tell you how many double boogies originated from poor chip shots. Just take the right stance, try to relax, and swing away.

Get another tip How To Hit A Hybrid

Golf Swing Techniques For The Beginner Golfer

So you've just started to play the game of golf.  Congratulations, if you stick with it your in for a very enjoyable time even if it doesn't feel like it right now.  Being new to golf you probably are facing a number of frustrations trying to figure out what the secret to success is.

Well it's all in the golf swing technique.  Let me qualify that.  It's all in a great golf swing technique. 

Golf swing technique is more about education than physical ability.  Golf can be a very complex game to play.  After all, what other sport has 13 pieces of personal equipment required to play the game.  One analyst has identified 24 separate elements to the golf swing!  And then there's the mind games.  This sport is loaded with knee knocking shots that will screw with your confidence like no tomorrow.

So what's the secret to a good golf swing technique given all this complexity?  Just keep it simple.

Create a routine that's easy to remember and that is easy to repeat time and time again.

Here's the basics:

• Always take a practice swing or two to remind your muscles what you want them to do when you actually swing at the ball.  This gives you a chance to test the lie as well.
• Alignment is essential.  If your club head is aimed at one target and any part of your body, shoulders, hips or feet, are aimed somewhere else, where the ball lands will be a crap shoot.
• A straight spine is key.  When you address the ball bend from the hips not your back.  Your shoulders will be turning around your spine and if it isn't straight neither will your swing be.
• For iron shots lean a little forward keeping your head in line with your spine.  This allows you to hit down on the ball.  For metal shots its just the reverse as you want to hit the ball on the upswing.
• When you swing just keep this thought in mind "swing easy hit long".  The swing should be slow and smooth.  Club head speed is developed in the swing arc not by flailing away at the ball like you had a baseball bat in your hands.

These are great tips for beginners.  The more you learn the correct fundamentals the less you'll have to make up as you go.  If you don't know the correct fundamentals you'll try to compensate for your bad shots by adjusting the club face, grip or stance.  The deeper you get into this trap the harder it will be to get to a correct swing.

Educate yourself and keep the faith.  You're going to love this game.