Want to tighten up your short game? Try chip-putting

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — At this yr’s Top 100 Teacher Retreat on the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Ariz., the world’s finest instruction minds are gathered to study from one another and share concepts in a jam-packed itinerary that spans two days.

Having so many high lecturers in a single place is an actual boon for the GOLF staffers onsite, permitting us ample alternative to pose a few of our most burning questions on sport enchancment.

One matter at high of thoughts for me these days? The short sport — particularly, chipping. What’s one factor I ought to all the time consider to maximize my scoring potential on photographs across the inexperienced? I requested Top 100 Teacher Lou Guzzi for his opinion.

“Try to chip without so much loft on the club,” he mentioned. “Meaning, every opportunity that you get to hit a low chip, keep the ball down as much as possible, keep as much spin off the ball as possible, and you’re gonna get more consistency.”

One shot that Guzzi recommends including to your arsenal to obtain that consistency? The chip-putt.

“That’s what the tour players do,” he mentioned. “They chip-putt a lot, and that means they use their putting-stroke motion with their wedges, their 8-irons, their 6-irons. And then because they’re using their putting technique when they’re chipping, the ball comes off the face softer, they keep it down, they get more consistency, they knock it closer to the hole and, of course, in the end, lower their scores.”

Part of the attract of the chip-putt is the truth that you’re retaining the ball on the bottom as a lot as doable, eschewing your common default sand wedge membership choice in favor of a membership with decrease loft and trajectory potential.

“If you go to Augusta National, you’ll see the best players in the world chipping with hybrids around the greens,” Guzzi mentioned. “They hit a lot of bump-and-runs where they utilize the hills and hit the balls into the hills instead of the hill becoming a big issue. It ends up becoming your best friend because you can hit a little bump-and-run into the hill and then allow the ball to just roll from there.”

Despite the seeming simplicity of Guzzi’s recommendation, I puzzled about its limitations. What is the utmost yardage are you able to anticipate to have so as to make the most of this system? According to Guzzi, that’s the place follow is available in.

Rukket Sports WHACK-A-HAACK Golf Chipping Game

$49.99

 
Golf’s newest game is here! Like corn hole but more portable (and more fun in our opinion). It’s great for the backyard, beach, tailgates, barbecues, or anywhere you want to hang out and show off your chipping skills! Two or more players square off in this test of short game skills. No need to worry about errant shots bouncing around because our special edition EVO foam golf balls are perfect for any situation.
Features

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🎉 TAKE IT TO YOUR NEXT SOIREE and be the hit of the party. Perfect for tailgates and sporting events. Compete with your family, friends, or show Happy Gilmore who’s boss with our innovative target system. Collapsible and comes with a carry bag and you won’t have to worry about any stray shots with our soft foam golf balls.
🌈 FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY just like the late John Candy once said. The balls are soft and supple enough that they won’t break your neighbor’s windows, but hard enough to go all day and withstand those ocean breezes. Easy set up and storage, so grab a beer, soda, juice, or your favorite beverage and get in on the chipping fun!

Product Specs
25in x 20in
What’s in the Box

(2) Rukket Golf Chipping Nets and Carry Bag
(2) Hitting Turf Mats
(8) Soft Foam Golf Balls
Stakes

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“If you think about making a longer putting stroke, try using that stroke with your irons and see what the carry is on each,” he mentioned. “The distance will differ from participant to participant, however you possibly can simply create your personal yardage database with this system.

“For example, if a 9-iron with my longest putting stroke carries 20 yards in the air, then I know,” Guzzi continued. “Take notes because once you have a feel for something, even if you hit a bad shot and that ball carries, pay attention to where it carried. It might not have been the shot you wanted, but there’s a yardage for that shot. Every shot you hit, as long as it’s a good solid shot, you should take some information on what you just did.”

Give Guzzi’s chip-putt approach a strive on your subsequent spherical, and sharpen up your short sport with me! And to learn extra ideas from Lou Guzzi, click on right here.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of feminine varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everybody on the masthead. She can out-hustle them within the workplace, too, the place she’s primarily answerable for producing each print and on-line options, and overseeing main particular tasks, corresponding to GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview collection, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in each within the journal and in video type on GOLF.com.