On the June 18, 2013 edition of eDrafts Sports Back Nine Report Radio Show, we discussed the difficulty players in the U.S. Open faced while chipping around the greens at Merion Golf Club. 

Phil Mickelson felt that chipping around the greens was so important that he carried five wedges in his bag for the U.S. Open held at Merion Golf Club. He even had a wedge with 64 degrees of loft. When you can hit a 3-wood over 300 yards, you do not need a driver which leaves room in the bag for extra wedges.

First tip, the average golfer should not carry five wedges in his bag. Three wedges for most golfers should prove sufficient. A pitching wedge has 48-50 degrees of loft, a sand wedge 54-56 degrees and many golfers now carry a 60 degree or lob wedge would be the preferred combination of wedges for most golfers.

Merion Golf Club offered some unique challenges around the greens that the average golfer does not face at his local golf course.

The USGA keeps extremely high gnarly rough around the greens. Severe undulation and the slope of the greens made precise chips mandatory to prevent three putts. The greens were running at 12.5-13.5 on the stimpmeter and there was a plethora of bumps, hills, and odd lies around the greens to create numerous difficulties for the golfers.

All of these factors dictated what type of shot was required before hitting their shot from the fairway and even from the tee. That is where the pressure factor came into the entire experience at Merion.

Good chipping starts at the tee box, and especially on the fairway. A player must know where to miss the shot. It was evident at the U.S. Open players that missed the green in the wrong place were severely punished.

Even Tiger Woods chipped and putted poorly in his second and third rounds at Merion. It was some of the worst efforts on his part that I have ever witnessed and I have been watching him for a long time. I have to chalk it up to the severity of the course. Maybe he should have had more wedges in his bag.

If a chip shot was missed by just a few inches at Merion the ball would completely roll off the green and make the player look extremely stupid.

Here are some basic rules to consider when chipping.

1. Choose the right club. Don’t fall in love with jut one.

Younger players always seem to want to chip with a 60 degree wedge. It is extremely difficult to consistently judge the correct distance especially from a thick gnarly lie. A 60 degree wedge is best used on firm fast greens or when a high soft shot to a front pin placement, over a bunker or other obstruction is required.

For most local golf course conditions a sand wedge or pitching wedge should do just fine. They will provide a lower trajectory and offer less risk to the average golfer.

Three wedges should provide the correct amount of distance control into the green. The average golfer should hit a pitching wedge, 125-130 yards, a sand wedge, 105-115 yards, and a 60 degree wedge, 70-90 yards. It is very important to know what your exact yardages are with each of these clubs.

Every professional golfer I have ever talked to after they have returned from their first encounters with playing on the PGA Tour or Web.com Tour has said exactly the same thing. After seeing full-time professionals play they need more work from 150 yards and into the pin.

If you have a lot of green to work with always choose the club that lets you get the ball on the ground and running to the hole. Lower ball flight offers the least amount of risk. Keep the ball low and running whenever possible.
 

2. Check the lie.

A clean contact point on the back of the ball is required to hit a quality chip and be able to get the ball onto the green.

The lie will help decide which club is correct to use.
  
   -Lob over bunker, water or other hazard.
   -Contour of the green will dictate also what type of shot, running or lob.
   -A clump of grass behind ball dictates another type of shot entirely and is another lesson. 

3. Check the line.

As you approach the green always be aware of the slope around the green it will yield great clues as to the overall contour of the green and where water will roll off the green. This will allows you to identify the lowest point and can help read chips and putts.

The object of a good chip shot is to get the ball close enough to the hole to make the ensuing putt. Read the green and allow for the proper break and speed of the shot to achieve maximum affect from the chip shot.

4. ALWAYS hit down through the ball with a wedge.

Let the loft of the wedge bring the ball up softly. This will allow the grooves help the ball land softly and roll out on the correct line.

So many students try to lift the ball or help the ball into the air by flipping at the ball with their right hand (right hand golfer).
In fact the exact opposite is the correct approach.

The right hand should not cross over the left through impact. The face of the club should face the line of the shot upon completion of the swing.
 
If the left hand stops through impact and the right hand turns over, distance control and proper trajectory become difficult to attain.

The left hand should lead through the shot to the target and the right hand stays underneath. The face of the club does not turn over through impact.

Let your arms hang and control the shot with the shoulders rather than the hands. Turning shoulders back and thru like a putt gets the club head working and on the correct path through the shot.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

Professional golfers spend hours practicing chipping from various spots around the green. Amateur golfers run out to the range grab their driver from the bag and start hitting hooks and slices into the atmosphere.

Next time you have time to practice allot half of your time to chipping around the practice green at your club before you go start launching massive drives with your 460 cc weapon of mass destruction.

I guarantee it will help lower your scores.

For more information and video of chipping tips visit: www.toledoohiogolflessons.com.