Tip no. 15 - Chipping
with Pachesham Golf Academy

However well you play, you're going to miss greens. Even the 2010 PGA Tour's Greens in Regulation leader (John Senden) only hit 72.5% of them! Getting it 'up and down' around the green and consistently turning three shots into two is one of the keys to good scoring. Practice and master this, and your handicap will tumble!

• If you struggle with chip shots around the green and tend to stub the club into the ground or shoot the ball across the green, there is a very good chance that you have a chipping style that is making the leading edge too prominent. • Set up with the club shaft vertical rather than pushing the hands and handle too far in front of the ball. This will put a slight hinge in the back of the left wrist; try to maintain this hinge throughout the swing. • The aim of this swing is to brush the grass and finish with the clubface just short of waist high and facing the sky; a good image is to see if you think you could hold a glass on the clubface. • Done correctly this will ensure you start to use the bounce of the club as it was designed.

THE COMPLETE ONE MINUTE TIPS, WITH   No. 1: Common Ball Flights - your golf ball is your teacher! No. 2: The Set Up - grip, stance and posture No. 3: The Straight Shot - getting the basics right No. 4: The Fade - for a gently-curving, soft-landing shot No. 5: The Pull - trees down the left? No worries! No. 6: The Hook - commonest fault in lower handicappers No. 7: The Pull Hook - eliminate this destructive shot No. 8: The Draw - for a penetrating, powerful ball flight No. 9: The Push - water to the right? No problem! No. 10: The Slice - cure this curse of the high handicapper No. 11: The Push Slice - fix it and keep out of the thick stuff No. 12: The Swing - backswing and downswing explained No. 13: Distance - tips for hitting it further No. 14: Pitching - master this basic scoring shot No. 15: Chipping - turn three into two around the green No. 16: The Lob - loft it and stop it close - like 'Lefty'! No. 17: Bunker Shots - no need to fear these any more! No. 18: Putting - tips and drills to end those three-putts No. 19: Awkward Lies - uphill, downhill and sidehill shots No. 20: The Thin or Top - fix this infuriating fault No. 21: The Fat or Duff - cure it and hit the ball clean! No. 22: Plugged Lies - don't give up, get out! No. 23: The Shank - how to cure 'the unmentionable' No. 24: Club Selection - some distance guidelines No. 25: Basic Rules - every golfer should know these No. 26: Course Management - learn to play the percentages For more help, see your PGA pro, or contact: Pachesham Golf Centre, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BP For all Lesson Enquiries Email: lessons@pacheshamgolf.co.uk Tel: 01372 843453 - Web: www.pacheshamgolf.co.uk Copyright ©Pachesham Golf Centre 2011, reproduced with permission