Pro’s Tip: Scores dip with chips

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 9:17 a.m.

Adam Candee

Be honest: Not a whole lot of your time spent at the driving range is dedicated to the chipping area. For every 10 guys lined up beating drivers in various directions, one or two lost souls are bumping the ball onto that green with the 100 range balls and some sort of shagging contraption.

Most golfers, though, will spend a greater percentage of time on the course within 50 yards of the green than anywhere else. It stands to reason that improved chipping could be a key to quickly lowering your scores, no matter what other blemishes you have.

This week, Chris Eastman, director of instruction at Revere Golf Club, offers some tips to improve your play in the zone surrounding the dance floor.

We'll address the setup before tackling shot strategy. First, adopt a narrow stance with your feet less than shoulder width apart. Lean your weight toward the target. Swing the club with your shoulders and arms.

A couple of caveats about common problems: Keep a stiff left wrist throughout the swing. Eastman says to avoid this No. 1 chipping problem of wrist flipping, imagine that you are pointing your wristwatch toward the target at all times. Also, do not accelerate the clubface ahead of the hands.

As for the shot, your chip should roll more than it flies. Eastman advocates a "Rule of 12" to determine air time versus roll time. For instance, with a chip using a 9-iron, subtract nine from 12 to get three. That means hit it one-third of the necessary distance in the air and let it roll the remaining two-thirds of the way. For an 8-iron, it would be one-fourth air time and three-fourths roll time, and so on.