One of the problems around the greens is learning when to chip or putt from off the green. This means if your ball has not reached the green and is in the fringe or in the rough around the green. It is important to practice this around the putting green so you are familiar with what works best for you. If your ball is on the fringe it is always wiser to putt, even if you have some distance to reach the pin. You can keep control of your putter easier than you can with a pitching wedge. It will depend on the smoothness of the fringe or if it is wet and severely sloped. All situations need to be looked at but practice will aid in lowering your score.

If your ball is into the short rough around the green this may be the time to practice chipping so you get the practice of how to pick the ball out of the rough and get it rolling to the hole. It will depend on how far you are from the hole as you want your ball to fly a short distance and then roll towards the hole. Practice with different clubs from the #7 down to the pitching and sand wedge. This will let you know how far the ball will pop up then roll the distance to the hole. It all takes practice and this is where you cut strokes from your game.

The biggest problem with chipping is your stance it is recommended that you position the ball off your back foot. Lean the shaft of your club forward and swing the club back and through using arms and shoulders and clip the ball so it gets air borne and will roll to the hole. It is important to hold your self steady and keep your eye on the ball as you swing through. If you do not concentrate on these things you will end up sculling the ball or chunking it and neither of these are good shots. Do not allow your wrists to break as it would create more of a pitch and the ball would pop into the air with no roll. Keep the motion smooth through out the swing. Practice until it feels comfortable for you and you will find success.

Your short game is just as important as the big driver as most of your strokes will take place with those strokes to the green. This is when you will use a short swing for those chips, pitches and sand shots as this also is where you can end up with many ugly shots. This shot takes a low, slow and smooth stoke with a less margin of error. To maintain this rhythm it is suggested to count as one taking the club back, then two to reach the top then three as you swing through. This will make you more consistent with solid shots around the green and shave those strokes from your final score.

This show a putting stroke from off the edge of the green, use the best stroke to score well.


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