The simplest shot saver in the world - and the easiest!
As teenagers my brother and I practised our high floating wedges; we felt it made us look so like pros and after all, what did our parents, who we thought were in their dotage, know! Chip and run with a 7 iron - so uncool - we wanted the glamour shot. Fortunately, Betty Singleton, Scottish and County Champion positively frogmarched me as a student after a Greenlees match to the 17th at St Nicholas and taught me how to play the ‘chip and run’ using a pitching wedge to get over the fact I was a little on the small side and a 7 caught in my rain jacket at times. The swing my parents taught me, being a good [if unorthodox] putter, and being persuaded by such a renowned golfer to chip and run - the percentage shot - [plus a bit of practice] were the keys to getting my handicap down to scratch, and keeping it there.
Of course I still love to cut it up and spin a chip and play the ‘smarty’ shots, but if the chips are down - no pun intended - this is the shot, apart from a single putt, which is the winner. Even better, it is so easy. I asked Helena to take some pix of me but they were what I call stage 2; the chip, one bounce and check version, which explained why I was not getting my chips to run out as much as I wanted, so my problem was solved! Luckily I had a fall back to model the shot!
The first pic shows the big mistake Bottling the crisp hit and scooping the ball instead of letting the club do its work. The ball goes an amazing distance - at speed, along the ground Not good.
I like to get close to the ball, almost sitting down and choking down the grip of the club. Aiming in the right direction [of course you remembered that] I would at its simplest -
1 Have the ball back in my stance;
2 Hands forward. Straight left arm; club face a little hooded;
3 Rock the shoulders and arms back with [almost] no body or wrist movement;
4 Rock the shoulders, arms and hands forward and through to target. Crisply. No wrist flipping! The velcro pad on the glove and the face of the club leading to the target.
Instead of the ‘throw’ thought of the pitch, I like to think ‘squirt’ for this shot. The other very technical thought is to think of the swing as an upturned umbrella - and I stick them in the ground for the kids. My little fold up one for short chips; my RBS ladies golf brolly for bigger chips; and a gust buster for the longest chips. That way they can see the swing is the same length backwards and forwards; the ball is clipped firmly and the result a success. No wrapping clubs round their necks and prizes for the most balls in the target circles. Prizes help make a shot ‘cool’.
The Ken Stevely practice tip with half a dozen balls for ten minutes whenever you get the chance - and soon you will expect to hole your chips, not just get them on the green.
