How to hit Jordan Spieth's favorite chip shot

When the Chipping Gets Rough

By Butch Harmon

All too often amateurs have one basic chipping stroke, and they use it no matter the lie. I'm all for keeping it simple on standard chips, but you have to adapt to different lies. When you try to force a technique, you get in trouble. Let's look at two common chipping scenarios: the perched lie and the buried lie. When the ball is sitting on top of the grass, it's easy to slide the clubhead under it and flub the shot. That happens because when you shift forward on the downswing, it drives the clubhead downward. You catch the ball on the top of the clubface. -- with Peter Morrice

To handle the perched lie, set up in a narrow stance, legs tall, and play the ball back. Make a sweeping motion with the clubhead, like a long putt, turning your upper body back and through while keeping your wrists firm (right). Your lower body should stay quiet on the downswing—remember, driving your knees forward gives you too much dig.

When the ball is buried, you need that digging action to spring the ball from the thick grass. Take a little wider stance, and play the ball in the middle. On the backswing, hinge your wrists abruptly to set up a steeper angle into the ball (left). That will allow you to catch it as cleanly as you can—not an issue with the perched lie. Coming down, shift your knees forward, which increases the downward angle on the strike. Extend your arms down and through, and don't worry about making much of a follow-through.

Two very different lies, two very different techniques. You'll find them easy to use.

GET YOUR SHORT GAME IN SHAPE

I just added my fourth video series to the Golf Digest Schools program, and it's all about shots around the green. If you want help with your chipping, pitching, bunker play or putting, you'll get it all in these lessons. I'll show you the short-game keys I teach my tour players—and some I've picked up from being around them. Learn more about my new series and all the great content in the Golf Digest Schools video library at golfdigest.com/allaccess.

BUTCH HARMON is based at Rio Secco Golf Club.

Source: GolfDigest.com

How Francesco Molinari Picked Up 20 Yards Off the Tee and Still Hits Straight

3 drills that will build a great putting stroke

By Todd McGill

When you find yourself scratching your head because of all the putts you’re missing, take the time to hit the practice green and work out the kinks. All players go through slumps and face times when their stroke needs touching up, these three drills will go a long way in helping to reestablish a solid putting motion.

1. 4 Tee Drill

This drill is great for focusing on center contact as well as helping to maintain a square putter face through impact.

Most players will associate this drill with the two tees that many players on tour use for solid contact. But what makes this drill different is that by having two sets of tees, it forces us to have a good takeaway, as well as a good, follow through. Just have the two sets spaced 3 to 5 inches apart with the openings of the two sets being slightly wider than your putter. From there, any unwanted lateral movement with your putting stroke will be met by a tee.

2. Coin Drill

This drill pertains to those who tend to look up before hitting a putt which throws off our follow through and makes us manipulate the head. We do this for different reasons, though none of them are justifiable. Because those that keep their head down through the stroke will allow you to have better speed, control and just make a better stroke in general.

To perform this drill, just place the ball on top of the coin and make your stroke. Focusing on seeing the coin after you hit your putt before looking up.

3. Maintain the Triangle drill

One of the biggest things that I see in high handicap golfers or just bad putters, in general, is that they either don’t achieve an upside-down triangle from their shoulders, down the arms, and into the hands as pictured above. If they do, it often breaks down in their stroke. Either way, both result in an inconsistent strike and stroke motion. It also makes it harder to judge speed and makes it easier to manipulate the face which affects your ability to get the ball started online.

I use a plastic brace in the photo to hold my triangle, however, you can use a ball or balloon to place in between the forearms to achieve the same thing.

These three drills will help you establish proper muscle memory and promote strong techniques to help you roll the rock!

Source: GolfWRX.com

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Junior Golf Open House

March 24th from 1PM-3PM

We invite you to join us and learn more about this year's junior golf offerings. We are excited to meet with you and discuss which junior golf option is best for your child.

Special Junior Golf Open House happenings to take note of:

• Free club fittings for your junior golfer
• Opportunity to trade-in your junior's clubs
• Golf club recommendations

CLICK TO SEE 2019 JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS

We believe that the future of golf is our youth, therefore we are excited to offer a wide variety of memberships and programs for current and future junior golfers in our community. Golf can only be learned by playing it and we strive to get our juniors on the course as often as possible. 

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