Golf Drills-The Tracking Drill

Last time out I broached the subject of chipping and how you can really save yourself some strokes and dough if you take the time to work on your chipping game.

I hope this has spurred you on a bit to take a close look at your short game scoring opportunities.

For the next series of articles, I want work with you on your short game to help you understand the basics of it and to give you some golf drills that you can work on that will help to improve your short game and shave strokes from your golf game.

Let’s start with a simple tracking drill for your chip shots. The basic chip shot requires a low finish with the clubhead as it extends straight down the target path.

To establish your target line simply lay a couple of your clubs down in a parallel fashion pointing at your intended target… just like a couple of train tracks. This ensures that you not only align properly for your chipping stroke, but it also enables you to focus completely on the execution of the shot and make good crisp contact.

Good crisp contact by administering a slight descending blow into the golf ball; but remember the swing is a brushing motion through the golf ball, not a jabbing or hitting motion.

NOTE: contacting the ball with a slight descending blow is not to say that we are looking to put backspin on the shot… not at all. We want the descending blow just enough so the ball will pop slightly up on the clubface on contact and clear the turf long enough to get to the putting surface and begin rolling.

With the chipping stroke it is all about clubhead control. For the vast majority of the chip stroke the clubhead should remain square to the golf ball. It will only open slightly at the top of the backswing and only close very slightly (and naturally) on the follow through.

As you practice your chipping make certain that you NEVER are decelerating the club through the swing… in fact, start slowly then and just a touch of acceleration if you must. Your follow through should actually be longer than that of your backswing… this will ensure that you aren’t decelerating the clubhead.

Start with shorter distance chip shots that require a very short putting like stroke… again work on making good crisp contact. Then, gradually increase your distance which will in turn require a slightly longer swing. Stay with each distance until you can consistently get that crisp ‘click’ sound the ball makes coming off of a well executed shot. Don’t go to a greater distance until you master the former.

Keep in mind that you are not going to learn to be a good chipper of the golf ball all in one marathon practice session… just make this simple golf drill a part of each of your sessions.

Remember it is not how long you practice at each session… the benefit comes with how often and consistently you do practice.