Is Path Important In Chipping?

Now sometimes you can chip really well but the direction may be an issue. This can come down to swing path. Just like the full swing, the path plays a vital role in where the ball starts its flight. Path for chipping in fact is even more important because with such a short shot, often times it becomes very difficult to compensate through impact if the path is not in the correct position. With the full swing however, there can be time to manipulate the path on the downswing.

Therefore when controlling direction and improving your strike, particular attention to path is paramount. Now path often mirrors our full swing. If you are someone who swings a little 'over the top', you may in fact 'pull' your chip shots left. Vice versa if you are someone who has an in-out path, you may in fact 'push' your chip shots right. Therefore often times if you improve your path in your full swing it will also carry into your chipping which will have you flying straighter to your intended target.

Now the perfect path for chipping which is identical to the full swing, is ensuring that as the club moves back that the distance from the handle to the body remains the same. In order to achieve this, you will need to feel that the hands are starting to move around the body, with the clubface staying out in front. In a nutshell when the club reaches parallel to the ground, the clubhead and the hands should be forming a straight line. Of course when establishing this path you want to also have some body turn.

Now once you've established this path, you then simply turn the body through the shot. This inevitably neutralises your path through impact causing the ball to fly at your intended target. The only reason why it wouldn't is if the clubface has remained too closed or the weight has not remained on the left foot. Ideally you want to have 60-70 % on your left foot through the shot whilst turning and having a neutral path.

Now if you'd like any further help with your Chipping, please contact myself at David Waters Golf located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre.