Chipping In

With Brian Gaffney

Pinpoint chipping accuracy depends on how you use your wrists during the shot, according to Quaker Ridge head pro Brian Gaffney.  “After you set up with the ball in the middle of your stance and your weight slightly center-forward,” he says, “the amount of wrist action determines ball flight and distance.”

The winner of the low club pro title in the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits points out there are three possible combinations of wrist action for the backswing, impact, and follow-through. Each produces different results.

1No wrist cock throughout the three positions (almost a putting stroke) will send the ball a short distance but give you good directional control.

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2Cocking on the backswing, then holding that same wrist position through the ball and to a low finish will produce a low shot that checks up.

 

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3Some wrist cock back, straight wrists at impact, then following through with wrists cocked the opposite way (think of your arms and club forming an “L” to “L” pattern) will produce a high, soft flop shot.

 

Gaffney recommends practicing all three combinations with different clubs from varying lies to develop a complete repertory of finesse shots that will shave strokes off your scores.


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