BETTER BY SATURDAY
Use this simple image to hit crisp chip shots BY JACKSON KOERT Stop Chunking It!
G OOD CHIPPERS OFTEN have a longer backstroke than through-stroke. The clubhead falls gently down onto the back of the ball and finishes low to the ground, just brushing the turf. This creates consistent ball-first contact – no chunks – and makes it easier to control the distance your chip shots run out on the green. Here’s an image I use with my stu- dents to help simplify the basic chip- ping stroke and ensure solid contact: Take a very narrow stance with the top of your spine tipped towards the tar-
get and the ball back, just inside your trail heel. Now picture a wall outside the toe of the club at address and swing the club- head up and down
call this your “wall.” Place a second rod about a foot in front of your lead leg, angled towards your toes. Hit chips with the club riding up and down the first rod (above, left) and stopping- short of the second one (above, right). Make sure your hips turn to face the target at the finish. Once you can make this motion your own, you’ll be hitting your chips solid and get them close to the hole. —with dave allen JACKSON KOERT, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, is director of instruction at Atlantic Beach CC, Florida
LONG THEN SHORT You should regulate the follow- through of a chip shot.
this imaginary wall into impact, fin- ishing low to the ground. It’s OK if the club runs into the turf as long as the ball is back in your stance. A simple way to practice this is to stick an alignment rod in the ground along your extended target line and angle it towards your trail heel. Let’s
PHOTOGRAPHS BY J D CUBAN
44 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 2025
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