A Flip Waiting to Happen

Written By: Tom Chillemi - tomsgolftours.com | Issue: 2016/05 - May

Hello friends.  It’s springtime again and time to get our rusty swings out of hibernation and tuned up.  I think the short game is where to start.

As you are well aware many courses are mowing the greenside areas super low — sort of like hitting off a pool table. 

The margin of error with a tight lie is much less than if the ball was sitting up on a tuft of grass. This is because the club has to go under the ball and it’s more difficult off a tight lie.

Most of the poor shots off tight lies will be chunks (fat) or thin (blading).

There are plenty of reasons for this –Poor setup with weight leaning on your back foot; poor tempo – slow going back and fast coming through; and keeping your body rigid and flipping at the ball with the right hand and not moving the arms and hips through.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to correct these tendencies — Make your setup the same as what you want at impact.  Upper body leaning towards the target.  Weight on front foot.

Chin in line with the ball.  Hands a bit ahead of the ball & even with inside of left thigh.

For the shot, try to return the shaft at impact to your address position by turning your hips toward the target as you hit the shot and let a bit of weight transfer to your left foot.

Let your eyes track the ball as you swing through (watch Jordan Spieth).  This is not looking up since you have already hit the ball.

Keeping your head frozen is a flip waiting to happen. 

Now is the time to start thinking about that golf trip to Ireland or Scotland for 2017.  Give me a call or email.  I’d love to chat with you about one.

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