Golf - The Little Game

“Golf is a game of inches. The most important are the six inches between your ears.”

Bobby Jones

The Little Game

There are a number of good YouTube videos demonstrating the art of the little game; chipping, pitching, and putting. You can have a fabulous long game, driving the ball magnificently, with approach shots that get you on or near the green. Yet golf is a game defined by imperfection and constant change, where only the most exceptional players can hope to master it. Even then it could be for only one round or one tournament, or one season. The rest of us spend years in pursuit of our best golf.

Chipping Around the Green

For me chipping is any shot that is not on the green but is on the very edge of it. The boundary could be your friend or your worst enemy. If you can use your putter to get close to the hole, then there is virtually no rough. The cut of the grass is almost at the same height as the putting surface. Whether you use a putter, 7 or 8 iron, a chip is getting the ball to roll along the ground toward the hole.

Other areas at the green’s edge could be more challenging by the slope around it, or the extra high rough at the sides or back of the green. You will have to decide what club and type of shot you need to play to get out of trouble and get as close as possible to the pin.

With all my shots I try to maintain the triangle, after a time it becomes natural. Wrists play a part of the chip, set the triangle, and hinge your wrists – a backward hinge to help the clubface release through impact. Remember a smaller body rotation is a part of the chip.

Pitching to the Green

The difference between a chip and a pitch is the length of the distance the ball has to travel before it lands on the green. The other difference is the hinge of wrists. With a pitch you are much further away from the green, up to 50 to 70 yards back. Hinge action is more vertical, up and down rather than backwards and forwards for a chip. On both chips and pitches, body rotation is part of the swing.

Putting

This is a personal part of the game. Notice how many styles of putters there are out there. Long handled putters, traditional offset and blade putters to weighted heads. Some golfers have a square stance at address, while others like me prefer to stand open to the line of the putt. I always have my thumbs down the center of the grip. An open stance with my thumbs down the

center of the grip is the way I putt. I will use a square address when I have a long putt. Nearer the hole I like to open my address so I can see the line easier.

Summary

The small game is just as important as the drive and iron shots. A great putt can make up for shortcomings in other parts of your game. Chips and pitches can save your score from blowing way out of control. It’s worth spending the time to work on the small golf game.

If you live in Auckland or just visiting, I recommend; Ellerslie 9 Hole Pitch & Putt Golf Course

16 Derby Downs Place, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051

Phone: 09 522 4653

Danny Maude www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4BKEbV54L0&t=194s