Here’s why you’re digging your chips – and how to stop

There are few things more frustrating than stepping up to a greenside chip or pitch in hopes of getting the ball close, only to end up hitting the ball over the green or into a major problem, such as a deep spot or penalty area.

Why do these images happen? Golf coach Kelley Brooke has a reason — and better yet, a solution to the problem.

In a video posted on the LPGA Professionals YouTube page (see above), Brooke explained that there are two main reasons why a player might roll the ball.

“The first reason is that their setup is not good and their weight shifts too much on their back feet,” he says. “They hang back with the back foot and hit the ball high. Ideally, we’d like to hit the ground running on the ball.

“The second reason is that people have too much wrist when they throw.”

Brooke then offers two solutions to these problems.

“Like I said, we don’t want to be on your back foot when you hit the ball because you will be hitting high,” he said. “What we want to do at that point, is we want to make sure our feet are close together when we play and we really want to get those knees out.”

By rolling her knees, Brooke demonstrates a weight shift at address where about 70 percent of her weight is placed on her lead foot.

“At that time, I will pass my hands forward,” he said. “When I’m swinging back, I don’t want to change my weight because if I do, I’ll hit the ball. We want to stay at the forefront.”

If landing on your front foot is a struggle for you, Brooke has a drill that can help.

“Get your feet closer together and you’re going to lift your back foot behind you, so you don’t have any weight on it right now. It may be almost impossible for you to change your weight. So what you are teaching is to be on your best foot. “

From this position, you can hit pitches by rotating your lead leg, Brooke says.

If your weight shift is noticeable and you still find yourself banging your skull, Brooke says you may be using your wrist too much. If so, an alignment rod is all you need.

“Hold the club on your lead side of the club with both hands,” says Brooke. “Stop, notice that the steering stick is outside my ribs. Take 10 yard shots with the alignment stick. Try not to hit your ribs.”

If the steering wheel ends up hitting your ribs, you’ll know that your wrists are clenching at the wrong time.

Try Brooke’s solutions during your next practice session and start hitting crispier chips.

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Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of women’s varsity golfers, Jessica knows how to beat everyone on the golf course. He can pass them through the office, too, where he is primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s first Style Issue, which began in February 2018. His first interview series, “A Round With,” released in November 2015, and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.