To get down in two from off the green you need to have a sharp chipping game, and to get that you need to practice.
Check out this great drill which will have you getting it close from all different sorts of lies and positions around the green.
Under and Over
So before we start we need to get our hands on some props. All you need is two bottles or boxes about 20 inches high (maybe even a little higher) and a stick about 6 feet long which you can lay across the top of them so you form an arch or a small hockey goal.
Now you need to place your hockey goal (two bottles and a stick) right on the edge of the green.
Now the fun begins!
Take five golf balls and set them down just 1 foot behind the hockey goal, yes just 1 foot. Now your aim here is to chip each of the five balls over the edge of the fringe and land them on the green.
However, you must make sure that the ball goes underneath the stick and it must stay on the green Do this 3 times making sure that you get each ball underneath the stick and staying on the green. If you hit the chip over the stick, or the ball does not stay on the green, or it knocks down your hockey goal then you must start from the
beginning
Once you have completed 3 sets of 5 chips from a foot, repeat the exercise from 2 feet, 4 feet, and 8 feet.
If you hit the chip over the stick, or the ball does not stay on the green, or it knocks down your hockey goal at any point then you must start from the beginning. And when I say the beginning, I mean from the one-foot chips. Yes, you must start from the one-foot chips.
This is a great drill because it really focuses you on making solid contact with the ball. You will also find that you will pinch the ball off of the turf and this in itself will impart check spin on the ball.
Well, that’s the under part of the drill.
Now for the over part of the drill.
This is similar but this time you are not going to alter the position from which you hit the balls but the position of your hockey goal.
Find yourself a long green (about 40 yards if possible) and position the hockey goal about 5 yards onto the green.
Now set your 5 balls down about two to three feet off of the green (give yourself a good lie) and make sure you are directly facing your hockey goal.
Now the aim here is similar to the under.
But this time you must first chip all 5 balls over the hockey goal.
Once you have completed 3 sets of 5 chips with the hockey goal five yards away, repeat the exercise with the hockey goal 10 yards away, 15 yards away, and finally 20 yards away.
If you hit the chip under the stick, or the ball does not stay on the green, or it knocks down your hockey goal at any point then you must start from the beginning. And when I say the beginning, I mean chipping over the hockey goal from 5 yards away. Yes, you must start from the beginning again.
This is a great drill because it really focuses you on committing to get the ball up and carrying a certain distance. This drill is really good because the further your hockey goal is away from the edge of the green the more lofted club you have to use.
Now with this drill, you will make plenty of mistakes and this one will really test your patience. But stick with it and it will reward your patience by helping you when you get out on the course for a proper round.
Good luck and enjoy your golf.
Richard Smith is the founder of the The Big Golf Lesson http://www.biggolflesson.com. The website offers a FREE 14 part email course for golfers wishing to improve their golf game and lower their handicap
Comment here