Plus Another Chip and Pitching Tip.
Ya’ll did a good job the other day catching and pointing out the two big mistakes I made in the daily article. The key is I would like to say they were intentional. But since I don’t want my nose to grow longer, I have to admit that they were bona fide mistakes. I got the stats directly from the PGA Tour web site in the stats section under the scrambling list. The Tiger’s scrambling stat was correct at 68.16%. Steve Stricker’s 68.46 was a typo and should be” 66.46.” So tiger is definitely #1.
The second Faux Pas was the gas gauge tip. I wrote, “When addressing a chip or pitch your forward arm is the full side of the gauge and your left arm is the empty side. The key is to make sure that when you hit a chip or pitch that you keep your gas gauge needle ALWAYS on FULL.” As many of you correctly pointed out, the empty side, since I started with forward, should have been the back arm. I have been asked, and am trying to write and say, when I teach more forward and back rather than right and left, it’s to help out the lefties to not have to play switching arms when reading my articles. I obviously got twisted around between the forward/back and right/left and missed it in my rereads as well. My editor also missed it! I was rushing as I had to get to Charlotte for an afternoon lesson.
While giving that extra long lesson to JF from Philly, we covered the swing from the setup to the finish. We also discussed chipping and pitching. When covering those I mentioned the two tips I just wrote about for the daily article. I described the gas gauge needle that stays on full and the bicycle pole down the hole in the grip, which should never hit you in the left side as it stays under the forward arm. But then I thought of and gave him another tip/drill that will help you feel the setup and swing needed for judging the launch and loft of a chip or pitch shot, which can also help you choose the club for the shot.
I demonstrated this using two techniques as a way to judge, sense and feel the impact, follow through, launch angle and roll out of a chip or pitch. The drill is to imagine tossing a golf ball underhanded to the spot you want the ball to land on the green for the air time, then the roll out you want to the hole.
The first way is I get around 15 to 20 feet from the student facing him/her. I tell the student I am going to toss an imaginary ball to them and to watch where my arm swings to and releases the ball, and the height of the ball. The first toss is toward his/her feet, like a chip shot. I swing my arm back and forth and release the ball when my hand is still low in the arc, just barely past the bottom. My torso/spine is actually bent forward/down a little for this low release. Next, I tell them I am tossing it at their knees. The release point is higher in my forward arc, and the spine bent forward less. Next I toss to their belt buckle. The release is higher, the spine stays higher and the ball is tossed higher. Lastly, I toss it over their head. My arm backswing is longer and the forward swing is also longer with a much steeper forward upswing, which causes my spine to tip a little backwards. Naturally, this toss is simulating a real high launch, similar to a pop or lob shot.
For the second tossing demo I use the golf cart as my prop, standing around 10 to 12 feet from it. Now, instead of tossing the ball to the student, I toss the ball, like hitting a chip, toward the side of the cart on the driver’s side. The student is still standing in front of me face on. The point now is that he/she can see the shoulder and spine angles change as the release point goes from low to high to match the launch angle desired. In other words, “The setup determines the motion.”
Starting from the low launch, I toss the “imaginary” ball under the cart floorboard. My setup has the spine tilted forward and weight forward on the front leg and the shoulders are level to the ground. The release point is just past the bottom of the arc in the forward swing as it was in the face on toss. My spine stayed forward to cause the lower release. The point is that like hitting full shots, “The setup determines the motion.” From this view the student sees that my spine moving forward set my weight on my forward leg. In a real low chip shot, we set our weight on the forward leg in the setup, which sets up the lower release.
Next, I toss the ball between the floor and the steering wheel. The setup is less forward, with the spine more neutral and the shoulders still somewhat level. But with the slightly higher release point, the right shoulder will slightly tilt downward to swing the hand up more to release the ball higher between the floor and steering wheel.
Next the toss is between the steering wheel and the under the roof. The setup moves back a little more neutral with the weight evenly distributed between the feet. The spine is now neutral but the shoulders now have a slight tilt front to back. This allows the arm to swing more up for the higher release point and you may feel the back shoulder move downward a little to increase the upswing.
Finally, I toss the ball over the roof. The weight shifts to back more and onto the back foot in the setup, the spine tilts more to the back foot and the shoulders tilt more downward. This arm swing is “extreme up” and similar to a lob or flop shot. This also means the shoulders will swing down and stay under and back more. You will also feel the weight stay back on the back foot longer as this lob swing is somewhat of a reverse weight shift. This hang back or stay back weight position is one of the big reasons why the lob shot is difficult. It takes practice to get a solid swing under and nip the ball impact and not chunk it or skull it.
These drills take some explaining but they are really simple. It helps you to sort of melt right into the needed setup position for each release needed for the desired launch angle of the shot you want to hit. It helps you feel and sense how changing and controlling your spine angle controls the swing and release point. The “Bonus” of the “Cart Toss” drill for chipping and pitching is that it also relates 100 percent to the “Full Swing.”
The Surge!
Tell me what you're thinking... and what part of the golf swing, or this great game... you'd like to know more about. If you want your pic to show with your comment, go get a 
I need help with uneven lies. Thanks, John
Surge, Your most recent tip on chipping and pitching completely confused me. I don’t understand the relationship between spine tilt and weight more on the front foot or back foot. I have always thought you always chipped with your weight on your front foot and that spine angle was determined by the length of the club. Please clarify, maybe with some pictures or video. Thanks, Steve
Hi Don, I am new to your website. I really rnjoyed reading you chip and pitching tips, and am anxious to try them out. One question. Is the ball played from the same position regardless of spine angle or loft desired? also, I am not sure what a “white list” is but I have put you in my “contact” list. joe
I use my 8 or 9 iron for chipping, depending on the distance…. my swing length changes as well…. but I’ve had some instructors tell me to change clubs depending on distance, and use the same swing length no matter what – let the club determine the distance… what do you think?
Hello Don, I bought your product ( THE 4 DVD’S ) , when will I GET THEM, It,s my second request. Please let me know when will I receive them. Gerald
Hi,how can i stop shanking with the wedges ? THANKS ERNIE
Nice to see DJ in the hunt this week. Good luck!
Hi Don, I enjoy and look forward to your daily words of wisdom. I find I gain a better understanding of the information when the audio commentary is present and I can read the text as you talk. I know this takes extra time but please talk to us when you can. You’re doing great! Keep it up.
“Surge”,
I just attended the Frys.Com Open yesterday and specifically was looking for DJ on the driving range. I have been working on the PPGS, believe in it and wanted to watch DJ’s swing. Well, i’ve got to tell you, i was hugely disappointed. To me, certainly an “un-trained” eye, his swing didn’t look any different from many of the other young pros out there on the range. I didn’t see a backswing to the 12:00 position, and to me that was one of the main keys. Can you please explain / or clarify? I was also hoping you would be there and looked forward to meeting you and perhaps discussing the PPGS in total.
Vince Salotti
trying to understand playing golf ( or any other sport for that matter) using only the written word
is really, really tough….. the saying ‘ a picture is worth a thousand words’ is the truth.
You fill the page and by the time I get to the end, most times I don’t have the slightest idea how I would use what I just read, at practice, or on the course, the next day.
On the other hand some of the short golf video’s on Youtube are really great for ’seeing’ the right way to chip, putt, and use a driver……they beat ‘the written word by at least 275 yards’
Several times each round I pitch or chip what looks like a shank. Always happens with wedges. Sometimes happens with a full swing too.
I do not think I am hitting the ball off the hozle. It feels more like I am slicing across the ball with the club face open. The resultant rightward, shank-like ball flight is both humiliating and discouraging. Any ideas?
For GolfGurl: Chips are generally played with either a 6, 7 or 8 iron. The idea is to get the ball on the green and rolling as soon as possible. If it is a long chip then possibly the 6 etc. A shot I have used over the years and which has saved me a lot of shots is the “modified” chip. i.e. The chip is hit using the putting grip and the stroke is just back and through like the putting stroke. It is extremely useful for very DIFFICULT chips such as when you are off the green and facing a very downhill green to the hole and require great touch to keep it from rolling clear off the green. I have seen Tiger use this approach and some other pros also.
I didn’t notice any “errors” as Australian cars generally have empty on left and full on right, just as you counselled. The instruction was very valuable as most handicap golfers tend to scoop with their right hand and as you pointed out chunk the ball or blade it across the green. I am in the process of relearning the pitch/chip and have found that smooth tempo throughout the stroke is important and an aid to prevent scooping which occurs as we try to accelerate through impact.
PS: I,ll be in Melbourne (home is Perth on west coast) for the Australian Masters to watch Tiger Woods. As a money player he doesn’t spread himself off the tour like Jack Nicklaus- 6 Australian Open wins. Arnold Palmer also won an Aussie Open. As an Aussie I see Jack as the greatest. How many Aussie Open has/will Tiger win?
To Vince Solotti,
I have to disagree about your thoughts on DJ. I watched him up close for 2 intire rounds here in Las Vegas last week. Saw his swing from all angles dozens of times up close. He models the PPGS perfectly. As of today he is 3rd in greens in regulation in this weeks “FRYS”.
If he can make some more putts he’s close to a win.
Robert
Don I have to agree with many other posts here that you really need to demonstrate your more complicated tips (i.e. pitch and chip tips) by a short video rather than a long wordy explanation. My eyes started to glaze over as I tried to read and visualize your 10 paragraph narrative on pitch and chip. (”Ya’ll Are Paying Attention”)
Even just some quick drawings or graphics would help so your message with be totally clear. Heck, I’m an designer, I’ll do ‘em for free if you want to just help clarify!
BTW, love all the videos, worth every penny.
im in new zealand.my freind i love what your doing.been checking out your lessons for 4 weeks.
I can understand completely your instructions. there will be a lot of golfers ( as in any sport ) that have never had any professional instruction. These people are well meaning , but are desperate for real advise , and dont know who to ask !
I have been playing for 30 yrs , and realise that you cannot put an old head on young shoulders.
Of all the lessons in my life , yours are so easy to understand because you provide real examples for us to relate to. for example the chipping and the golf cart.
no-one on earth will ever conquer this game to their own satisfaction ! we will keep learning till we can no longer play.
Thanks for your input !!!! All of us are grateful
Go THE SURGE. thanks mate
Just had a thought about “Iron Byron”. This machine is used for testing all sorts of clubs and balls with a mechanical swing. This mechanical swing exerts a force that drives a ball x distance. i don’t know the rating or speed of the force this machine produces, however, it appears that the “swing” is longer than the PPGS. Has anyone set the machine so it would swing like the PPGS? Would there be a difference in speed? Maybe one of your brilliant friends could check it out.
Hi Don,
Just wanted to know I purchased your DVD’s over the net and I am extremely excited with the turnaround in my swing. I listened and watched every single DVD and Bonus videos. I then took that knowledge to the range. At first it was difficult because it was a whole new setup etc. I persisted and went again, still rubbish. Went home watched and listened yet again. At the driving range bingo every club in the bag was dead straight……not once or twice but consistently. The thought that got me was the don’t swing past the toe line. I think of that and also straight down the line and flush it almost every time. Thanks mate. It is very easy to apply, I think anyone could do this, as long as they had reasonable health, I don’t think age would be a barrier. I am 56 and completely changed my swing in 3 days.
Hi Surge,
In chip shot does it matter about my feet. I have found if I open up slighlty it helps me hit the ball square and on target versus parrell I tend to push slighlty right of target. My weight and hands are still forward on both set ups. Do you have a preference and is it okay to open slightly with feet about
6-8 inches apart.
thanks
Surge
Is there any way that I can listen and watch your instruction which I find very helpful, the problem I have is while giving instruction your voice stops and starts with a few words and then there is a break in what .you are saying. Its as if there is someone switching your voice on and off.HELP PLEASE. Is there any advantage in trying to get use to Graphite when I find its not like Steel Shafts
the only reason I am trying is because I have reached the age of 79 And have been told I would be better off with Graphite.
Dear Surge. I sent you a message last week about sending info to me. I would like you to send the new messages to me at seeunaz@msn.com after Nov. 14th. Thanks.
i am hitting my driver very high and losing distance. I play with a 9.5 degree Taylor Made driver shaped like a Vee and use a stiff shaft 45 gram. The ball is travelling about 200m and just drops and higher handicap golfers hit is lower and travel the same distance. I feel I am losing distance and if the wind comes up I cop it both ways. Am I getting too much spin on the ball causing lift, do i need to change my diver/shaft, set up etc to get a lower ball flight