WNYPGA Tip: Chipping around the green

PENFIELD, N.Y. (WROC) — Around the green, there are many shots in a good golfer’s arsenal. John LaCrosse, Assistant Professional at Penfield Country Club, is here to add one more to your toolbox.

The shot we’re going to be breaking down is a bump and run from the fringe when the distance is a little too long for your putter.

But the idea is the same.

“We’re going to actually play this more like a putt, but with the putt getting up in the air a little bit,” said LaCrosse.

He likes to use a 56 or 50-degree wedge and have all ten fingers on the club, rather than sticking with an interlock or overlap grip.

“It gives me a little better feel,” said LaCrosse. “This is not a power shot, this is a feel shot.”

Changing your grip isn’t the only thing he recommends. LaCrosse says to open your stance, putting your front foot back about four or five inches.

“I want to turn to turn to the left, not just with my feet, but my whole body,” said LaCrosse.

The benefits of this are twofold. One, it allows you to see your target area better, rather than looking out of the corner of your eye. It also helps your hands stay forward, delofting the club.

When you’re setting up for the shot, put the ball on the inside of your back foot. Then, put your weight forward, the left side for a right-handed golfer.

“It’s imperative that you don’t lean back on this shot, because you’re just fighting yourself. You’ve got everything going forward,” said LaCrosse. “As soon as you start going forward and leaning back, it becomes counterproductive.”

Keep your hands in front of your clubhead to deloft the club and keep it a chip, not a pitch shot.

“The mistake I see mostly is people breaking their wrists on a shot like this,” said LaCrosse. “I’m only trying to go about 35 feet. I just want to get the ball up in the air a couple of feet, let it check up, and roll to the hole.”

“I’m just going to make sure that my hands are very loose, very light,” LaCrosse added. “My wrists stay where they are, I don’t break my wrists at any point until after my shot is done. And that’s usually after the ball has landed.”

He says that the best reason to use this chip instead of a pitch is that like when using a putter, “putting” with your wedge is going to be a much safer shot.

“I think it’s more controllable. Your misses are going to be less,” said LaCrosse. “If I hit this shot thin, it’s just not going to go as far as a pitch shot when I break my wrists. The margin for error is better on something like this than trying to hit a pitch shot. Because you’ve got to get that club perfectly under that ball on a very tight lie, and that’s a tough shot.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.