TomTuckerGolf.com
Golf Tips Newsletter
Issue 594 - Wed. February 5th, 2020
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USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
WGTF "Top 100" Teacher
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach

 

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Tom's Featured Tip: Q&A: Bounce Chip
Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
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Tom's Featured Tip: Q&A: Bounce Chip
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.

I recently received an interesting email from Eric B. regarding using the bounce of the club for chipping:

Hey Tom,

Hope everything is well with you. Thought I'd share with you a new chip/pitching technique (for me) that I've been exploring this winter.

Very different from what I've done in the past. Thought it might be an interesting topic for your newsletter as an alternative chip/pitch method?

I've found this newer technique to be much more forgiving and accurate for me (and requires less practice to stay sharp)

Working on the "tight lies" of the mats at Avid (indoor golf simulator), and from my one trip to Florida for golf, has confirmed this for me (so far....). Feels more natural and seems to require less thinking.

My Old technique:
Weight slightly forward, ball slightly back in stance, hands/shaft ahead of the ball, steeper swing, hold the angle (don't let the wrists break)

This New technique:
"Using the bounce" = ball slightly forward in stance, hands/shaft even with the ball, weight evenly balanced, flatter swing, and let the club release naturally (no conscious hold of the angle)

Below are the video's that have influenced my new short game method. 3 different instructors, presenting this concept in slightly different ways.
(editors note: I didn't include the videos because there are plenty on YouTube and to be honest I didn't want to drag you away from this article.☺)

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Peace,
Eric

Thanks for the email Eric. First of all, golf is a game of discovery, and I congratulate Eric for discovering - and working on - a technique that apparently works well for him.

When I give my chipping lesson, I spend about 85% of the time on compression chipping, which is basically what Eric described as his "Old Technique", and about 15% of the time on using the bounce of the club, what Eric describes as his "New Technique".

For initiated golfers that have good hand and wrist fundamentals, I may spend more time on the bounce technique.

Here's why I teach with that allotted percentage.

The vast majority of the students that come to me have the habit of flipping the club through impact. That's the first thing that needs to be corrected. "Flipping" means that they let the shaft get too straight at impact adding loft to the club. This causes a shot trajectory that flies higher than it should, and has diminished compression at impact. And that's if the student doesn't hit it fat due to the club getting "too long too soon" at impact. In other words, the student changed their swing radius from what it was in their setup and hit the ground before the ball. The cause is usually overactive wrists and hands.

I believe that Eric's old technique is safer overall for most recreational players, but if you take the time to get good at using the bounce I might lean that way. But it takes work and a clear understanding of what you want to do.

Here are a couple things to consider
  • The compression chip is a better option for a tight lie on a hard fairway. If you try to use the bounce chip with this type of lie, and if you flinch when the bounce of the club hits the ground, you'll skull the shot and end up with a terrible result.

  • The bounce chip may be a good option off a tight lie with forgiving turf or a slightly fuzzy lie. Again, you need to be used to the sensation of the bounce making turf contact, and you not flinching as a result. It's been my personal experience that it takes some reps to get used to that feeling.

  • Let me use this analogy: I'd use a compression chip off a cart path, but I'd never even try a bounce chip off the same surface.
Eric's technique descriptions were very good, I do have a couple of suggestions (in red).

Eric's Old technique (compression chip)
  • weight slightly forward,
  • ball slightly back in stance,
  • hands/shaft ahead of the ball, forward shaft lean
  • steeper swing, it feels that way due to ball position and weight distribution
  • hold the angle (don't let the wrists break)
  • maintain the setup swing radius of your arms
  • think "squish the ball" at impact. This may sound weird, but I've been teaching this for three years now and the results have been outstanding.
Eric's New technique (bounce chip)
  • ball slightly forward in stance,
  • hands/shaft even with the ball, less forward shaft lean than the compression chip, but I do prefer the hands to be just slightly ahead of the ball
  • weight evenly balanced,
  • flatter swing, it feels that way due to ball position and weight distribution
  • maintain the setup swing radius of your arms
  • and let the club release naturally (no conscious hold of the angle) For a bounce chip, I absolutely prefer to hold the shaft angle to avoid scooping the ball and for a consistent trajectory. For pitch shots, however, allow the hands to release. The pitch shot requires a more dynamic swing than a chip, so the bounce contact with the turf won't be as noticeable.
  • think "sweep the ball" at impact. Again, this may sound weird, but I've been teaching this for three years now and the results have been outstanding.
Here are a few links to some past newsletters on bounce and chipping technique, enjoy - and thanks again for the excellent email Eric! Don't be afraid to try this bounce chip technique out, you might like it!

Comments: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com

Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,

Tom



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All the best,

Tom Tucker
Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
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