While a downhill chip shot is close to the putting surface, it’s still one of the more difficult situations for amateur golfers to be in. That’s because there are a slew of club options to go with, and both the setup and mechanics must be precise to hit this type of shot perfectly.
Choose the wrong club, and you could have lots of distance left to the pin. If your weight distribution is off, you can either chunk or skull it.
Since so many things can go wrong when hitting a downhill chip shot, major champion and world No. 1-ranked player Scottie Scheffler wants to help you master this type of lie.
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In the video below (shot by TaylorMade), Scheffler demonstrates how he would approach this type of tricky shot, while also suggesting some alternatives that may be smarter options for amateurs.
And while Scheffler doesn’t miss many greens in regulation — he led the PGA Tour last season — he also ranked 10th in Scrambling, proving that he knows a thing or two about getting up and down to save par even when he does find himself just shy of the putting surface.
So take a look below to see what the 6-time Tour winner has to say about attacking this downhill chip shot.
How to dominate downhill chip shots like Scottie Scheffler does
As the video begins, Scheffler admits that there are several ways to approach a downhill chip shot, and says he’d either chip it with his lob wedge or just go the safer route by putting it.
“First, I’ll just teach you how to chip it with a lob wedge,” he says. “The only thing I’m focused on is making sure my body weight is going with the slope. So on this one, I’m going to feel a lot more weight forward, and then all I’m going to do is [make] a normal chipping motion.
“Have a nice wide stance, and I’m going to feel like I’m swinging down the slope. That’s really my only thought.”
With the weight forward and his shoulders feeling like they’re going down with the slope, he leaves the ball about five feet from the cup.
“It came off a little hot, but not a bad shot,” he says.
Given the difficulty of this type of chip shot — especially on such a tight lie using a 60-degree wedge — Scheffler then shows an alternative approach; putting from this type of lie.
“The other way to do it, which I would recommend for an amateur player, is to simply just putt a shot like this,” suggests Scheffler.
So why does Scheffler think that putting is a better approach for an amateur? Merely to simplify the shot.
“One thing that people tend to mess up is they [often] overcomplicate things. On a shot like this, a bad putt is probably going to be a lot better than a bad chip for most amateurs.”
He then demonstrates how to setup at address before taking the shot.
“Same thing [as with chipping]; weight a little bit more forward, shoulders feel like I’m going down the slope. From there, it’s just a simple putt.”
His putt actually produces a better result than his chip did, with the ball rolling to about 18 inches from the cup.
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Since hitting a downhill chip shot is difficult no matter where the pin placement is, Scheffler then shows how to be aggressive when the flag is tucked back on a green.
“I would probably take a club that I get a lot of run out of,” he says.
“I could hit this with a 60-degree, but I think it’s pretty simple to just hit it with a pitching wedge. That way I can fly the ball into this down grain, and just let it run the whole way to the pin.”
The setup and feel should mimic his previous shots with the lob wedge and putter.
“Use a normal grip and a get good wide base,” he instructs. “Get your body weight to feel like you’re going down the slope, so that it feels almost like a flat chip.
“Pick a spot where you’re going to land it, and just go.”
With tremendous touch and speed, Scheffler’s ball stops about two feet from the cup.
So when you’re faced with a tricky downhill chip shot, use some of Scheffler’s tips here to make the shot that’s most comfortable for your skill set. Whether that’s chipping or putting, weigh the risk versus the reward and confidently stick by your decision.
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