You don’t need a lot of hand or wrist action to pull off most chip shots, but some short-game situations scream for it.
Like with the lie I’m facing above: short-sided in the rough with a bunker between the ball and an elevated pin. Only a ton of loft — courtesy the right amount of hinge — will do.
How to loft chips over hazards
To practice adding loft to your run-of-the-mill chip shot, grab a scorecard, fold it in half and place it behind the ball, A-frame style as shown. Now chip.
If you use your normal technique, your club is sure to catch the scorecard either on the way back or as you swing into impact. To avoid the card, add some wrist hinge as soon as you start back and time its release so that you miss the card coming through. I
ncreasing your angle of attack like this is the secret to getting the ball up in the air quickly, capable of carrying anything between you and your shot at an incredible save.
Carol Preisinger is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and is the lead instructor at The Landings in Savannah, Ga.