Extended Club Drill

Mike Feeney, PGA, Head Golf Pro, StoneRidge Country Club

At This time of year, when the “StoneRidge” greens are rolling around 12 to13 on the stimpmeter, your short game becomes even more important to you.  Some of you don’t hit every green out there, which makes chipping the ball close to the hole the next important shot for all golfers.  One of the most common things I see golfers do is break their wrists when chipping.  If that happens, there is a good chance that you will either chunk your shot (hit it fat) or skull the shot (hit it thin), both are never fun to have happen.  The most accurate and consistent chippers are those who keep their wrists firm.  The purpose of the firm wrist is to prevent you from popping the ball up or getting too much backspin.

The goal when chipping is to keep the ball low and get it rolling on the green as soon as possible.  A good drill that I use to help students and myself is to use an Extended Golf Club.  Hold an extra club against your primary club so the 2nd club's grip extends two feet past the top of your first club extending up your left side behind your shoulder. If your wrists break down during the follow-through thereby throwing the clubhead forward, the extended shaft will tap you on your left side, giving you a friendly reminder about firm wrists when chipping.  We also have made an Extended Golf Club that is in the golf shop, so please come by and use it if you need to.  Below is an illustration of the drill.

                          

Try the split grip for a firm wrist                                        Keep wrists firm for consistency

Lastly, please ask yourself: “Am I really practicing the right way?” Most of us have heard that your short game is two thirds of your golf game. Are you really practicing your short game two thirds of your time? How often do you practice? If you are only coming out to play golf, then your game isn’t really getting better. Perfect practice makes better golf.