Paula Creamer's Chipping Tip

Here's another Golf Digest instructional video, this one from Paula Creamer demonstrating a chipping drill. It's an interesting approach that I think could help you get crisper contact.

Watch this on The Scene

Here's the idea: Placing your lead hand for your lead thigh after which chipping together with your path hand forces you to do a range of of things:

• It eliminates some of the excess upper body movement you may have picked up. Keeping you steady over the ball improves your contact.
• The single-arm swing forces you to swing the club rather than muscle it. As a result, you'll develop better rhythm in your stroke and you'll stop flipping your hand at impact.
• By keeping your lead hand against your thigh, you'll be forced to turn your body more through impact. That will improve the consistency of your swing path and, as a result, your distance control will improve as well.

One other note that Paula makes a point of mentioning: Don't just swing the membership back and forth together with your path hand. The idea isn't to pretend you're a pendulum on a grandfather clock! This drill is supposed to improve your chipping, and you don't make several chips at one time. Treat each stroke as an individual chip and give each chip the same attention you would during a round.

This is a totally easy drill that requires no unique strategies but can teach you a few fairly complex concepts. Give it a strive all through your next short game practice session.