Bobby Eldridge Golf

Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Online Golf Lessons

If you want to improve your short game you have to learn how to chip the golf ball with solid contact.  I am going to explain to you exactly how to just that.  The address position for chipping the golf ball has three components.  Today I am going to tell what they are and how to apply them.

#1.  Ball position is critical for consistent impact.  It has to be in the middle to middle back of your stance.  If it is too far forward you will hit up on it and top the ball or hit it thin most of the time.  The other reason you want it in the middle to middle back of your stance is so the clubhead will approach the ball on a steep angle.

#2. The second part is to make sure you have 75% of your weight on your left foot at address.  Once you place the weight  on your left side, leave it there during the backswing and downswing.  If you stay put during the swing the clubhead will swing steep into the back of the golf ball and it will have the same flight and roll every time.

#3.  After you have placed the ball in the center of your stance and you leaned over to the left with 75% of your weight on your left leg, it is time now to move the handle over to your left side.  Remember when you address the golf ball the handle of the club is in the center of your body.  When you moved your weight over to the left, the center of your body is now on your left side.  That is why YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE HANDLE OVER TO THE CENTER OF YOUR BODY.

When you move the handle over to your left leg it will allow the club to swing UP in the backswing and DOWN in the downswing, thus creating a steep and consistent impact. 

If you follow these steps you will chip the golf ball better than ever.

Tags: Chipping by admin
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There is one thing about the game of golf: score cards don’t lie.  Ok I will agree with you on one point.  I have played a number of rounds in my life where I hit the ball very well, putted great and got nothing out of the round. 

On the other hand there have been many rounds where I couldn’t find the golf course.  I was lucky no one got hurt.  However at the end of the day when I added up the score card I was very pleased with the number. 

You have to keep in mind that golf is NOT one round.  It is a lifetime experience.  The only way you are going to improve is to continue to punch holes in your score card and find out what part of your game needs work.  That does not happen in one round of golf.

I know you are wondering where you should start.  There are a couple of stats that jump out at me.  Start with the driver.  You have to track every tee shot.  Keep a blank score card in your pocket and after every tee shot record whether you hit the fairway or missed to the left or right. 

The next statistic that will help you lower your score is did you short side your approach shot?  It doesn’t matter if it is the first, second, third or even fourth shot of the hole.  Did you short side yourself?  The definition of short siding is when you leave your approach shot in a position where you don’t have any green to work with. 

Everytime you prepare to approach a green you have to ask yourself the 10 million dollar question.  What side is the short side?  The safe side might leave you with a 30 yard pitch shot with nothing but a tiny fringe and then the putting green in front of you.  The short side might leave you with a 7 yard LOB shot over a bunker with a 12 foot lip and a slope running straight down hill to the hole.  You do the math.  It doesn’t take many of those a day to ruin a good round of golf.

Lastly, grade your attitude before you tee off, when you make the turn and when you walk off of the golf course.  It is a great stat to keep track of.  If you can maintain an upbeat and fun attitude your scores will reflect it.  I have gone on record for years as saying that I haven’t found a more enjoyable place to spend four hours than a golf course-when I am playing well and having fun.  On the other hand it is the most miserable place to be for four hours when you are struggling and not having fun.

Remember, if you use them correctly, score cards don’t lie.

Tags: Chipping, Driver, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Green Side Bunkers, LOB Wedge, Pitching, Putting, Short game, Solid Iron Shots, Trouble Shots by admin
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For you to become consist with your chipping you MUST have the golf ball in the center of your stance EVERY TIME.  The club head swings up in the backswing and when it returns in the downswing it has to return to the same spot in order for you to make ball turf contact consistently.

One of the ways for your chipping to become more consistent is to learn how to get the golf ball to fly (1/3 of the way) the exact distance every time.  If it flies the same distance every time then it will roll (2/3 of the way) every time. 

The challenge that many of you face is the ball flies half way to the hole one time, 3/4 of the to the hole the next, 1/3 of the way to the hole the next three times.  You don’t know which one is going to show up next.  When your chip shots are that inconsistent you wind up with no confidence. 

So why the importance of ball position?  After you address the golf ball, move 75% of your weight on to your left foot, then move the handle over to center of your body, you are ready to go.  Wait one minute.  If the ball is too far back in your stance, it will come out very low, won’t fly 1/3 of the way and will wind up running way past the hole.  If you address the golf ball too far forward in your stance, the club head will have too much loft at impact, the ball will fly half way to the hole, with way too much backspin.

There lies the problem with inconsistent impact and distance control with chipping.

Tags: Chipping, Short game by admin
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I know many of you love to use practice drills that will enable you to FEEL the correct way of making a change.  I have used this drill not only for my teaching but I have also used it myself over the years.  

Keep one thing in mind.  When you hit a shot to the right you either hit the ground behind it OR you catch the ball on the upswing and hit it thin or topped.  The reason you hit it thin is because the golf club is traveling too far from the INSIDE and is headed OUTSIDE. 

When you swing the golf club on an arc it travels from INSIDE to SQUARE (at impact) back to the INSIDE on the follow through.  The other thing you have to keep in mind is the flatter the club face the less divot you will have.  When you hit a thin 4 iron (it hurts) you will never see a divot unless you hit the ground behind the ball. 

Now, on to the drill.  Grab a 7 iron and lay two straight edges on the ground, (one for the target and one for your body line).  Lay a towel on the ground about 12 inches behind the ball. When you swing the club back make sure you miss the towel in the backswing and in the downswing. 

Another way to think of it is the golf club has to swing UP in the backswing and DOWN in the downswing.  When you hit it thin you swing to much UP in the downswing.  Start with a 9 iron and progress through your set of clubs.

Tags: Bunker Shots, Chipping, Fairway woods/Hybrids, Full Swing, Golf Instruction, Green Side Bunkers, Hybrids, LOB Wedge, Perfect Golf Swing Drills, Pitching, Short game, Solid Iron Shots, Trouble Shots, Wedges by admin
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When you stand over a chip shot there is a good chance you often say “I think I can make this”.  You make solid contact only to look up and see the ball five feet left of the hole.  The part that kills you is you had the right touch but the wrong direction.

When you pull your chip shots one of three things happens.  You either addressed the ball with the club face closed, swung the clubhead out to in or rolled the toe closed in the downswing.

Today I am going to share with you how to make sure you start with the club face square at address.  I have never seen an amateur address their chip shots with the club face too open, they either set it down square or closed. 

The easiest way to make sure you are addressing the golf ball with a square face is to lay a straight edge on the ground aiming in the direction you want the ball to start.  Place the ball about 3-4 inches away from the straight edge.  Set the club down and make sure the BOTTOM groove or LEADING edge of the club face is perpendicular to the straight edge.  (DO NOT TOE THE CLUB FACE IN)  

I already know what you are going to say…The club face now looks OPEN…it isn’t…try it out and you just might start holing out your chip shots.

Tags: Chipping by admin
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FOUR SECRETS TO HITTING SOLID CHIP SHOTS…

The correction is simple.  Below are the four secrets.

Secret #1-The golf ball has to be in the center of your stance at address. 

Secret #2-Your weight has to be 75% on your left foot and it must stay there during the backswing. 

Secret #3-The handle of the golf club must be across from your belt buckle at address.

Secret #4-The downswing is more of a chop with a VERY LOW FOLLOW THROUGH.  Make sure after impact that the leading edge stays close to the ground.

Join me tomorrow when I do a lesson on how to stop hooking your driver. 

Golfingly yours,

Bobby

Tags: Chipping by admin
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