Chip or pitch—position of the wrists

The position of the wrists affects the club faces loft and direction as well as the path of the club head The chip shot is a lowrunning shot which is played with a delofted club face

Updated At : 06:14 AM Mar 22, 2016 IST

Jesse Grewal

The position of the wrists affects the club face’s loft and direction as well as the path of the club head. The chip shot is a low-running shot, which is played with a de-lofted club face. The left wrist is bowed at impact (for right-handed golfers), which lowers the balls trajectory. In a pitch shot the left wrist is flat at impact, thereby maintaining the original loft of the club. The difference between both these shots can be created during the backswing.

Place a pen or a tee between the thumb and index finger of the right hand (picture 5). The pen would be pointing a little to the right of the club’s shaft. During the backswing of the chip shot, the pen or tee would point out in front of you at approximately at 45 degrees (picture 2). When viewed from the front, the club face would look de-lofted and a little closed. The right wrist bends slightly backwards and the left wrist is slightly bowed.

If you are wearing a watch on your left hand, it would be facing partly downwards (picture 4). This position brings the club head slightly behind the hands as the backswing gets longer, which produces an in-to-out downswing with a club face shut to this path, making the ball come out with less backspin and thereby getting it to roll further — which is desired for a chip.

The backswing for a pitch has the club face opening by maintain a cupped position of the left wrist. The right wrist maintains its original angle and does not bend backwards. The pen is pointing upwards (picture 1) with the leading edge of the club pointing upwards too. When viewed from the front, the club face is open and the watch is facing directly in front (picture 3). This also takes the club head outwards on the backswing and creating a slightly steeper downswing, generating more backspin.

Vary your backswing to vary your shots around the green.

(Grewal is currently the Director of National Golf Academy of India and CGA Hero Honda Golf Academy. If you have any queries get in touch with him at parexcellence@tribunemail.com)