The Skull-Proof Chip Shot (by Tom Patri, Golf Magazine, 2011)

Save strokes by using your flatstick instead of your wedge
.

THIS STORY IS FOR YOU IF…

YOUR PITCHING AND CHIPPING ARE WEAK.
YOU WASTE A LOT OF STROKES AROUND THE GREEN.

THE SITUATION
You’ve come up short on your approach and the ball is sitting in a smooth collection area but nonetheless off the green. While you’re pretty good at keeping the ball in play, you waste a ton of strokes in situations like this because your chipping and pitching aren’t great. You don’t feel confident with your wedges, particularly from tight lies, and as a result you have a hard time getting up and down when you miss the green. You need a better strategy.

THE SMART PLAY
When you miss a green and the ball sits on a tight lie in the fairway, chipping area, or anywhere else that makes using a wedge difficult, you need to start using your putter instead of your wedges. If you feel self-conscious doing this, or think that all good players rely on their wedges in these situations, just watch a tape of any British Open and you’ll change your mind in a hurry. Even the best players use their putters when they can–it’s a higher-percentage play that takes the question of solid contact out of the equation. Here’s how to do it.

.
STEP 1
Set up with the ball in the middle of your stance and the handle of the putter just ahead of your zipper. You don’t want a lot of forward press here–just enough to ensure you strike the ball solidly. The key to success with your putter from off the green is creating true roll.

.
STEP 2
Take a good long look at the flagstick and pick a target that accounts for both the slope and the break, just as you would for a normal putt. Let your eyes gauge the distance and form a picture of the ball rolling over the grass and onto the green before you make your stroke.

.
STEP 3
Stroke the ball with confidence while keeping your head down as you swing. You’ll be tempted to look up, but keep your eyes focused on impact until the ball is well on its way (at the very least, stay in your posture). Solid contact is an absolute must here.
.
.
.
.