Make Solid Contact On Chips Into The Grain

Chad Phillips

Chad Phillips

Golf Digest Best in Georgia, Top Junior Coach, Director of Instruction - Pinetree Country Club

Into-the-grain chips can be humbling as they make even good technique look silly. The first step in being successful from this lie is to identify it. Make practice swings to determine the grain flow direction.

If you find that you’re swinging into the grain, try putting the ball back in your stance, stand closer to the ball with the shaft very upright (think putter lie angle). This will remove the heel of the wedge from the ground. Close the face slightly.

From there, lead the strike with the handle, producing a descending blow on the toe of the club. This will raise the likelihood of solid contact leading to increased control of your distances.