Around the green, different scenarios call for different types of shots. Tandi von Ruben takes us through the high and soft cut chip shot.
A solid short game can make up for a bad day of ball- striking, meaning that you can produce a reasonable score despite having a rough day with your long game.
There are many ways to approach chip shots around the green but in this tip I would like to explain what I call the cut chip. This high-spinning chip shot is ideal when you have limited green to work with or your lie is less than desirable. It can be played with a lob- or sandwedge.
HERE IS HOW TO SET UP
Play the ball in line with your back foot (for a right-handed golfer this will be your right big toe). The feet should be about a clubhead spacing apart with your weight preset to 60 percent on the left-hand side. The ball is back in the stance and the weight forward, guaranteeing a ball-first strike.
You want to open the clubface up 45 degrees and then take your grip. As the club is open 45 degrees, you will then have to adjust your alignment slightly more to the left to offset the open clubface – hence the name cut chip.
From this set-up there are two important things to remember. First, the club now has more loft, as you have opened it up, and will have the ball coming out higher, which means you need to slightly increase the length of the stroke to fly the shot the desired distance. Second, make sure you swing along your body line, even though you have opened up your stance slightly towards the left. If you swing along the line towards the target, you will strike it thin – it is called a cut chip because you cut across the shot with an open clubface to generate more height and spin.
BE WARNED
This cut chip shot is more risky than a standard square chip. However, once you have developed the confidence to execute the shot correctly, it is a valuable play to have in your arsenal, especially off indifferent lies.
Tandi von Ruben is a Ladies European Tour pro who also teaches out of Martin Whitcher Golf Schools at Randpark Golf club. Contact her on 072 650 5113.
