PGA Tours: How To Chip It Like "The Big Easy"

Over the years Ernie Els has been a great chipper. This skill has allowed him to score low when his long game is on song and when its off still gives him opportunities to shoot under par.

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PTGC co director Lawrie Montague and I both share the same philosophy that "if you don't have a short game, you don't have any game" to shoot low scores! Now you also can be a great chipper by observing how Ernie is able to chip it close shot after shot using a simple repeating action.

Pic 1. Shows him in set up with his weight favoring his left side knees flexed and providing a stable base throughout the swing. Notice the position of his hands opposite the left thigh which creates a slight angle in the back of his right wrist.

This angle is critical to you being able to impact the ball with a slight leaning shaft ensuring the ball is contacted first and then the ground.

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Pic 2. All Ernie has done is maintained his address posture and made a pivot or turn with his chest away from the ball. Can't be any more simple.

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Pic 3. If there is a position you want to emulate its this one. The angle in the back of his wrist is still the same as at address and backswing and all he has done is turned his chest back and transported the arms and club back to impact . Notice the clubhead has made a divot and the ball has popped up with no scoop or help from the hands. He has kept his weight in the same position up to this point

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Pic 4. Ernie has continued turning his chest to the finish keeping his arms and club infront of him with the angle in the right wrist still the same as it was at throughout the swing. Observe the relaxed posture and the lack of tension in the arms.

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This chip will have very little spin so is very predictable and easy to repeat. The ball will land check slightly on the second bounce and release the same way every time. Control the speed and length of swing with the chest turn back and through. Take this technique to your next training session and start to "own it" and you are bound to chip it close and see your scambling statistics improve.

Good Golfing

David Milne