by Mark Shimamura

Chipping is a type of shot that is attempted when your golf ball is very close to the putting green but not close enough to use your putter. A majority of the time is because the grass your ball is resting in doesn’t allow you to use your putter. This particular “chip tip” is helpful when you have a clear path and ample distance between your ball to the hole. So many players automatically pull their sand wedge from their bag to hit this shot. A typical sand wedge shot will loft the ball higher into the air and makes it a bit more challenging to judge how hard to hit the ball. Next time, instead of using a sand wedge, try using an 8 or 9 iron to hit the ball lower. Your ball will “land” on the green sooner and react more like a putt. And we all know, most golfers feel more comfortable and confident when they are putting instead of chipping.

Mark Shimamura is the Golf Professional at Maui Country Club