Nick Dougherty's perfect chip and run

• Thursday, 9 October 2008
• Nick Dougherty
• 0 Comments

Nick Dougherty demonstrates the fundamentals of the chip and run shot

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There’s no doubt that a chip and run is your safest short game option. By taking a mid iron, making a more compact swing and bumping your ball onto the green, your chances of a good result increase.

There is no need to complicate this shot unnecessarily so just think of it like a long putt. With the small amount of loft on offer from a mid iron you’ll bump the ball into air before rolling it out smoothly to the hole. Take your normal putting grip and adopt the same posture you use on the green. The heel of the clubhead will inevitably sit off the ground – don’t worry about this, it will actually help you find the soft strike you need.

Like when hitting a long putt you need to prevent your wrists from hinging and causing a jerky, unreliable stroke. Importantly, the momentum for the swing should be generated by a simple rocking of the shoulders. Prevent your wrists from hinging and you’ll find a smooth, even tempo, essential for consistently judging the distance effectively.