Chipping - The 7 Iron Shot

Sometimes referred to as a 'bump and run", this is by far the best way to get the ball close to the hole for the majority of amateur golfers!

The 7 iron chip shot is so effective due to its sheer simplicity. By making the shot simple we can drastically lower the margin of error as compared to the classic ship shot.

When the ball is in a position just off the green surface take your seven iron out of the bag and follow these simple instructions.

1. Get into a setup position exactly the same as you would during a full swing shot.
2. Choke down about two or three inches on the club.
3. Move slightly closer to the ball to accommodate the choke.
4. Make a stoke similar to a putting stroke only slightly harder.

When first bringing this shot into your repertoire it is a good idea to spend a while practicing it first. The main reason this shot needs practice is to get the feel of the shot and to familiarize one self with the distance control needed with different sized swings.

Because the seven iron has much more loft than the putter it will be necessary to make a putting stroke which is slightly larger than one used with a putter, for a putt of the same length. This is a result of some of the energy of the stroke being used to hit the ball up (due to the loft of the club) rather than in causing 100% of the energy directed to forward movement as is the case with a putt on the greens surface.

Please keep in mind that this shot can only be used when a situation arises in which the carry distance of the shot (or the distance it needs to travel in the air) is short enough to land the ball on the green (or the fringe) and still allow for the ball to come to a stop near the hole. Remember the ball will roll according to the undulations of the green.

TheGolfExpert