Chip and catch
Ready when: Swing and finish in balance (b3) done.
What you are learning
The chip: a narrow stance, hands slightly ahead of the ball, a half swing and a full follow-through, so the ball lifts in a small arc, flies a short way and rolls to the target. Chips get the ball close to the hole from just off the green.
Words on this card Club, Stance, Green, Hole, Chip, Carry, Backswing
- Club
- The stick used to hit the ball. A set has clubs of different lengths and angles.
- Stance
- How the feet stand before the swing.
- Green
- The smooth, very short grass round the hole, where players putt.
- Hole
- The hole in the green, with a flag standing in it.
- Chip
- A short shot that flies low a little way and then rolls.
- Carry
- How far the ball flies in the air, and how far it rolls after it lands.
- Backswing
- The club going back, the club swinging on past the ball, and the balanced pose at the end.
Set up
A club, soft balls, a hoop, a partner beside the hoop with a bucket, a safe zone.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand with the feet close together, the ball near the back foot, hands slightly ahead of it.
- Swing back to hip height only.
- Swing through and follow through fully toward the hoop; the ball pops up and rolls.
Your part while they practise
Hold the bucket at the side of the hoop; stay behind the line when others hit.
Step by step
- A narrow stance, hands slightly ahead of the ball.
- A half swing.
- A full follow-through so the ball lifts in an arc, flies a short way and runs.
How much: 10 chips, 3 rounds 10 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Chip and catch
A point if the ball lands in the hoop, three if the partner catches it in the bucket.
Who plays: a chipper and a catcher; swap after 10 chips.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Put the hoop 10 m away; the catcher stands beside it with the bucket
- The chipper chips 10 balls at the hoop
- The catcher may move the bucket to catch a ball in the air, but must keep one foot touching the hoop
- Fair play
- A grown-up chips from 15 m.
- Points
- 1 point for a ball that lands in the hoop; 3 points for a ball caught in the bucket.
- Fouls
- No points for that chip
- A full swing instead of a half swing
- Hitting while the catcher is not ready
- The catcher stepping away from the hoop
- Winning
- More points after 10 chips each.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 8 points for 2 stars
- 12 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
10 m, a tennis ball.
20 m, a plastic ball.
What you will see, and what to say
- the ball flies too high
Hands ahead, brush the ball
The hands lead the club. - the chip is thin
Look at the back of the ball
Eyes stay on the ball.
Self-check
4 of 10 chips land inside a 3 m circle.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the wrist.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains chipping, distance.
awiseathlete.com/sports/golf/golf-i1