Golf Tips - How To Chip Out Of Trouble With Your Putter

Golf Tips - How To Chip Out Of Trouble With Your Putter

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Many amateur golfers find chipping one of the harder shots in golf - especially if you have a tough lie or there are low branches to shoot your ball under. It is easy to thin the ball, duff the ball or hit an obstacle.
In this article I am going to tell you how to chip from tricky situations but using your putter. This is a much 'safer' shot than using an iron or a wedge for a number of reasons which I explain below.

Many top golf professionals believe putting is often the safer shot than chipping, and in some situations it cannot be avoided. But you'd be surprised how often you can use your putter to get you out of trouble and through some tricky obstacles.


When should I consider using my putter to chip?
This shot won't work in all situations, but if you find yourself in amongst the trees then it is quite likely that the ground will be fairly bare. This is especially true if there are pine trees since the grass cannot grow due to the acid in the pines.
You can also consider using your putter when you've missed a fairway and need to get the ball back in play. I'll talk about this in more detail a little later, but in either of these situations you should consider using your putter.


How To Chip out of trouble situations with your putter around the green
Your putter has only one or two degrees of loft, so this means it will keep the ball nice and low to avoid hitting any low lying branches.
Before you attempt the shot make sure that you remove any loose impediments. In simple terms this is anything that is not growing, but be careful not to move your ball if it's lying on any loose impediments.
In terms of the actual stroke itself:
  • Set yourself up as per any other putt but make sure you have a good footing if the ground is loose
  • Have the ball a little further forward than you normally would - this is to promote a very slight 'topping' of the ball to help it roll over the top of the impediments a little better
  • Don't be afraid to give it quite a good 'whack'. Judging the pace with these shots needs some practice

    • This is a much better way to chip the ball and reliably get yourself out of trouble. It is also easier to thread the golf ball through tight gaps with a putter...
    There are a number of other advantages to using your putter when you're faced with a shot of this type, especially if there is trouble at the other side of the green such as water. All of your irons are designed to make the ball 'shoot' off the face, but your putter doesn't work this way - it has a slightly 'dead' contact and is therefore less likely to shoot the ball across the other side of the green.


    Try using your putter to get your ball back into play
    As I mentioned earlier, another great golf tip is to use your putter as a recovery club if you need to get your ball back onto the fairway. If you take a really good swing at it you can really get some distance going. 50 yards is certainly possible, but try not to damage your putter!
    Good luck with this golf tip. I've seen the best scrambler in the world use this shot from a bunker once - the great and sadly missed Steve Ballesteros. If it worked for him I am sure it will work for you too.

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