Before I met Parker MacLachlan, aka Short chef gameI was doing my best to find success around the green.
Sure, I’ve had good shots here and there, even getting a “hey, that’s a great shot” from my playmates. But once my ball stopped rolling and I found myself with 8-10 feet left to putt, that’s when I realized I needed to hit chips tighter off the green.
It’s where McLachlin’s help really made a difference.
After spending a morning with the chef himself, he whips up the perfect recipe to improve my game from 100 yards or so. how? By updating my style.
In the video above, McLachlin offers his tips to help you do the same, showing how a simple change in your mindset can lead to higher, softer chips. Take a look below for more information.
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Try this modern cutting technique around the green
As I mentioned above, the first thing McLachlin made me change was my mental, breaking with the old method of setting up to hit chips in order to incorporate a softer touch. Get rid of the old and you new!
“One of the things I always see, and we’ve seen for years, is take your weight forward, tilt the pole forward, and put the ball back into your stance,” he says in the video. “This is all in an effort to get good contact with your chips and pitches.
“It’s not what I want to see. I want to see good contact if I hit the 7-iron or I hit the driver.”
Instead, McLachlin says golfers want to smooth the ball while chipping. This starts with creating a different angle of attack.
“I want the weight 50/50. I’d like the pole to be in a more neutral location, with my feet fairly close together. I want my ball position to be slightly off the inside of my front foot.
“Those things are going to allow me to be able to slow the ball down, and still make an aggressive swing through it — which is going to give me the ability to spin the ball on these chips and pitches.”
By following McLachlin’s adjustments, you’ll be able to engage your putter bounce, which will help you hit soft pitches around the green.
“Don’t look for contact with the ball and pressure,” he adds. “Find a shallow angle of attack so you can start dealing with that bounce [of the club]. This is going to be that legend that changes your world about greens.”
If you’re interested in seeing more of Short Game Chef, Check out McLachlin’s websitewhere you’ll find even more components to help improve your game around the green.