GolfPlus Sept 18 Digital Edition (Sept 2018) | Page 31

TOP 50 TEACHER Darren Parris
North Foreland, Kent. PGA Professional for more than
20 years who played in the 2006 Open Championship.
2 HOW DO I PICK THE RIGHT CLUB?
Don’t rule out the putter too soon; if the fringe grass
is relatively short, the flatstick can be a safe option.
But if it’s too long, you’re looking at your most lofted
wedges. Grassier lies and steeper slopes will need
more loft, as the trajectory is naturally lower and
the spin is reduced. But also take into account the
firmness of the green and how much of it you have to
work with. Remember, landing the ball on the green
gives a predictable bounce and your best chance of
success.
3 READ THE GREEN
On downhill chip shots, the land tends to
continue running away from you on the
green itself. Because of this, the ball is going
to run out considerably more than a chip
onto a flat green. Take this, as well as any
side slopes, into account before settling
on a spot to land the ball. Another factor to
consider is where you want to putt from. It’s
best to be positive on short putts, so play a
committed shot that will leave you putting
back up the hill rather than above the hole.
4 PICK YOUR LANDING SPOT
This shot needs a precise strike. So your
priority is to keep your action short and
controlled, no longer than a three-quarter
action, and avoid weight shift and lateral
movement. Try to maintain that feeling of
height as you swing; the image of a shelf
under your chin can help you, as can retaining
that feeling of level knees. Balance is key to
clean, solid contact, so commit to a smooth,
even tempo and a picture-book finish.
5 LET THE SPOT DICTATE
YOUR PRACTICE SWING
Make a practice swing where your key focus
is to “feel” the ball coming off the clubface
exactly how it needs to hit your landing spot.
Don’t worry if the first practice swing doesn’t
feel right; you can make another until you have
the correct feel. When you’re ready to go, step
into the ball, look up at your spot briefly, back
down at the ball and play the chip. With any
luck you‘ll watch it land perfectly on your spot
before running down to the holeside.
GolfPlus
SEPTEMBER
2018
41