Golf Instruction Zone: How to Play Off a (Very) Tight Lie
In this installment of the Golf Instruction Zone, Classic Swing Golf School’s Ted Frick shows you how to conquer one of golf’s most delicate (and frustrating) shots.
Hi, I’m Ted Frick, owner and director of instruction at Classic Swing Golf School at Legends Resort here in Myrtle Beach.
Today I’m going to do course management, playing to my strengths, but I’m opening up a new shot for my audience. This is called the putt-chip, and I’m doing it with a hybrid and here is why. I’m 12 yards off the green and 20 feet on, a delicate soft little pitch from here. It’s a really tight lie, so I’d have to just nip it, Phil Mickelson-like, and I don’t have those hands.
I’m a good putter, so I’m going to take advantage of that. I’m too far off the green to putt, but why do they throw in the word chip? The difference between a putt and a chip is I have to hit down on the ball.
A chip gets a little air time. Even though I have quiet wrists, I’m driving the ball down. Let’s take a look at this shot.
In my routine, I’m always starting off behind the ball, getting a great visual picture of the shot. You have to have a plan on every shot. I’m playing to my strength because that is going to make me feel comfortable.
I get a quality practice stroke. I’m setting up with a putting grip, chip motion with a descending blow. This is a 4 hybrid with 22 degrees of loft and I’m using it just like a putter. That gets it safely up on the green from a tight lie.
Practice it before you take it on the course, but on really tight lies, something that is going to make you feel uncomfortable chipping or putting, try the putt-chip. You will enjoy it and the results are good. Hope this helps you.
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