Billy Downes speaks to chipping, pitching and bunker shots

Hi, my name is Billy Downs. I'm the head PGA professional here at Greathorse. Today, we're going to go over the basics of chipping. When chipping, we want to make it as simple as possible. If we can get you to set up to the ball correctly every time and use a simple method of getting the ball on the green as soon as possible, we can all be pretty successful. We will use a simple technique that can be applied with a lob wedge, sand wedge, nine iron, or eight iron. We will get you set up fundamentally solid every time and show you the different shots you can hit from one position.

First, we will cover the basic fundamentals of setting up for a chip shot. We like to set our body a little bit open to the target and play the ball back in our stance. We're not going to change our grip or the fundamentals of our full swing, but we will make it as easy as possible when setting up to the ball. So, the ball is back in the stance, shoulders and feet a little left of the target, and a tall posture without choking the golf club. Stay nice and loose, rock your shoulders, and let the club do the work. We aim to make chipping simple with less chance for error.

When chipping, we want to get the ball on the green as soon as possible while allowing some leeway for mistakes. For a short shot of about 25 feet, I aim for a spot three to four feet on the green to let the ball roll out to the hole. For this shot, I use the most lofted club in my bag to fly the ball a short distance and let it roll out. For a longer shot, I might use an 8-iron, landing the ball in the same spot for more roll with the same stroke.

When pitching the golf ball to fly it farther, we use this method when we can't easily get the ball on the green with a chip. For example, when chipping or pitching up an upslope or needing to carry the ball over a bunker, we set up a little open to the target, ball back in the stance, clubface square, a bigger swing, and good rhythm.

Next, we'll talk about bunker play at Greathorse, which is crucial due to our deep bunkers around the green. We'll provide a simple, aggressive method to get the ball out of the bunker every time. For a bunker shot, we want a nice wide base, a little open to the target, the ball slightly forward in the stance, and the clubface a bit open. The key to bunker shots is being aggressive. Get wider in your stance, dig into the sand a little, and keep the lower body stable throughout the swing.