22 — Wednesday, June 2, 1999 - North Shore News CHIPPING can be a lot of fun as well as being a great stroke saver. In golf the more simple one can keep things the bet- ter, and developing a basic stroke will serve you well in a variety of situations. Basic Stroke A technique for chipping can be very simple and extremely effective. The beautiful part of this technique is that once learned you can use your imagination and use the same technique with different clubs around the green. First. of all grip the club softly so you can feel the weight of the club head. The two other keys to this shot is to set up with your left hand (for right- handed — golfers) slightly ahead of the ball and to take a short to medium back- swing using very little wrist movement then pull down and through with your left hand keeping — and this is key — your left hand ahead of the club head and follow- ing through almost like a putting stroke. 7 Iron Run A great place to use this shot is when you are close to the green and don’t have rough or a hazard to go over. Use the basic stroke tech- nique, play the ball in the middle of your stance, allow for lots of roll and hit the ball almost like a putt. Pitching Wedge Use this shot when you have rough or a hazard to go over and still have a lot of green to work with. Using the basic chipping stroke technique, play the ball about 3/4 forward in your stance. You might use 2 little more wrist here to get the ball co pop up faster. Play for more height and less roll. Sand Wedge This is the perfect shot to Where the deer and coyotes play use when you are faced with a hazard to go over and have little green to work with. Use the basic chipping stroke with your sand wedge, open your stance a little and play the ball off your left heel. Use a little extra wrist here and pull down and through with your left hand and the bail will pop right up and land softly with mini- mum roll. Lob Shot Have you ever had a shot you thought was impossible? You had a huge bunker to go over with no green to work with or you had a tall tree to get over with almost no room to manocurre. The fob shot may be the answer for you! This shot is challenging to learn but with just a fittle practice vou can master this shot and master your short game. Start by opening your stance and the club face of your sand wedge to give you maximum lott. Slope your shoulders so that your right shoulder is lower than your left. Play the ball off of your left heel. Start your back- swing by breaking your wrist to give yourself a steep angle of attack. Pull down and through with your left hand but this time after impact hold your club face open so it points to the sky on your follow through. Key drill: Take 30. practice balls and place 10 each in three different spots around the green; 10 on the fringe, 10 about 15 yards from the green with rough to go over, and 10 balls in front of a bunker with the pin tucked tightly. Practise with your 7 iron, pitching wedge, and sand wedge from these locations using the basic chipping stroke to get a feel for how these different clubs effect the ball. Key thought: Practise. ..and you Can too. Now that weve signed an extension on our lease, _ you can enjoy the beauty of golf at Seymour. thietes with a Disability SEYMOUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ‘The $20 B.C. Resident Card g gots you. ave, Pp to.50% off Green’ F July 7-11, 1999 North Vancouver For information on how to become a Veluntees or Corporate Sponsor . phone 981-3100 NEWS file photo CHIPPING techniques can be effective despite being simple. Several chip shot types are available. Versatile pitch will score for you. A pitch shot is a won- derful scoring shot and can be played with just about any club. A pitch shot is a controlled shot that is struck crisply and has the flight of a dart. To hit a pitch shor start with vour pitching wedge. Choke down just a bit, maybe an inch or so. Place about 75% of your weight on your left side. Play the ball slightly back in your stance. Take a 3/4 backswing with little wrist breakage and mini- mal leg movement. The down swing starts by pulling the left arm down and extending the club face down the target line chasing the ball as long as possible. Follow through with a three-quarter swing. The flight of the ball will be lower with little ball move- ment. The pitch shot is a great shot to play in all types of conditions and can become your bread and burter scoring shot! Key drill: Select your 8 iron, pitching wedge, and sand wedge. Pick out three targets between 50 to 120 yards, about 15 yards apart. Practise your pitch shots alternating targets and clubs co develop feel and distance in - your pitch shots.