How to Chip a Golf Ball Off a Tight Lie

Use a 3-Wood to Chip from Against the Fringe

I am just short of the green, on the fringe, and the grass is dormant and very tight. That is not a good recipe for trying to chip the golf ball in the air. Many golfers find that is time when they hit shots fat and thin. I could putt it If I want to but putting tends to make the ball bounce because the putter face is so straight faced, so my selection for this shot is going to be my three wood. My three wood has fifteen degrees of loft, a putter typically has four. When I have more loft the ball tends to stay on top of the grass a lot easier instead of bouncing its way up towards the hole.

• I set up similar to a chip,
• I choke down on the club,
• I want to stand the club very upright and stand close to it just like a putter.
• My weight is on my left side and I am just going to make a putting stroke. Runs very easily up the dormant grass.

This shot is great whenever the grass is growing towards the target or the grass is very tight. Remember, any time you keep the golf ball on the ground you have more control over it than when it is in the air. Play this shot around the green and you are going to be successful with your up and ins.