You may of heard the phrase chipping into grain and not really understand what it’s referring it. This is where your ball has come to lie in a way where you will be chipping against the direction of where the grass is growing. A full shot with this lie wouldn’t typically phase a player as you would generate enough clubhead speed for it not to have an impact. When chipping from these lies it’s easier to contact the ground before the ball as the grass can pull the leading edge down, resulting in those horrible duffs we all dread.
An into grain chip shot is often feared by golfers but there’s a couple of ways to execute these shots successfully. Craig Fricker, elite golf course explains how to chip into grain, in the video below…
This instruction video was filmed at Lumine Golf Club, host venue of the 2019 European Tour Qualifying School. For more information, visit their website.
Chipping into the Grain: The Main Points
Craig suggests that there are two possible options to playing into grain chip shots. He says that you should either go to one end of the spectrum or the other, referring to either playing a high shot or a low one.
Low shot: This means that the low point is far away from the golf ball. This can be done by pushing the ball further back in the stance and getting the weight favouring the front foot. Although you don’t want to dig into the ground, if the ball is back in the stance, this digging action helps after the ball. The club will have already made contact with the ball and so there isn’t a problem.
High shot: A higher lofted shot creates a shallower angle of attack which stops the leading edge from digging in. The higher shot can be played by pushing the ball further forward in the stance. Through the ball you’re wanting the club to work upwards, keeping the loft on the shot.
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Conclusion
So how can you ensure you’re prepared next time you’re faced with this on the course?
What I encourage people to do is to practice shots on both ends of the spectrum. Practice hitting the really low one and then experiment with the aerial route. From there, you’ll be able to find and develop the method that works best for you.
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