ChipFix: A Training Aid to Correct Major Chipping Woes

Big hitters often boast about their length and prowess and state that putting is overrated, while good putters can survive without big bombs from the tee. But in between these two skills exists a portion of the game that is of ‘major’ importance — chipping. If there is a pleasure known to mankind beyond that of chipping in for birdie or eagle, it is probably illegal. And, should the chip-in occur on the final hole the pleasure is magnified.

Bob Tway

A quick recall of two such events at major tournaments caused ‘major’ heartaches for Greg Norman. In August of 1986 at Inverness Club in Toledo, it took 5 days to crown the champion as heavy rains in the early afternoon on Sunday stopped play which resumed the following day. ‘Rainy Days and Mondays’ echoed through Greg Norman’s psyche when, with the score tied after 71 holes, Norman’s playing competitor Bob Tway put his approach shot on the 72nd hole into a greenside bunker, while Norman was just off the green on the fringe, just 25 feet from the cup. Tway spectacularly holed out from the sand for birdie and Norman’s attempt to tie missed, as did his par-saving putt.

Eight months later, it happened again, this time at the 1987 Masters in Augusta, GA. After 72 holes, three players were tied and headed to the 10th tee for the sudden-death playoff. Seve Ballesteros made a bogey-5 on the hole and was eliminated while Greg Norman and Larry Mize, with pars on number 10, continued on to the 11th hole.

Larry Mize

Earlier in the day, Mize had missed his approach shot to the right of the 11th green, and his third-shot chip came to rest short of the cup; he then rolled in a 20-foot par putt from the right side. Now in the playoff his approach shot to the eleventh green again missed right.

Larry knew what the ball would do if he got it on line and at the proper pace. Using his 56-degree sand wedge from 140 feet away, Mize pitched the ball perfectly, his ball bouncing twice before reaching the putting surface. The ball began tracking like a putt as it headed toward the hole and into the bottom of the cup! Mize leaped, throwing his wedge to the side. Another major heartache for Greg Norman.

Chipping: so easy and so rewarding for pros, but so challenging for the rest of us. Furthermore, chipping from difficult or tricky lies is metaphorically a ‘hornet’s nest’ for amateur golfers — the situation is dangerous and the outcome can be disastrous. So as a means to increase your chances of attaining pro-like chipping euphoria, T.U.P.P. Golf has designed and offers for sale the ChipFix training aid.

General agreement among golf instructors is that ‘attack angle’ is the single most important aspect of the short game. Based on launch monitor data gathered from numerous professionals and amateurs, an attack angle of between 4.5 degrees to 8.5 degrees will produce the best chipping motion.

Expert golf teachers assert that too shallow of an attack angle (that is less than 4.5 degrees) is likely to result in ‘thinned shots’ and an inability to chip the ball out of deep rough. While too steep of an angle of attack (that is greater than 8.5 degrees) is likely to result in ‘chunked’ or ‘fat’ shots, ending up on the green but far short of the hole, or worse, still in the same ground condition as the chip shot just attempted. The ChipFix addresses the issue of incorrect attack angle by forcing the golfer to take the clubface through a set of guards to produce a proper attack motion.

ChipFix

The ChipFix is constructed of three pieces: the bottom base guard, the upright support separator, and the clear plexiglass top guard. These three pieces are geometrically fastened together to promote the optimum angle of attack used for the chipping motion. Furthermore, the choice of the materials comprising the ChipFix allows the user to see, feel, and learn the proper attack angle around the green which enables consistency of contact and thus the control of distance to put the ball closer to the hole. ChipFix is an ambidextrous appliance that accommodates both right-handed and left-handed golfers.

The ChipFix is lightweight and portable and can be used anywhere around the green — tight lies, short grass, long rough, and bunkers. Or, practice indoors at home, office or garage.

Give your short game some ‘major’ improvement with the ChipFix!

Additional product information and the ordering form can be found at GolfTrainingAids.com.