Sharpen Your Short Game with Dubuisson

The Chip and Run

Amateurs often try to chip the ball in the air, when they’d be better off keeping it on the ground. I use a 58-degree sand wedge for most of my chips, but that’s because the greens we play on are so fast. But the chip and run is a useful shot to know how to play.

The best advice is to grip the club - maybe a 7 or 8-iron - as you would when gripping a putter, and adopt a similar stance. Stand up straighter with the hands a little higher up and make a putt-like stroke. Also ensure that you make a smooth, rocking motion with your shoulders. The goal of the chip and run is to minimise spin on the ball, something you’ll create if you use your hands excessively. That goes for all chips: if you want to avoid putting spin on the ball, keep your hands quiet.

Accept Good Luck

I get a lot of questions about the two chips I played from the cactus in the final of the WGC-Match Play Championship [in February 2014] against Jason Day. With those shots, I knew I had the chance to hit the green, but I was just lucky that they went so close to the flag. However, on the last play-off hole [the driveable par-4 15th at Dove Mountain], I was unlucky. My drive finished to the right of the green and my ball wasn’t really playable in the rough. I could only chip to the other side of the green and Jason made his putt to win. You get plenty of bad luck in golf, so enjoy it when you get lucky!