MASTER THE CHIP & RUN
The chip and run is one of the most misunderstood shots in the game. At The Peter Cowen Academy, we believe it’s not just about technique—it’s about intention and awareness.
Step one: Get intimate with the ball. Stand closer. This naturally raises the shaft angle, encourages the arms to hang, and allows vertical ground forces to assist. From here, you use the weight of the club—not force from the hands.
Too many players “hit” at the ball with their arms. This adds tension, breaks flow, and leads to poor strikes. Instead, let the arms hang from the shoulders and create a soft natural structure. There’s no flick, no hinge, just a quiet arc that collects the ball. This mindset shift changes everything.
Ball back of centre, narrow stance, 60–70% weight forward. Let the club fall—don’t drive it. Gravity and geometry are your best friends.
Club selection? Use the same motion with different lofts and let the carry-to-roll ratio (e.g. 25/75 for 9-iron, 50/50 for PW) do the work depending on green speed and slope.
Final checkpoint: After the strike, look at the butt of the club. It should point left, toward your lead hip or belt buckle—not at your belly button. If it points back at you, you’ve added wrist hinge or flipped the hands—movements that ruin consistency.
In short: Get close and let gravity and geometry do the work.
