Rescue Chipping.

With winter coming soon, this game-improvement topic is especially relevant. We’re all going to see tighter lies around the greens, which can present plenty of issues – both physically and mentally. Without the optimal club in your hands, playing off tight lies can be a difficult task to execute, and a spotty history in this area can lead to a lack of confidence in getting the ball close to the flag off a tight lie around the green.

If having the confidence to hit a delicate, perfect chip shot off a less-than-perfect lie hurts your game, then rescue club chipping is perfect for you. In fact, this shot is great not only from bad lies, but it’s great off perfect conditions as well.

I watched Ryan Palmer get it up and down from behind the first green at Augusta National with a hybrid club in the 2005 Masters in the third round. If he had chosen lob wedge, I’d have given him a 1-in-100 chance to get up and down from that perfect lie but tough situation.

This is my opinion on how to play this shot: Hold the shaft as vertical possible with the club running through the lifeline of the left hand. You should choke up enough to lay the grip against the inside of the left forearm, and put your right hand on the steel or graphite of the club.
Yes, that is choking up more than most might suggest, but try it … I think you’ll find that the shorter club is much easier to get a feel for distance.

With the shaft being vertical, the heel of the club is off the ground, and that’s OK. Toe in the face slightly, so that it looks marginally closed, and play the ball back of center. The clubface will be square to the target. Most rescue clubs have 18 to 24 degrees of loft, which is perfect for this shot. The loft gets the ball up and rolling with ease.