I’ve been lucky enough in my 50 plus years to have played and practiced with some amazing pros and top level amateurs. One of the best short game players I’ve played with is my brother and his style is almost identical to Toms, having watched him through the 70s and 80’s. All the people criticising Mr Watsons instruction are really just projecting their own issues into him. As I’ve witnessed first hand, his technique and teaching is highly repeatable with a decent mindset. Someone who is prepared to be self-honest and ditch their excuses will benefit greatly from the timeless wisdom of a golf legend. Thank you for the video. 😊
I love when the pros give these tutorials. All the other guys talk and talk and talk and never hit the ball. I learned more from Tom keeping the camera on his feet and arms that I’ve ever did before.
Light grip pressure is so important. Ever since i learned this from this channel my game has gone to another level. I never understood saying "by feel" untill Tom Watson.
Excellent! Very good narration. Clear & to the point instructions. Very much enjoyed. Got the feeling this guy really knows what he's talking about. Thank you.
Every point counts but most important and never mentioned by any other teacher is open the alignment but turn hip and shoulders towards target in line of ball flight. That's what gave Tom chip putt on 17th hole of Pebble Beach and victory over Nicklaus for US Open crown. I am now 79 yrs old but technique is still good for my chips since then.
I agree 💯 % about his setup. I've never come across anyone suggesting this alignment in any fashion. I enjoy it. It feels natural to me. Thanks for commenting.
@BrianRodman Squaring up the hips and shoulders ensures a square club face at impact. The open stance allows for an easy follow-through on such a short swing motion. That's how I see it anyway. It definitely would be nice to hear it from him. 🍻
The first time I saw Watson do the “hit the spot and let it roll” drill with 3 wedges and 3 balls, I thought my life had changed forever. I immediately went to the practice. It turns out hitting the spot is pretty easy. What Watson doesn’t get about mere mortal golfers is that it our impacts that vary. Different impacts, different spins = different roll outs. Impact in chipping is 100x more important than landing point. Lessons are supposed to be for the students.
I cannot remember last time the general area around a green was that lush. Most UK greenkeepers seem to prepare quite a tight lie these days on parkland courses. Its easier on links where you can Texas wedge from anywhere.
Many years ago, I taught my nephew how to play golf. When went to a driving range, and the 1st thing he wanted to do was hit the driver. Nope, we started with a wedge and worked our way up. He had a natural swing, so I knew he could be good. We went to the practice green for chipping and putting. I explained, that’s where most amateurs turn a decent round into a bad round. If you can have an effective short game, you can be a good golfer and win. 20 years later, he’s a 2 handicap and consistently takes his friends money. He and I have won 9-2 man scrambles over the years.
i came in second once in a 4 man scramble it was for "mother saint mary's little sisters of the poor" the winner's got a ribbon , i think my story is better.
All great chippers or those shots around the green accelerate thru the ball. You can see that with Toms very first chip, but many instructors never say that. Depending on the distance of the shot and your backswing length you accelerate thru the ball which also gives you a lot more back spin. Then if you really want to spin the ball open up the club face just a couple of degrees. In doing that you need to aim a little farther left of the target line. With most shots in golf though it’s range time. Lots of range time. Once you become good around the greens your scores will drop along with your handicap.
If you're a little yippy like many seniors, try a ten finger grip to relieve tension; and swing primarily with your right arm (left arm just along for the ride
Why so many negatives? Watson twice stymied Nicklaus and deprived him of first place? I found several things I can take away from this video. I use the ChipR by Ping now. All purpose club that can be utilized with these kinds of tips. Thanks Tom, simple and easy.
The dude is a living Legend. I love hearing everything from Tom...even though, honestly, the levels he reached are not for 99.99 of us. But, hey, some things apply no matter who you are. I hope.
You are correct drums, it's a half hinged putting stroke. Not a full hinge like Phil Mickelson teached. Which makes sense because Phil used a 60 degree lob wedge in his hinge and hold videos.
not arguing against a legend but todays coaches such as Dan Grieve who seems to recommend Seve, like approach imv would be saying narrow stance, to me the secret is being decisive regardless and making sure you get that clubhead through and past the ball with authority, many average golfers like me have a tendency to quit on it because we feel its going to go too far past the hole, if Tom had had his young short game in 'that' open he would have won it by a dozen shots
Seve was a master at being creative around the green with the bounce of the club. Guys like Seve & Tiger Woods used all of the different chipping methods in different situations. So there is no right or wrong method. The key for the average golfer is to try all the different methods and use whatever works best in their short game. The wrist locked, putting stroke (edge leading chip (no hinge, no release/bounce) is by far the easiest chipping method to learn and should be mastered first before using the hands.
Agree. They say a bad putt always better than a bad chip, but he was so good chipping around the greens when I saw that lie, my first thought was why was he putting it. As a Watson fan in his playing days, one of my biggest ever disappointments watching sports was seeing him lose that chance for an historic win at that age in a major that would surely never have been beaten.
When I was younger and tried to play this game, for what I called a chip, I would hold a 6-8 iron as a putter, basically a putting stance with the ball a bit back and hit down slightly. If it seemed too long a shot for this I'd treat it as a pitch.
Someone teaching how to chip with the old wedges. After the nerf'd the wedges for all the ams, with bad fairways there is no spin chipping anymore... Ruined the am game for pros playing on manicured courses. It never occured to the tourney's to make those courses "less" manicured and grow the fairways higher? 😊
@@therealgolfsecrets Dude. My point is it's not relevant, because it doesn't work on muni's. Go ahead and have Tom try the same thing on a poorly maintained course and have him show what happens.
@@johnklaus9111What are you smoking? He's chipping out of normal rough. What rough do you hit out of? Knee high Links rough? I've been trying all of Tom Watsons' chipping techniques with an sm9 vokey from 2023 and they all work beautifully. I'm sure an sm10 would be no different. This chipping lesson is very much relevant.
There is no chip for Senior Golf a chip is a short accurate non powerful swing. It’s been the same for me since I was 17 and I am now 68. Yes I have changed my driving and Iron swing BUT chip swing no
I labeled it "Senior" for TH-cam Algorithm reasons. However, if you think about it, only Senior golfers who respect Toms short game will probably listen... I hope I'm wrong about this.
Believe in both & use whatever works best for you. Tiger Woods uses both styles. He uses an edge leading "putting stroke" chip with locked wrists, and he'll use a wrist hinge/ hands accelerating "hinge & hold" style. It's all relative to what he wants the ball to do.
@@markwalters7498 Except for at the 17th at Pebble Beach from deep greenside tough to a pin barely 10 feet from the fringe for the US Open in 1982. 👍👍👏👏
The real disaster will be the day you blow out your back on a 30-yard chip shot swinging like a gorilla... I recommend anyone reading this to learn how to control leverage with your wrists. It's not difficult with proper instruction. Watch Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson on this channel for proper hinge technique. I use wrist locked/putting stroke chips for 1-2 yard pins and mid iron runners. Watch this for further explanation on wrist hinge chipping: How to Chip 50yards th-cam.com/video/C4511Em8iqo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_ogMAAGA92TpGP2m
@@therealgolfsecrets I think you misunderstood. Here is Jason Days explanation of what I’m saying. This can be used with any club or almost any type of chip (not only a 60 degree wedge!) Pretty sure this shot didn’t injure Jason’s back!! th-cam.com/video/CyWEhCyyaYY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PwoQCNv32Q5w0Zyl This technique makes it easier to shallow the club and use the bounce whereas the hinge steepens the angle of attack and exposes the leading edge. Good technique for elite players or shots into the grain but the wrist hinge creates too many variables that lead to fats and thins for average players (as opposed to Tom Watson types!!) Yes there is more than one way to chip but this is much more likely to get consistent contact than the Watson method in my opinion.
It’s a little more difficult when you’re hitting out of Bermuda rough though. I’d like to know if he uses the same approach when chipping out of Bermuda.
It's quite a bit more difficult when you're not Tom Watson....let's admit this much. The dude warms up with a 2-iron. I think in his youngest of days, it was a 1.
If true, he must have saved in US dollars rather than investing. His net worth is $25M. Contrast that with Harold Varner who has $15M net worth. I love Harold, but even he would say that does not seem fair.
I’ve been lucky enough in my 50 plus years to have played and practiced with some amazing pros and top level amateurs. One of the best short game players I’ve played with is my brother and his style is almost identical to Toms, having watched him through the 70s and 80’s. All the people criticising Mr Watsons instruction are really just projecting their own issues into him. As I’ve witnessed first hand, his technique and teaching is highly repeatable with a decent mindset. Someone who is prepared to be self-honest and ditch their excuses will benefit greatly from the timeless wisdom of a golf legend. Thank you for the video. 😊
I love when the pros give these tutorials. All the other guys talk and talk and talk and never hit the ball. I learned more from Tom keeping the camera on his feet and arms that I’ve ever did before.
Light grip pressure is so important. Ever since i learned this from this channel my game has gone to another level. I never understood saying "by feel" untill Tom Watson.
That's awesome! Thanks for the positive feedback Katsudo.
Anyone else think when Tom Watson gives these (brilliant!) examples of chips rolling "man, I wish my club had greens that pure.) ?
Excellent! Very good narration. Clear & to the point instructions. Very much enjoyed. Got the feeling this guy really knows what he's talking about. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your good friend Byron should have told that everyone is not right handed when talking about which hand does what
Great knowledge from one of the greatest players ever. And he’s even a nicer person than anyone I’ve ever met ⛳️😊😇😉
Love this easy to follow and emulate video! Cured my. Yips!!
Alignment is just what Eureka recommends. Works great for all clubs!
Every point counts but most important and never mentioned by any other teacher is open the alignment but turn hip and shoulders towards target in line of ball flight. That's what gave Tom chip putt on 17th hole of Pebble Beach and victory over Nicklaus for US Open crown.
I am now 79 yrs old but technique is still good for my chips since then.
I agree 💯 % about his setup. I've never come across anyone suggesting this alignment in any fashion. I enjoy it. It feels natural to me. Thanks for commenting.
@@therealgolfsecrets wish he would explain why he aligns his feet left, but hips and shoulders square to the line
@BrianRodman Squaring up the hips and shoulders ensures a square club face at impact. The open stance allows for an easy follow-through on such a short swing motion. That's how I see it anyway. It definitely would be nice to hear it from him. 🍻
The first time I saw Watson do the “hit the spot and let it roll” drill with 3 wedges and 3 balls, I thought my life had changed forever. I immediately went to the practice. It turns out hitting the spot is pretty easy. What Watson doesn’t get about mere mortal golfers is that it our impacts that vary. Different impacts, different spins = different roll outs. Impact in chipping is 100x more important than landing point. Lessons are supposed to be for the students.
Best video thanks 🇦🇺
Along with Tom’s tip, try the Cleveland Smart Sole chipper. It’s a game changer.
I cannot remember last time the general area around a green was that lush. Most UK greenkeepers seem to prepare quite a tight lie these days on parkland courses. Its easier on links where you can Texas wedge from anywhere.
Many years ago, I taught my nephew how to play golf. When went to a driving range, and the 1st thing he wanted to do was hit the driver. Nope, we started with a wedge and worked our way up. He had a natural swing, so I knew he could be good. We went to the practice green for chipping and putting. I explained, that’s where most amateurs turn a decent round into a bad round. If you can have an effective short game, you can be a good golfer and win. 20 years later, he’s a 2 handicap and consistently takes his friends money. He and I have won 9-2 man scrambles over the years.
i came in second once in a 4 man scramble it was for "mother saint mary's little sisters of the poor" the winner's got a ribbon , i think my story is better.
Thank you very much for such precious tips. This will make the green very big. Cheers from Indonesia.
Wow, Indonesia! Come back & let us know how the tips worked out for ya. Thank you for watching & taking the time to comment 🍻
Excellent
These handsy chips are super in the hands of the super talented like Watson or Mickelson.
All great chippers or those shots around the green accelerate thru the ball. You can see that with Toms very first chip, but many instructors never say that. Depending on the distance of the shot and your backswing length you accelerate thru the ball which also gives you a lot more back spin. Then if you really want to spin the ball open up the club face just a couple of degrees. In doing that you need to aim a little farther left of the target line. With most shots in golf though it’s range time. Lots of range time. Once you become good around the greens your scores will drop along with your handicap.
Dr Watson is the best 😉⛳️😇😊
Thank you Mr. Tom- jw
🤜🤛
The correct grip and light grip pressure are the most important components of the entire swing really
Which must be the predominant hand and arm to strongly pump the ball forward---left or right?
Chip one-handed & focus on the hand that performs the best. Work the weaker hand daily to help it catch up in skill and strength.
If you're a little yippy like many seniors, try a ten finger grip to relieve tension; and swing primarily with your right arm (left arm just along for the ride
😊
Thanks Tom, this is helpful.
🍻
Why so many negatives? Watson twice stymied Nicklaus and deprived him of first place? I found several things I can take away from this video. I use the ChipR by Ping now. All purpose club that can be utilized with these kinds of tips. Thanks Tom, simple and easy.
The dude is a living Legend. I love hearing everything from Tom...even though, honestly, the levels he reached are not for 99.99 of us. But, hey, some things apply no matter who you are. I hope.
I get gripping it down and light grip pressure, but I wish Mr. Watson would have explained where to position the grip in the lead hand.
This lesson by Tom Watson has the answer you seek: th-cam.com/video/LTHQtOX1fac/w-d-xo.htmlsi=eR5EsKzawqeLA8RP
Lower body worked like 2 inches?
You don't need much.
notice the fairly quick swing with a quick wrist hinge.
You are correct drums, it's a half hinged putting stroke. Not a full hinge like Phil Mickelson teached. Which makes sense because Phil used a 60 degree lob wedge in his hinge and hold videos.
not arguing against a legend but todays coaches such as Dan Grieve who seems to recommend Seve, like approach imv would be saying narrow stance, to me the secret is being decisive regardless and making sure you get that clubhead through and past the ball with authority, many average golfers like me have a tendency to quit on it because we feel its going to go too far past the hole, if Tom had had his young short game in 'that' open he would have won it by a dozen shots
Seve was a master at being creative around the green with the bounce of the club. Guys like Seve & Tiger Woods used all of the different chipping methods in different situations. So there is no right or wrong method. The key for the average golfer is to try all the different methods and use whatever works best in their short game.
The wrist locked, putting stroke (edge leading chip (no hinge, no release/bounce) is by far the easiest chipping method to learn and should be mastered first before using the hands.
Adaptations for tight lies?
Hood the club and hit down on the ball…take one less club
National open pin placement
You should have used this in 2009 at the Open on Sunday on #18.
Agree. They say a bad putt always better than a bad chip, but he was so good chipping around the greens when I saw that lie, my first thought was why was he putting it. As a Watson fan in his playing days, one of my biggest ever disappointments watching sports was seeing him lose that chance for an historic win at that age in a major that would surely never have been beaten.
When I was younger and tried to play this game, for what I called a chip, I would hold a 6-8 iron as a putter, basically a putting stance with the ball a bit back and hit down slightly. If it seemed too long a shot for this I'd treat it as a pitch.
Not one gimme Tom.
What club was he using? Looked like a gap wedge.
It could be. Most likely, a 56 or 54
Someone teaching how to chip with the old wedges. After the nerf'd the wedges for all the ams, with bad fairways there is no spin chipping anymore...
Ruined the am game for pros playing on manicured courses.
It never occured to the tourney's to make those courses "less" manicured and grow the fairways higher? 😊
Tom Watson is playing with wedges from 2014 in this lesson. This information is still relevant with any wedge in your bag.
@@therealgolfsecrets Dude. My point is it's not relevant, because it doesn't work on muni's. Go ahead and have Tom try the same thing on a poorly maintained course and have him show what happens.
@@johnklaus9111What are you smoking? He's chipping out of normal rough. What rough do you hit out of? Knee high Links rough?
I've been trying all of Tom Watsons' chipping techniques with an sm9 vokey from 2023 and they all work beautifully. I'm sure an sm10 would be no different.
This chipping lesson is very much relevant.
I find the alignment instructions confusing. He says open your body and then close your hips and shoulders. Aren’t those two opposite things???
In other words, feet stay pointed open to the target line, everything else goes back to square.
Feet / lower body open to target line. Uper bady / shoulders parellel to target line. Open lower body makes it easier to get through the shot
I want to see him chip from hardpan.
There is no chip for Senior Golf a chip is a short accurate non powerful swing. It’s been the same for me since I was 17 and I am now 68. Yes I have changed my driving and Iron swing BUT chip swing no
I labeled it "Senior" for TH-cam Algorithm reasons. However, if you think about it, only Senior golfers who respect Toms short game will probably listen... I hope I'm wrong about this.
Very wristy. Contradicts other pros. What to believe?
Believe in both & use whatever works best for you. Tiger Woods uses both styles. He uses an edge leading "putting stroke" chip with locked wrists, and he'll use a wrist hinge/ hands accelerating "hinge & hold" style. It's all relative to what he wants the ball to do.
I didn’t see wristy at all. Just relaxed and fluid.
I don't know who this guy is, but he definitely doesn't know the short game.
You don’t know him ? The Great TOM WATSON , the world’s greatest golfer in his day , he has won everything a golfer could win .
@@rtb5732 I believe it's called sarcasm.
Never seen him hit a historic chip to win a major
@@markwalters7498 Except for at the 17th at Pebble Beach from deep greenside tough to a pin barely 10 feet from the fringe for the US Open in 1982. 👍👍👏👏
He does. Problem is this video is old and they nerf'd the wedges in the 2000s because stupid leaders. 😊
Too wristy and feet too far apart
Er, he had one of the most spectacular short games you’ll ever see.
@@charlesmarshall1309 Oops! I didn’t realise that it is Watson 😳 My excuse is that I did not have my glasses on
@@charlesmarshall1309 mind you, I would rather coach the chipping action of Tiger, who has his heels together, and virtually no wrist action
Right. He will never win anything with that stroke.
Sorry but hinging your wrists is a recipe for disaster.
Play this shot like a putt with a long backswing with rotation and thank me later 😉
The real disaster will be the day you blow out your back on a 30-yard chip shot swinging like a gorilla... I recommend anyone reading this to learn how to control leverage with your wrists. It's not difficult with proper instruction. Watch Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson on this channel for proper hinge technique. I use wrist locked/putting stroke chips for 1-2 yard pins and mid iron runners.
Watch this for further explanation on wrist hinge chipping:
How to Chip 50yards th-cam.com/video/C4511Em8iqo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_ogMAAGA92TpGP2m
@@therealgolfsecrets I think you misunderstood. Here is Jason Days explanation of what I’m saying. This can be used with any club or almost any type of chip (not only a 60 degree wedge!) Pretty sure this shot didn’t injure Jason’s back!!
th-cam.com/video/CyWEhCyyaYY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PwoQCNv32Q5w0Zyl
This technique makes it easier to shallow the club and use the bounce whereas the hinge steepens the angle of attack and exposes the leading edge. Good technique for elite players or shots into the grain but the wrist hinge creates too many variables that lead to fats and thins for average players (as opposed to Tom Watson types!!)
Yes there is more than one way to chip but this is much more likely to get consistent contact than the Watson method in my opinion.
@@timmcgrath9708Yes, it’s not like Watson ever achieved anything in golf. 😂😂😂
@@johnparker2957 Exactly! He had extraordinary feel and skill…most players watching TH-cam instructional videos don’t!! Hence my suggestion.
You don't post a criticism like this on a Tom Watson video! Show some class!
It’s a little more difficult when you’re hitting out of Bermuda rough though. I’d like to know if he uses the same approach when chipping out of Bermuda.
It's quite a bit more difficult when you're not Tom Watson....let's admit this much. The dude warms up with a 2-iron. I think in his youngest of days, it was a 1.
Chipping out of Bermuda rough, when the ball is lying against the grain, is the bane of my golfing existence.
My father named me after Watson because he knew I would be better than Tom. I am glad to say he was correct. We called him "Whatoh". He was ok
I heard Tom Watson was really cheap and underpaid his caddies
WTF has that got to do with chipping? Could just be here say.
@@meagainandagain5756 spelt hear say
@@adamsons2890 well the spelling is correct now but hearsay is all one word
You have a lot of class, pal. Problem is, it's all low.
If true, he must have saved in US dollars rather than investing. His net worth is $25M. Contrast that with Harold Varner who has $15M net worth. I love Harold, but even he would say that does not seem fair.