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Learning from 5,000 chips
It took my a really long time to figure out how to hit a chip properly. My initial error came from over focusing on the "magic of the right forearm", and under focusing on piston action. Because I wasn't using enough piston action, my elbow remained back too far. That caused me to run out of right arm. When I finally began concentrating on getting my elbow under my stomach, at around 4,000 chips, my execution improved signficantly. But rather than really solving the problem, I really was using a band aid to mask the faulty technique. The next day, I realized that the piston action would also deliver my elbow into a forward position and finally I was really making progress.
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Incorporating "piston action" to get my elbow sufficiently forward definitely helped alot. I stopped working on "the magic of the right forearm" because the way I was incorrectly using it, it was part of the problem, not part of the solution. From 4,000 to 4800 chips, relative to my prior track record, my results were much improved. Thanks to members of this forum, I added extensor action, more meticulous tracing, pp1's efficiency for grounding the club past ball contact, along with my newly improved piston action. The use of the word thrusting by Delaware Golf made me realize how to take the final step. I tried incorporating the magic right forearm yesterday, but the "piston action", and "magic right forearm" were meshing yet. I finally realized today that a thrusting motion could efficiently combine piston action with the "magic right forearm". What a blast, to finally feel what a good chip should feel like.
Because it took so long for me to master basic motion, acquired motion chips got very little practic. Yet, when I tried acquired motion chips today, that swing also felt dramatically improved. With 15 balls left, I hit about 10 excellent full motion sand wedge shots. All of them were on line, with good distance. Even though I haven't practiced that swing in a long time, they felt much better than my prior swing going through the ball. It may have looked like I was practicing chipping, but instead, I have really been perfecting my swing through the ball. There is no question in my mind, but that the benefits of my recently concluded journey, will improve my scoring in the 2007 season. Now that I finally understand how to properly employ the "magic of the right forearm", 2007 is very likely to be my most productive golf year yet. If you are caught in the golfing doldrums, not making as much progress as you desire, give massive amounts of "basic motion" a try.
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