In baseball a pitcher holds the ball loose in his fingers. Not tight. Not white knuckling it. Just enough to control it, soft enough to feel it.

A violinist holds the bow the same. Firm enough not to drop it. Relaxed enough to move free.

Tension is the enemy of feel and fluid movement.

Around the greens, soft hands are everything.

Most of us grip the club too tight. Fear, Doubt, Tension!

We want control. So we squeeze. And squeezing kills the very feel we're trying to find.

Hold it loose, the grip can move in your hands, but not twist and there’s almst no chance you’ll drop it.

That's the grip pressure. That's the feel. Soft, connected, present. Not grabbing. Not controlling. Just holding.

Here's the thought I've been using that has improved my pitching/chipping.

As you swing through impact, let your head come up slightly. Gentle. Subtle. A natural, quiet rise as your body releases through the shot.

Most of us have been told to stay down. Stay still. Don't move. And that creates tension.

The body freezes trying to hold everything in place and the chip goes thin or chunked.

When you let the head come up — just barely — it’s a release. The motion flows.

Contact gets cleaner. The club does what it's supposed to do.

Watch good chippers in slow motion. Their head moves up at impact.

Try it on the practice green.

Soft hands at address. Small motion. And as you come through — don't hold your head down. Let it float up naturally.

Enjoy The Pursuit,
Mark

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