It’s frustrating to have a short chip shot just off the green and then blade the ball across the green so that you end up having a longer putt than you did chip.

To control your distance, you need to clip the ball off the turf by hitting the ball first and brushing the ground afterwards. This gives the ball a little bit of backspin so when it lands, it rolls softly.

Where a lot of people go wrong is that they try to lift the ball up in the air and end up hitting the turf first, and then catching the ball on the upswing, hitting the ball thin and giving the ball over spin, so when ball lands it rolls uncontrollably.

To control the ball around the green and avoid thin shots, you need to learn how to give the ball backspin and the key to backspin is all in the set-up.

If your tendency is to hit thin chip shots try this anti-thin drill to key in on your set-up. Your set up determines the angle the club approaches the ball, so this drill will help you lean your weight forward so that you can catch the ball first giving it backspin.

Medicine Ball with Step Exercise

1. Holding a small hand weight or medicine ball, stand with your back foot on a step or box so all your weight in leaning on your front leg as shown.
2. Simply swing the weight back and forth as if you were swinging golf club.
3. Control your arm swing and you keep your core tight and arms extended throughout exercise.
4. Do 8 to 10 repetitions.