You don’t win two Open Championships and a PGA Championship without being a wizard around the greens.
And even at the age of 54, Harrington is still working relentlessly on his short game and still using those skills in the biggest events in golf.
Harrington finished T18 at the PGA Championship at Aronimink this year, gaining over a stroke around the green despite the brutal rough.
And he shared the new discovery he’s made with his chipping, which allows perfect contact with the golf ball every time.
Padraig Harrington shares advice to get perfect contact when chipping
Elite ball strikers often talk about using the ground to generate power, as they push down into the earth during their swing. Harrington says that this shouldn’t be exclusive to just the full swing.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harrington explained how you can use the ground when chipping.
The Irishman said, “They are talking about ground force in the full swing. It’s getting the pressure into that left foot and pushing back up. Well, a great way of feeling that ground force for your driver is actually to do it in your chipping swing.
“So, as I’m coming in, I’m going to press on the ball of my foot to push myself back up. And it comes out that little bit faster, lower, with spin. So, what I basically did there as I was coming into impact, I’m all over here on [his left] side. There’s no lifting. Okay? As I’m coming into impact, I push myself up and back.
“So, I’ve actually lifted my head up, and my body has actually gone backward a little bit. So, very counterintuitive. We’re not trying to stay down. We’re not trying to keep our head down all the time. I’m actually pushing myself back up with that left foot. It gives an absolutely beautiful strike, very powerful, a lot of spin.
“So, as you can see, I’m much more up. [The left] leg is posted up much more. So, it’s much more of that. Again, it’s left-sided. It’s getting the club to accelerate and release through.
“My head and body is coming back up, being pushed out of ground back this way, which throws the club head through, creates a bit more speed, which gives a bit more spin at times when you get a good strike with a bit of speed. So, that’s pretty much how you hit a basic chip.”
This advice should allow you to commit to your chips, bringing a low, driving shot into your short game.
Padraig Harrington’s simple drill for hitting a flop shot
Harrington also has some valuable advice for the times when a little more artistry is required. He gave a simple drill that anyone can execute to practice hitting a flop shot.
He said, “Now, when you’re hitting a flop shot, yeah, there are different variations of a flop shot. So, I’m on a pretty tiny upslope here. It’s a different flop shot if you’re on a downslope.
“So, the first rule of a flop shot, to learn how to hit a flop shot, you actually have to cut under the ball, slice under the ball, and believe it or not, hit fresh air. So, I’m going to start off with a tee peg just to show what I’m talking about. I’m going to tee it up moderately high.
“Clearly, you’re never playing a shot like this, and I’m just going to fresh air it. Straightforward. Then, I’m going to tee it up a little lower. Okay. Now, what you notice here, I’m reacting to where I want to put the club. I’m not getting into my stance and putting the club down. I’m putting the club down, and then I’m getting my stance.
“So, you can learn how to hit that shot where you slip under it. Now, I’m not going to use a tee, and I’m going to do the same thing… If you can cut underneath it with a tee peg, then just keep lowering that height, and that will give you the confidence, and eventually, you won’t be able to do it, and that’s your flop shot.”
All you need is a ball, a tee, and a club. Tee the ball up, and swing underneath the ball, hitting only the tee peg. Simple!
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