Lewis: Fixing your chip-shot stance

Are you kidding me?
How many times have you heard or read to chip the ball off your back foot, with your hands over your front knee, with a delofted wedge, and by hitting down on the ball?
For most golfers who have difficulties in their short game, hitting the ball from the normal position is tough enough. I suggest if this method is difficult for you, use the normal position by keeping the ball in the middle of your stance. Using your sternum as the center of your swing, each time you move the ball or hands in your stance, you increase the risk of a bad shot.
You see many pros, or good amateurs players, chip off their back foot, but they practice this style every day.
For the weekend warriors, and average golfers, try to keep the ball in the center of your stance with your hands slightly ahead of the ball. Instead of delofting your wedge to an 8-iron, just use an 8-iron or whatever club you prefer.
While the standard method helps prevent the fat chip shots, most golfers think scoop their chips with the ball back in their stance and hands forward. The scoop brings only bad results.
For more help with your chipping, swing by Ridgemark Golf and Country Club and have one of our teaching professionals set your chipping stance for success.
Certified fitters
Last month Jason Sims, Alex Rodriguez and myself become certified fitters for Titleist. Sims and Rodriguez will also be joining me as certified fitters with Ping by the end of next week.
Give that special golfer in your life – or yourself – a fitting for a new driver, wedge or putter for Christmas.
More gift ideas
This week my gift suggestions are for the cold and rainy season, such as rain gear or waterproof golf shoes.
Even try different golf balls for the winter such as the Titleist Solo that has a softer feel in cold weather. Hand warmers, sock caps, winter golf gloves and umbrellas are also great gifts for this time of the year.
But the new hot item is the Nike Solar Sleeves so you can play like Tiger and look like Kobe. More golf gift suggestions will be each golf column through December 23rd.