I saw a Jim McLean instruction video yesterday which showed a pitch shot drill where you only use the right hand and have the left in your pocket (or otherwise not in use).

It worked well for me, but slightly less well when I tried the technique with both hands on the club.

So, would it be illegal to use this one-handed technique when out on the course? i.e. would the pocket count as a training aid?

Depends on what you are doing with your hand that is in the pocket!

Actually, one can hit one-handed and using a normal pocket shouldn't be a problem. If you had a special attachment to your clothing, that might be a problem.

I'm not sure what this drill would accomplish. The key to chipping well lies in what you do with your left hand (hinge and hold).

I highly recommend watching Phil Mickelson's video Secrets to the Short Game.

Jim's point is to feel the weight of the club driving the shot.

jpjeffery wrote:

Jim's point is to feel the weight of the club driving the shot.

Interesting.

I just read McLean's article on hipping ( http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HFI/is_10_51/ai_65486561/ ). He teaches it just like Phil. I'm still not sure what the point of the right hand drill is, though.

Just to be clear, Jim was talking about pitch shots, not chip shots.

jpjeffery wrote:

Just to be clear, Jim was talking about pitch shots, not chip shots.

I pitch and chip with the same stroke (hinge and hold). Pitch shots just have a longer backswing.

This weekend at the LPGA Legends tournament at my home couse I watched Pat Bradley chip left hand only from various sides of the practice green and was amazed how good she was, She was able to stiff every shot within a 2-3 foot circle I tried it today and it is a great drill for eliminating scooped chips.

joe jones wrote:

This weekend at the LPGA Legends tournament at my home couse I watched Pat Bradley chip left hand only from various sides of the practice green and was amazed how good she was, She was able to stiff every shot within a 2-3 foot circle I tried it today and it is a great drill for eliminating scooped chips.

Agreed. I've done this drill myself.

My biggest challenge when it comes to chipping is controlling trajectory and roll. There are so many things to think about. What kind of angle is the lie? What kind of slope is the green? How fast is the green? How much green do I have to work with?

If there is a decidedly uphill slope with my lie, it's pretty easy to club down to a lower lofted wedge to get less trajectory. But I hate it when I shoot a shot that I want to roll way up into the air. Most of my bad chips are simply due to poor club selection.

Bryan K
This has been a problem forever in golf. Do you change clubs to suit the conditions or do you use the same club and modify your swing. Experts can't seem to reach a consensus so it will remain a matter of what is comfortable for each individual.