Short Game at Home: Putting Arc and Chipping to a Finish
Danny Maude practices his putting in his living room and his chipping in his backyard. When putting, he replaces the “straight back, straight through” motion with an arc and a “gate” to pass through. When chipping, he starts at the finish: the follow-through and rhythm come first; the rest follows.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
When putting, many golfers try to move the putter straight back and straight forward, and end up fiddling with it. Danny Maude, on the other hand, wants to a putter that follows an arc, like a slight rotation of the body. He uses a template that traces this arc and creates “gates” to pass through. Without any props, Two DVD cases placed on the floor form the door: Choose a spot just in front of the ball and guide it between the two. This is a mental image to keep in mind on the course. A ramp-style practice hole helps you control your distance.
On the chip, he applies what he calls Reverse engineering: starting from the end. When you throw a ball to someone, you don’t think about the backswing or the downswing—just the trajectory, the finish, and the rhythm. It’s the same with a chip shot: for a high ball, you finish high. This finish prevents you from hitting the back of the ball and causing it to roll along the ground. By letting the club finish this way, you use bounce instead of the leading edge, which causes the string to make a fat shot. In the yard, a stick on the ground to mark the line and a small target are all you need.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Above the ball, imagine the arc of the putter as a slight rotation of your body.
- Place two objects (DVD cases, tees) to form a gate right in front of the ball.
- Putt by guiding the ball through the hole, without trying to hit a straight line.
- In the garden, place a stick to mark the starting line and choose a small target.
- Before each chip shot, decide on the height of the shot and the corresponding finish.
- Swing with your mind focused solely on the finish and your swing rhythm, then control your line and distance.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Force the putter to move straight back and straight forward.
- Aim at the hole without using any intermediate reference points in front of the ball.
- Think about your backswing and downswing when chipping.
- Hit the back of the ball and get stuck without finishing.
- Touch down with the leading edge.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Exhibition: Puts Through a Narrow Door
- Garden: chips aimed at a small target, finish held
- Vary the height and finish depending on the shot
- On the course: visualize the hole in front of the ball
Your Questions
Why use an arc rather than a straight line when putting?
For Danny Maude, trying to move straight back and forward leads to over-manipulating the putter. An arc follows the slight rotation of the body and results in a simpler motion.
How do you make a putting gate without any tools?
He places two DVD cases on the ground, on either side of the line, right in front of the ball. Tees stuck into the carpet will also work.
What does he mean by “reverse engineering” of a chip?
Start with the end of the motion: choose the path, the finish, and the rhythm. The backswing and the downswing then fall into place on their own, just like when you throw a ball to someone.
How does the finish prevent fat shots?
By letting the club finish high, you take advantage of the rebound from the sole. If you dig in or get stuck, the leading edge will hit the ground.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Danny Maude). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.