The Drill That Saves Your Short Game

It’s Thursday and you’ve got this coming,

🚫 Stop Being a Hangback Flipper in Your Short Game

If you’re struggling with inconsistent contact around the greens—skulling shots, chunking chips, or generally feeling like you’re flipping at the ball—you may be what I call a hangback flipper. This happens when your body stays behind the ball and your arms and hands take over, bottoming out the club too early.

Today, we’ll break down why this happens, the common mistakes that lead to it, and a simple (but powerful) drill you can use to get your pivot working properly so you strike the ball cleanly and consistently. ⛳️

Watch the video breakdown here!

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❌ Why Hangback Happens

Most poor short-game contact comes from the club’s bottom point being too far behind the ball. This is usually caused by your center of mass staying back during the motion.

Even with a good setup, many players start the takeaway with their arms and hands alone, which shifts weight back without realizing it. Since arms and hands have weight, this small move can send your body subtly away from the target. Without a proper pivot, you’re left flipping at the ball, with the clubhead arriving first and the low point behind the ball.

🏌️‍♂️ The Cross-Handed Drill

To fix this, we need to get your pivot (upper body rotation) leading the downswing—not just your hands. My favorite drill for this is cross-handed chipping.

1. Setup: Take your normal chipping stance, then flip your grip so your lead hand is low and trail hand high.

2. Backswing Feel: This position naturally sets your trail wrist into slight extension—helping prevent the flipping motion.

3. Lead with Your Chest: Start the downswing by rotating your chest toward the target. Your pivot should carry the club through, not your hands.

4. Finish Checkpoints:

   ✅ Pressure forward on your lead leg

   ✅ Chest turned toward the target

   ✅ Trail wrist still in some extension at the finish

Do a few rehearsals cross-handed, then switch back to your normal grip while keeping the same feels.

🎯 Pressure & Wrist Awareness

A key feedback tool here is your trail wrist. Players who hang back tend to see the trail wrist collapse into flexion (bowed forward) through impact. By keeping some extension in that wrist, you’ll control the clubface and bottom-out point much better.

When you return to your normal grip:

• ✅ Feel your chest starting the downswing

• ✅ Keep pressure on the lead leg

• ✅ Maintain that trail wrist extension through impact

💡 Why It Works

Cross-handed chipping exaggerates the proper sequence:

• Pivot leads → Arms follow

• Weight forward → Consistent low point

• Minimal hand throw → Better strike control

This helps remove the urge to “help” the ball with your hands, which is the root of flipping.

📍 Key Takeaway

If you want cleaner contact and more predictable short-game shots, stop letting your arms and hands run the show. Lead with your pivot, keep pressure forward, and maintain extension in your trail wrist. Try the cross-handed drill to feel the correct sequence, then blend it into your normal technique for more consistent results. 🏆

🎥 Watch the Full Breakdown

Want to see the motion in action?

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Hope this tip helps!

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