In past columns we've discussed the importance of working on your short game because, more than any other facet of the game, the ability to convert chip shots into "one putts" is paramount to lowering your handicap.

The club choices and types of strokes used can vary greatly, but the goal is the same: to leave the ball in a position where you can complete the hole with one putt (known as "getting up and down") or less. Today we are going to discuss the strategic options for accomplishing this.

When the ball is in the closely mowed fringe at the side of the green there are two different chipping strokes most often used. The first is to stand the club on its toe so the shaft is in the vertical angle of a putter, and then use your putting stroke. The path the club makes is level along the ground like a putter, so the ball is propelled softly and with a low spin rate. This low spin rate allows for a very consistent first bounce and helps to keep the ball on track. The landing spot can be very close to the edge of the green allowing for limited air travel and a long roll out.

The typical choice for this stroke is a low-lofted club. While the shot can be hit with anything from a hybrid club to a lob wedge, most golfers prefer to use a 7- or 8-iron here. The key to making this stroke work is for your trail arm (right arm for right-handed players) to keep traveling forward, so that at finish, the trail arm and shoulder ends up forward of the original ball position.

The stroke was perfected and publicized by two-time PGA Champion Paul Runyan, who originally developed it on the sand greens of Hot Springs, Arkansas. However, it works just as well on the firm, fast greens of today.

The second common chip stroke is to use a lofted club like a sand or lob wedge and play the ball back in your stance. In this shot, the player places more weight on the forward foot and delivers a very downward blow. The ball is driven forward with a high spin rate and is landed farther on the green, but the spin should take hold and help the ball stop near the hole.

A basic rule of golf is that the closer a ball stays to the ground, the more easy it is to control. This would seem to favor the first of our two chip shot options, and rightly so. But there are many instances when you need to get some air under the ball, so the second option is important to practice as well.

Remember, the goal of all chip shots is to control the spin and trajectory so the bounce and roll leave you with a tap in - or better yet, a hole-out! If you really want to perfect these strokes, enlist the expertise of a PGA Professional, and then commit yourself to practicing them over and over.

Once again, May is PGA Free Lesson Month, an ideal time to locate a PGA Professional near you and get a no-cost sample of their teaching style. To locate one of the nearly 8,000 PGA Professionals expected to participate in PGA Free Lesson Month throughout the month of May, go to www.PlayGolfAmerica.com, click on PGA Free Lesson Month and use the zip code search.

Until next time, here's to better golf!

Rick Martino is Director of Instruction for The PGA of America. He teaches at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and is ranked among the Top 50 instructors by Golf Digest Magazine. The author of the PGA Manual of Golf (Warner Books/$34.95), Martino can be reached at (800) 800-GOLF or by email at pgalearningcenter@pgahq.com.