April 16, 2009 -- There was quite a bit of heartbreak around the country as Ryder Cup hero Kenny Perry seemed to let the green jacket slip through his grasp. Give all due credit to Angel Cabrera for his never-say-die attitude and play, but with just a shot or two over -- that is often automatic for Perry -- would have told a very different story. But even in devastating defeat, Kenny Perry conducted himself with the utmost class and integrity. That alone is a great lesson for all of us to learn.

Kenny Perry's errant chip on the 71st hole proved pivotal in Angel Cabrera's win at the Masters. (Photo: Getty Images)

But we can also learn from the one shot that I think really cost him the Masters.

Kenny Perry has, by most standards, a very effective but unusual golf swing. He takes the club up with a vertical back swing and then reroutes the swing to the inside on the downswing. He then needs to use his hands to close the face which produces his consistent ball flight of right to left. While this makes him a very effective, and in most cases a good driver and long iron player, it is what caused him to make a poor chip on the 71st hole during the Masters.

In chipping you never want to let the club head get in front of your hands during the shot, especially before impact. This is the case for his "skulled" shot which went over the green and as a result -- lead to his critical bogey.

(Photo: Courtesy Brad Redding)

When you chip around the green you need to set up to the shot with your hands in front of the ball. To do this you need to "bow" your left wrist toward the target. You right wrist will be "cupped." The ball will be of your right foot and your weight will favor your left side. This set up will allow you to make a more descending blow to the golf ball. Perry's swing is more of a shallow approach of the club in the downswing which means it is actually coming up as get to the ball. The shot needs to be played were your hands never get active. You set your hands and club at address and use your shoulders and arms for the stroke.

Since Kenny tends to use his hands, especially his right hand, a lot to square up the face this would tend to carry over to his other shots including chipping. Add to that the pressure cooker of the final day at the Masters you will tend to have some problems with this type of shot.

If you have a Perry type swing and you are in that situation were you need to get a good chip you need to be aware of what your tendency is and then remind yourself that you need to set your hands correctly at address and then keep your hands out of the shot. Easy to say, harder to do -- but the key here is to be AWARE of what your tendencies are.

What a tremendous Masters we witnessed -- from Phil's front-nine charge on Sunday to Anthony Kim's 11-birdie barrage on Friday to Angel Cabrera's ultimate victory and his second major championship title. I hope we are able to remember the great shots from the Masters more than the flawed ones. But even in the shots that didn't work out, there is still something to be learned.

Brad Redding is the PGA Director of Instruction at The Resort Club at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Redding is a seven-time PGA Teacher of the Year, six times in the Tennessee section and once in the Carolina sectoin. Brad has also shared his extensive golf knowledge on the Golf Channel, Golf Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest, PGA Magazine and USA Today. He has been a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher since 2001 and ranked #1 in South Carolina by Golf Digest in 2007.