Trevor Ng
Chipping is a vital part of golf, and it's a skill that can be improved with practice and the right technique. Many golfers struggle with the short game, and chipping is often an area that can let players down. However, with the right approach, golfers can improve their chipping accuracy and lower their scores. This involves focusing on scoring rather than just the mechanics of the swing, and finding a technique that works for the individual. This could include trying different grips and swings, and practising on various surfaces. Additionally, golfers can try techniques such as keeping their hands forward throughout the impact or presetting their lower body open to the target.
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What You'll Learn
Chipping techniques
Find a Comfortable Technique
It is important to find a chipping technique that suits your style and feels comfortable for you. Experiment with different grips, such as the butterfly grip, and try out various swings to see what works best. Don't worry too much about doing it the "correct" way or how it looks. Focus on what gets the ball close to the hole.
Slow and Steady
Sometimes, slowing down your takeaway and swinging slower than you think necessary can improve your chipping. This can help you achieve a more controlled and precise swing, ensuring you don't come "over the top" and improving your ability to turn the ball over.
Practice Makes Perfect
Practising your chipping is crucial. Find a space in your backyard or a hard surface like a patio or short carpet to practice on. You can also use your house carpet to figure out the bounce of the loft, and then graduate to using real golf balls to build pressure. The more you practice, the better you'll become.
Stance and Foot Placement
Your stance and foot placement play a significant role in chipping. Try opening up your stance to allow your hands to move through the shot more easily. Additionally, placing your feet close together, with your weight on your front foot, can prevent you from falling back onto your back foot and scooping the ball into the air.
Club Control
Improving your club control is essential for effective chipping. Preset your lower body open to the target by aiming your feet left of the target line. This simplifies the rotation of your body through the shot. Additionally, consider using a 54 or 56 club initially and then progressing to other clubs as you master the technique.
Visualisation and Reading the Green
Visualise the ball jumping off your clubface and imagine the line it will take to the hole. Reading the green is crucial—take into account whether it's uphill, downhill, or left to right, just as you would when putting. This will help you execute the shot with precision.
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Practice makes perfect
One technique to try is to preset your lower body open to the target. You can do this by aiming your feet left of the target line. This makes it simple for your body to rotate through the shot automatically. Putting your feet close together also helps to prevent you from falling onto your back foot. You can also try a drill where you hit chips with just your right hand, which can help sync up your body with your hands.
Another tip is to focus on scoring rather than perfecting your swing. Keep a tally of how many shots you take on each hole inside 50 yards, and if you're taking three or four shots around the green, you may benefit from practicing your chipping.
It's also important to read the green and envision the ball's path to the hole. Is the green uphill, downhill, right to left, or left to right? This will help you adjust your technique accordingly.
Remember, practice is key. The more you chip, the more you'll improve your technique and your scoring.
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Stance and grip
To chip a golf ball effectively, you need to focus on your stance and grip. The stance and grip are crucial elements of the chipping technique, which is a valuable skill for any golfer to master.
Firstly, the stance. A good stance is narrow, with your feet about one clubhead apart. This stance provides a solid foundation for your swing and helps you maintain balance. You should also keep your feet close together, which makes it easier to rotate your body, an important aspect of chipping. Your front shoulder should be placed directly over your front foot, ensuring your weight is slightly forward. This helps you make a solid, descending blow when striking the ball. For right-handed golfers, your hips and feet should aim left of the target, while your shoulders still point towards the target. This setup keeps your hips and legs from obstructing your swing. Distribute your weight with about 70% on your front leg. This weight distribution is crucial for short chips, along with a 50-50 weight distribution and a shaft perpendicular to the ground.
Now, the grip. You want to grip lower on the handle, also known as choking down on the club. This gives you more control over the club and helps you recreate the impact position of full-speed swings. Your wrists should be relaxed and soft, allowing them to move subtly as the club falls into the ground at impact.
Remember, chipping is about control, not power. By adjusting your stance and grip, you can achieve a clean, consistent strike.
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Weight distribution
When setting up for a chip shot, it is important to position your feet close together, with your feet aimed slightly left of the target line. This setup helps you maintain balance and control during the swing. It also prevents you from falling back onto your back foot during the downswing, which can lead to inconsistent contact and poor shots.
The distribution of weight during the chipping motion should favour the front foot. Specifically, you should aim to place most of your weight on the front foot, which is typically the left foot for right-handed golfers. This weight distribution helps ensure that you make clean contact with the ball and prevents you from scooping the ball into the air, which can result in a loss of control and inaccurate shots.
To further enhance your weight distribution, consider turning your feet slightly towards the hole, which can help open up your stance. This technique allows your hands to move more freely and accelerates them through the ball. It is important to maintain this weight distribution throughout the entire swing, from the setup to the follow-through.
Practising this technique on various surfaces, such as a patio, short carpet, or even your backyard, can help you refine your weight distribution and overall chipping skill. Additionally, focusing on scoring rather than perfecting your swing mechanics can help you develop a more effective chipping strategy. Remember, the key to mastering weight distribution is to maintain a stable base with most of your weight on the front foot, preventing unnecessary movements that can affect your accuracy.
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Visualising the shot
Some golfers recommend turning your feet towards the hole and placing the ball at the back of your right heel. This can help with direction and distance. You can also try placing your feet close together, with your weight on the front foot, to prevent falling onto your back foot and scooping the ball into the air.
It's important to find a technique that works for you. Some golfers prefer a very wristy, handsy swing, while others focus on keeping their hands forward throughout the impact. Practising on different surfaces and with different clubs can help you find your preferred technique.
Visualisation can also be aided by watching professional golfers. For example, studying Phil Mickelson's "Secrets of the Short Game" DVD or YouTube videos can provide insights into the feel and technique required for successful chipping.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no single best technique for chipping in golf—it's important to figure out what works for you. That being said, there are a few general tips that can help improve your chipping:
- Practice, practice, practice!
- Focus on scoring rather than perfecting your swing.
- Place your weight on your front foot to prevent falling onto your back foot.
- Keep your hands forward throughout impact.
- Open up your stance so your hands can accelerate through the ball more easily.
A common mistake when chipping is falling onto the back foot and scooping the ball into the air. This can be avoided by keeping your weight on your front foot and putting your feet close together. Another mistake is being timid in the downswing—it's better to hit the ball too far than not far enough.
Yes, there are a few drills that can help improve your chipping:
- Practice chipping on a hard surface like a patio or short carpet to get a feel for making contact with the ball.
- Try chipping with just your right hand to sync up your body and hands.
- Mark down how many shots you take on each hole inside 50 yards to identify areas for improvement.
