Ava Romero
Chipping is a valuable skill for any golfer to master. It can be a source of anxiety for many golfers, but it is a simple way to lower your score and build confidence. The key to a great chip shot is to understand that golf swings are arcs and to focus on scoring rather than technique. There are many different methods and techniques to improve your chipping, from adjusting your stance and setup to practising with alignment rods or on a hard surface. Ultimately, the best method for chipping is the one that works for you.
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What You'll Learn
How to improve your chipping technique
Chipping is a vital skill to master in golf, and improving your technique can help lower your score and build confidence. Here are some tips to enhance your chipping technique:
Posture and Setup
Good posture is essential for effective chipping. Bend forward from the hips, letting your arms hang directly below your shoulders. This creates a space for your arms and club to swing. Avoid a squatty posture, which can lead to inconsistent contact. Keep your feet close together, no more than 6 inches apart, to prevent falling back onto your back foot.
Weight Distribution
Distribute your weight evenly, with approximately 55% on your front foot. This enables you to get your shoulder level and optimise rotation on the downswing. Keep your weight on your lead foot during the setup and swing.
Practice with Different Clubs
Experiment with different clubs to find the right one for your chipping technique. Practice with a seven iron and a lob wedge, and choose the one that gives you better results.
Wrist Action
Minimise wrist movement during chipping. Professionals exhibit less wrist motion in chip shots compared to pitch shots. Focus on creating wrist flexion at the top of your backswing to position the club optimally for striking the ball.
Practice and Repetition
Consistency in chipping comes with practice. Dedicate time to practice your chipping technique, focusing on repetition and muscle memory. Practice on various surfaces, such as a patio, short carpet, or even your backyard, to improve your technique and adaptability.
Remember, chipping is an individual skill, and you should find what works best for you. Focus on scoring and mastering the fundamentals, and you'll see improvements in your chipping technique and overall golf game.
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Common mistakes to avoid
Golfers often make the same mistakes when chipping, which holds them back from improving their game. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
Poor Address Position
One of the most common faults is setting up to the ball as if you're about to hit a long-distance shot, when in reality, you're only trying to advance the ball a short distance. This can lead to inconsistent contact and poor chipping. Instead, narrow your stance with your feet about one clubhead apart, and bend forward from the hips, letting your arms hang directly below your shoulders.
Incorrect Weight Distribution
Many golfers have a wide stance and try to "lift" the ball into the air by transferring their weight to the back foot. This often results in falling back onto the back foot and scooping the ball in the air. Instead, place all your weight on the front foot. You should be able to chip standing just on your front foot.
Over-Reliance on Arms
Poor chippers often rely too much on their arms when attempting to hit the ball. Instead, the torso should control the movement through rotation, with the arms coming along for the ride. Allow your chest to turn back and through, collecting the ball along the way.
Incorrect Swing Direction
A common fault is dragging the club too far to the inside too early in the backswing, which can cause the club to bottom out too early. This can lead to either fat or thin shots. Additionally, many golfers think they need to swing straight at the target when chipping, which is incorrect. Instead, you should swing at the ground and not the golf ball, using the bounce of the club.
Lack of Confidence
Lacking confidence when chipping can be demoralising and damaging to your scorecard. It can place extra pressure on the long game and putting, leading to increased anxiety and poor performance.
By avoiding these common mistakes and focusing on improving your chipping technique, you can lower your scores and build your confidence as a golfer.
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Chipping drills and practice tips
Drill 1: The Alignment Stick
Use an alignment stick to maintain an arm and club position to prevent you from flipping your wrists during impact. Take your standard grip on the club along with the alignment rod, ensuring a significant portion of the stick extends past the grip, running parallel to the shaft. Start with a few hip-height swings and if you're breaking down and flipping your wrists, the alignment stick will let you know by smacking into your side. Get comfortable with this motion and hit balls with the alignment stick for 10-15 minutes. Then, remove the alignment rod and hit some more shots with just your regular club.
Drill 2: The Hula Hoop
Set up a hula hoop (or a similar-sized circle made with string) and place golf balls in 5-yard intervals from the hoop, ranging from 5 to 40 yards. Start with the ball closest to the hoop and chip it, aiming to land the ball within the hoop. For each successful chip, move on to the next ball. If you miss, restart from the beginning. This drill challenges you to utilize multiple chip shot types and helps you track your progress.
Drill 3: Chipping Coins
Set some coins on a carpet and try to chip them cleanly, sending the coins into the air. You can place a cup in the middle and attempt to chip the coins into it, counting how many out of 10 coins you can successfully chip into the cup. This drill trains you to make crisp contact with your chip shots and improves your accuracy.
Drill 4: 'Darts'
Take six balls and throw them randomly around the green, without changing the lie. Then, either set up a four-foot circle around a hole or imagine one. Try to chip as many balls as possible into the circle from the random locations. This drill introduces an element of pressure, simulating the pressure of achieving the best score on the course.
General Tips:
- Practice hitting different lengths of chips so you become comfortable with various distances.
- Work on your short game. A reliable short game will help you achieve lower scores.
- Focus on your wrists and ensure they remain relaxed during chipping.
- Practice with the same model of golf ball that you use in competition to ensure consistent distance control.
- Avoid using your wrists too much or too little during chipping.
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Choosing the right club
First, it's important to understand the difference between a chip and a pitch. A chip shot is a short-game stroke where the ball carries into the air and then rolls an equal or slightly longer distance. It has a lower ball flight and travels a shorter distance than a pitch shot. Pitch shots are typically higher and longer, ranging from 30 to 80 yards, while chip shots are within that distance (30 yards or less).
When chipping, the goal is to keep the ball under the wind and use the green to your advantage. This means using "minimum air and maximum ground." You only need enough loft to get the ball to the putting surface. If you need very little loft, a driver, fairway wood, or hybrid club may work well. For more loft and less roll, a wedge may be a better option.
The distance of your shot will also determine the club you choose. For shorter chips, your stance should be narrow, and the ball position should be slightly back. Chipping is the one shot in golf where you can use all the clubs in your bag, depending on how much loft you need versus roll.
If you have a low handicap, using the wrong club could mess up your shot. Additionally, if you're committed to the sport, it's better to learn proper chipping techniques instead of relying on a specialty club. One type of specialty club is a chipper, which is a utility club designed for chip shots. It's about the same length as a seven iron but with the loft of a wedge. It also has an extra-wide sole, making it larger than a standard wedge. Chippers can be helpful for beginners, juniors, seniors, or anyone with a high handicap.
Ultimately, the choice of club depends on the specific situation and your personal preferences. Some golfers chip well using a wrist-y motion, while others prefer a free-flowing move. It's important to determine what works best for you and make adjustments as needed.
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Chipping from different lies
When it comes to chipping in golf, there are various techniques and adjustments that can be employed depending on the lie of the ball. Here are some tips and techniques for chipping from different lies:
Basic Setup and Technique
Firstly, let's cover the basic chipping technique, which can then be adjusted based on the lie. For a basic chip shot, use a 52- to 56-degree wedge. Position the ball in the center and ensure your weight is forward, with your left shoulder over your left foot. This is crucial as your trunk is the heaviest part of your body, so it should move forward, not your hips. Grip the club with your right hand first, keeping your right arm straight, and then add your left hand, ensuring your shoulders are level. Keep the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders intact during the chipping motion.
Chipping from a Good Lie on the Collar of the Green
For a good lie on the collar of the green, adopt a comfortable, narrow stance with most of your weight on your lead foot. Stand fairly close to the ball and raise the handle of the wedge at address, making it more vertical and lifting the heel of the club off the turf. Use a simple chipping motion with minimal to no wrist hinge.
Chipping from a Tough Lie in the Rough
When facing a tough lie in the rough, maintain a narrow stance with your weight favoring your lead foot, but keep your natural distance from the ball. Keep the handle neutral or lower it slightly, and open the face of the wedge. Use a little wrist hinge to promote a steeper angle of attack and minimize the long grass between the clubface and the ball. Rotate your chest through the shot as you unhinge your wrists to pop the ball up softly.
Chipping from Uneven Lies
When dealing with uneven lies, such as slopes or downhill/uphill lies, remember that the ball flight tends to follow the slope. For instance, if the ball is above your feet, it will tend to move left for right-handed golfers, and vice versa. Uphill lies will result in the ball going higher and shorter, while downhill lies will make the ball go lower and farther. To manage uneven lies, make adjustments to your setup, such as aiming more to the right (or left for left-handed players) to change the lie angle of the club. Ensure your body posture is angled and parallel to the slope, and position your shoulder and hip angles as if you're standing on a level lie.
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Frequently asked questions
A chip shot is a short-game stroke in which the ball carries into the air and then rolls an equal distance or slightly longer than it carries. It is a short, controlled swing with little to no wrist hinge.
There is no single infallible technique for chipping, but there are some general guidelines that can improve your chipping:
- Keep your feet close together and your weight forward.
- Keep your arms and shoulders in a triangle formation.
- Chipping does not require a full body rotation like a full golf swing.
- Focus on making solid contact with the ball.
Improving your chipping technique can be one of the simplest ways to lower your score. Here are some tips to improve your chipping:
- Practice with an alignment rod to check the consistency of your stroke.
- Understand flight-to-roll ratios and how they affect your shot.
- Keep your upper body tilted towards the target to create a descending blow.
- Practice on different surfaces, such as a patio, short carpet, or a backyard.
Some common mistakes to avoid when chipping include:
- Trying to help the ball into the air by tilting back, which can cause poor contact and bad distance control.
- Failing to rotate the lower body, resulting in poor contact and bad distance control.
- Hinging the wrist too much, which can lead to flipping at the ball.
