About Golf Chip Shots

Take your left hand and slide it at least halfway down the shaft of your golf club. Take the small finger on your right hand and put it in the groove between the forefinger and middle finger on your left hand. This is the same grip most golfers take for all strokes, except you have slid your hands down to get a greater "feel" for your club.

Take your stance about 12 to 14 inches from the ball. The ball should be about three or four inches from your back foot and almost all of your weight should be on your front side. In a normal golf swing, the ball is propelled as you transfer your weight from your back side to your front. With a chip, the work is done with the arms and there is no weight transfer.

Bring the club about 12 to 18 inches back to start your swing. Come forward with good pace through the ball and stop about 12 inches or so after you have made contact. With the chip shot, the ball will roll and bounce. It will only go a few inches in the air. The chip shot is the right choice when you are 10 to 50 yards from the green and there are no hazards in your way. A well-struck chip will finish its journey about five to ten feet from the hole.