Chipping Club Selection

Video Transcript

On this tip we are going to talk about what clubs you should use when you are close to the green and chipping. This is something that confuses a lot of amateur golfers. When I teach chipping I use a 6-iron, 8-iron, pitching wedge and sand wedge, this way you are not always using the same club. You are varying it a little bit, but it will keep it less confusing than if you are using every club in your bag. Quite simply, on this shot, we are looking for a minimum amount of air time and maximum amount of ground time. Always land the ball on a consistent spot on the green. If a 6-iron would roll too far from that spot then you use an eight, if the 8-iron would go too far then you use a pitching wedge and if the pitching wedge would go to far then use the sand wedge. Remember you are still chipping, but if the sand wedge when you are chipping goes to far then you have to pitch the ball. The key is that you always want to land the ball a short distance on the green, maybe three or four feet onto the green, in a nice flat area, and then let the ball roll all the way to the hole. On this first shot I have picked out an 8-iron, which should be the right club to land the ball from this distance off the green onto the green and then let it roll to the hole. An 8-iron is just about the right play from here. If I were to move up a little closer to the green the I would not have to hit the ball as hard to get it to the green in the air so then I can use a straighter faced club. Now the 6-iron would be the right play because my ball is going to go nice and low and roll with just a short little swing, landing the ball on the same part of the green as I did with the 8-iron. Now if I move back then I have to hit the ball harder because I am further from the green, and when I have to hit the ball harder now all of a sudden the six or 8-iron is going to roll too far once it lands. So now I would switch to the pitching wedge. Remember, my technique is always the same, my landing spot is always the same, and I let the ball roll the rest of the way to the hole. So use different clubs when you are chipping and you are sure to save shots on your game.

Hank Haney
Hank Haney Golf Ranch
2791 S. Stemmons Freeway
Lewisville, TX 75067
Tel: 972-315-5300

Hank Haney is the instructor to PGA Tour Pros Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara. He is listed as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers and Golf Digest's #4 instructor in the world.

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