How To Hit A Chip Shot in Golf
Learn how to hit a chip shot and how to practice to become dominant around the green
Hitting bombs off the tee right down the middle is undoubtedly a great feeling. It's also a major advantage if you can pull that off consistently. However, for most amateur golfers, short game prowess plays a much more crucial role in improving their scores.
The short game, which includes chipping, pitching, and bunker play, is one of the most essential areas in a strong golf game. These shots comprise a huge percentage of the total strokes you take during a round.
Improving your short game can quickly and drastically lower your overall score, and you can do it by understanding the proper technique then putting in some work.
Today, let's focus specifically on learning the chip shot.
What is a Chip Shot?
The ideal chip shot has more run than rise. This means it gets on the ground quickly and rolls out toward your target. This shot allows you better distance control. You should generally use this shot when you are close to, but off of the green.
Proper Set Up for Chip Shots
Notice the ball position back in the stance and forward shaft lean in the set up
To execute a chip, set your body with your feet close together and slightly open to your target line. Lean into your lead leg, with your weight distribution around 60-40 favoring that lead leg.
Position the ball just back of center, and use a less-lofted club like a pitching wedge, 9, or 8 iron. Your hands and the club shaft will be slightly ahead of the ball at address.
Hitting the Chip Shot
Notice how she maintains the triangle formed by her arms and shoulders through impact
Notice the triangle created by your arms and shoulders. Focus on moving that triangle much like you would in the putting stroke. Use a smooth, even, and consistent back and through motion.
Maintain the position of the hands and shaft as you had them at address. Don’t manipulate your wrists or hands. Stay very steady with your body as it maintains that 60-40 weight distribution. There is very little body rotation, and you should focus mainly on rocking that triangle.
The length of the stroke, with its back and through motion, will be determined by the distance to the hole. This is just like with putting.
Your goal is to fly the ball a very short distance and then rely on roll after it lands to get it close to the hole. Because of this, your focus before hitting your shot should be on the spot on the green where you want the ball to land.
Cheap Drill for Perfect Contact on Chip Shots
Planning The Shot
If you already have a pre-shot routine where you look carefully at all aspects of the shot at hand, you are ahead of the curve! And if that’s the case, you are among a small minority.
You should strive to learn how to feel the firmness of the putting surface with your feet. Assess the wind speed and direction. Look for the direction in which the grain of the grass is growing, both on the green and the areas around it. Once you have this information, use it to determine your landing spot.
Pick Your Landing Spot
Once you thoroughly analyze the situation, commit to your spot and hyper-focus on it. Remember, it's not the hole itself that you are going to be looking at. In chipping, you must commit to a dedicated landing spot based on the club you use.
Be Decisive and Confident in Your Short Game
Indecision is deadly around the green.
Hitting a shot without deciding beforehand what you want to do can be a recipe for disaster. You might be torn between choosing something low and running or going higher with spin.
To become a great chipper, follow this simple recipe. Assess what's needed. Make your decision. Be confident. Execute the shot to the best of your ability.
How to Practice to Build a Dominant Short Game
To improve your chipping skills, you must first learn the fundamentals as outlined above. Practice them regularly, with a dedication to getting your technique locked in.
As you practice your chipping, you should split your focus into two areas.
Your first objective is to work on and perfect your technique. By doing this, you will develop a consistent and reliable motion.
The next step is to gamify the second half of your practice sessions. This helps you shift your focus away from perfecting your technique. Instead, you must focus on developing your instincts and strategy around the green.
Playing games with friends, such as an 18-hole up-and-down challenge, can be a fun and effective way to improve your chipping skills.
To do an up-and-down challenge, flip a tee to see who starts first. The player who wins the flip leads off and picks the first hole you chip to on the practice green.
The game's objective is to try to get up and down or hit one chip, followed by one putt. A player wins a hole if they get up and down and their opponent does not. If both players get up and down, the next hole is worth two holes. The winner of a hole picks the next hole you chip to.
Gamification is a perfect and enjoyable way to become a proficient chipper.