Don’t worry if chipping is a struggle for you; it happens to the best of us!
Thankfully, it’s actually quite easy to improve your chipping game. All you need is the right technique and a bit off practice. Chipping requires finesse – it’s about skill rather than power.
Take a look at our comprehensive guide to learn how to hit the perfect chip shot every time.
Chipping Explained
You might hear the terms “chipping” and “pitching” used interchangeably in golf chat. However, these terms actually mean different things.
Chipping is one of the less forceful motions, with the movement often described as “touch”. Chipping involves a short shot; usually made close to the green. A proper chip shot will ideally make the golf ball do the “heavy lifting” and roll most of the way to the hole.
Pitching, on the other hand, is a punchier, more powerful action, used for shots situated further from the hole. Unlike chipping, it requires a bigger swinging motion and the golf ball will travel in the air more than roll. Pitching can still be used to achieve a “roll to the hole” when necessary.
You’ll likely know that chipping is one of the most important aspects of the game. It’s all about making sure the golf ball carries past the rough, fairway and fringe/collar of the green and finishes close to or (even better) inside the hole. If you want to master your short game, there are a few key concepts to keep in mind when chipping:
- First, you need to make sure your setup is correct (your stance, ball position, etc.).
- Once you’ve got your setup perfect, focus on developing a good technique that will give you consistent contact every time.
- Finally, you need to be able to control the distance the ball travels on the golf course.
How To Chip In Golf
Golfing can be a blast, but it’s infuriating when you can’t seem to keep your balls on the golf course. The best way to boost your game is to practice your chipping. Do this and you’ll feel more confident and have even more fun when you’re not losing your ball every other minute.
Consider your posture
Golfing is all about having the right posture; hands beneath your shoulders, hips slightly bent forward. It’s especially important when you’re chipping, as you need to make sure there’s plenty of room for you to hit the ball.
Many beginner golfers make the dreaded mistake of tensing up their arms and shoulders, as well as bending their knees too much. If you don’t give yourself enough room to hit the ball, your contact with it won’t be consistent. Inconsistent contact means your chip shots won’t be as good as they could be.
So, focus on the correct posture, no matter how alien it may feel at first.
Setup and stance
You want to make sure you have clean contact with the golf ball when performing chip shots. You’ll potentially need to make a few minor adjustments to your normal setup and stance.
Even though the chipping and putting motions are relatively similar, chipping requires a higher swing speed. So, if your putting game is good, you can use the same setup and stance, but be sure to adjust your body posture during the swing.
Make sure you reach the bottom of your stroke only after the clubface has made contact with the ball. That way you should see a huge improvement in your chipping pretty soon.
Technique
The chipping technique in golf is all about gaining height and distance throughout a shot. So, we need to focus on ball-turf interaction, or simply put focus on hitting down into the turf: this will ensure the ball is correctly chipped.
Although it might sound counterintuitive to swing your club in a downward position, doing so will allow you to obtain enough loft while the ball is in the air.
My swing thought when chipping is ‘easy swing and ball first’. Technique and little swing thoughts like this means you’ll make contact with the ball just before hitting the golf ball with the clubface, resulting in a well-executed chip shot ( most of the time!)
However, remember to consider your posture and position. Make sure your upper body is leaning slightly forward while taking the shot, as this helps you make quality contact with the ball.
Decide on your stroke
If you want to up your chipping game, here’s the key: picture a triangle between your shoulders and arms when you’re about to hit the ball. This will help you keep your arms stable, but not too stiff.
Depending on your skill level, posture, experience, and body composition, the size of your stroke may vary. Make sure the golf club is slightly below your hip line when you swing, and keep the backswing and follow-through even. Both of these are crucial for making solid contact.
Fine-tune distance control
Once you’ve got the basics of chip shots mastered, it’s time to get a little more technical, and take a look at distance control.
When you practice chip shots enough, your stroke size will come naturally. You’ll eventually develop a stroke size that is more suited to your unique playing style.
Just remember: when you need to chip the ball a little further, it’s a good idea to go for a lower club. If you want more loft and don’t mind keeping your swing speed the same, a higher club is your best bet.
FAQs
What clubs are best to hit chip shots?
Using a club with more loft makes sense when chipping. After all, the aim is to get the ball up into the air quickly. You will probably want to consider a pitching wedge and a sand wedge.
Of course, there are no hard and fast rules to say you couldn’t use a hybrid. Many golfers prefer to use wedges, though, like the pitching wedge or sand wedge, as they increase the player’s control over the ball.
Do I need to be fit to chip in golf?
Men in particular who are starting out in golf assume that they require bulging biceps to hit a chip successfully.
However, just like pitch shots, chipping isn’t really about power, strength in the upper body, or even flexibility. So, no – you don’t need to be fit, as such, to chip. However, it won’t hurt your overall short game if you hit the gym now and again.
What is a forward shaft lean?
You might hear this often on the course – it’s “golf speak” for the angle of the shaft on impact. It is a term used to describe when the shaft of your club leans towards the target as the ball is hit. If you are just starting out, don’t worry too much about the technical lingo – there’ll be plenty of time for that once you’ve covered the basics!