Top 10 Chipping Tips
Improve your chipping technique with these chipping tips.
Golf chipping is a short, finesse shot used by golfers to get the ball from outside the green and onto the putting surface. Often used when the golfer is too close to the green to take a full swing, but too far away to putt, chipping can be a difficult skill to master. Check out these 10 chipping tips to gain confidence and improve your game!
1. Narrow Your Chipping Stance
Mastering chipping begins with working on your chipping stance. Many beginners will stand with their feet too far apart and their head behind the ball. Instead, when you step up to the ball, bring your feet close together, move your weight onto your front foot with the ball slightly behind your lead foot, and keep your head forward.
2. Choose the Best Club
Torn between which club to use for chipping? Try each of your clubs and attempt to land the ball between the target and yourself, then watch how the ball rolls out to learn what to expect from each. For the average golfer a pitching wedge will be the most consistent.
3. Pick a Landing Spot
The goal of chipping is to get your ball on the green and rolling near the hole. Try to get your ball to land on a target roughly one third of the way to the hole and see how much it rolls. If it doesn't reach the hole, you may need to change clubs.
4. Keep Wrists Firm
Keeping your wrists firm is very important for achieving the perfect chip by ensuring you hit the ball in the correct motion. Practice using your shoulders to move the club, not your wrists, with an alignment stick.
5. Hit Down
Now that you’ve worked on keeping your wrists firm, begin practicing hitting down on the ball. With your hands slightly in front of the club head, focus on maintaining your stance while rotating your body to swing through the ball.
6. Adjust Ball Position
Altering ball position in your stance can change the ball's reaction off the club. Begin with the ball in the middle of your stance. Moving it forward will increase height and reduce how much the ball rolls, useful for working with very little green or overcoming obstacles. Shifting the ball back lowers loft and promotes greater roll, which is ideal for expansive greens.
7. Control Backswing & Follow Through
In chipping, controlling your backswing and follow-through is crucial for achieving accurate and consistent results. The backswing establishes the shot's foundation, while the follow-through shapes the ball's trajectory and spin. Focus on your core as you move, keeping the backswing compact and controlled, then smoothly transitioning into a balanced follow-through to maintain control and achieve clean strikes.
8. Control Your Distance
Learn to make precise and strategic shots by developing control over how far you hit the ball. Create a designated chipping area with one or multiple targets at various distances. Start with shorter distances and gradually increase the challenge as you practice. Pay close attention to adjustments made to your club, stance, and other factors, noting the outcomes they produce. This mindful approach will help you refine your chipping technique and achieve consistent, desired results.
9. Brush the Turf
When chipping, brushing the turf refers to making a shallow connection with the ground after hitting the ball. Instead of digging into the turf or taking a divot, the goal is to lightly skim the grass. To practice this technique, concentrate on maintaining a shallow and descending angle of attack. Visualize the clubhead gently brushing the grass right after impact, rather than digging into it.
10. Practice, Practice, Practice
Consistent practice is key to elevating your chipping proficiency. Opt for shorter courses to combine practice with an enjoyable round of golf or visit the chipping green at Palm Harbor Golf Club for a dedicated chipping practice session.
Check out our local Golf Academies where you can greatly improve your chipping skills with the help of certified professionals.
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