How to Chip in Golf: Lower Your Scores

In this article, I am going to be discussing how to chip in golf and why it's something that many people put last on their priority list, but it arguably should be first.

Beginners and high handicap golfers (or most golfers, for that matter) lose the most strokes around the green.

You can know how to hit a driver with consistency and have decent iron shots, but if you can't repetitively hit quality chip shots around the green you will be putting a lot of pressure on yourself to be able to putt better, and your scorecard is less likely to reflect those quality long game shots.

Key Takeaways

• Get comfortable using various wedges and short irons for better chipping options.

• Pay attention to the green and surrounding landscape that will impact what happens after your chip hits the green and rolls.

• Weight should be ~60% towards your front foot, with the ball positioned slightly towards your back foot in your stance.

• Swing smoothly, using mostly your shoulders, in a fluid motion to make solid contact. Do not stab at the ball.

  
  

Which Club Should I Chip With?

This comes down to the situation you are in and how comfortable you are with your different wedges and short irons. 

Pay attention the next few rounds you play on the golf course. Notice some of your playing partners being stubborn and continuously using a “favorite club” for chipping in all different scenarios.

They are putting themselves at a considerable disadvantage by being too lazy to practice with their other types of wedges and short irons to get better for the variety of situational golf they run into.

Some tips floating around the internet say you can take the one-club approach if you're comfortable.

You are hindering yourself in the long run by not dedicating a little bit of practice time to become stronger with all your different wedges.

It's important to consider the situation and select the right club for your current position on the course.

Here's a brief guideline:

• Lower Lofted Wedges: Use a 52 to 56 degree wedge for a basic chip shot. This type of club provides optimal loft and bounce for most chip shots.

• Higher Lofted Wedges: When you need to carry the ball up over an obstacle and land it softly on the green, consider a higher-lofted club like a 58 or 60 degree lob wedge.

• Irons: When you need a lower trajectory and more runout on your chip, opt for an 8 or 9 iron to bump and run onto the green proficiently.

Get more comfortable with all your clubs and give yourself more options for the different shots. 

How Do You Set Up for a Chip in Golf? 

First, your feet should be narrower than your standard shoulder-width apart, with a slight knee bend.

Your weight should favor your front foot, with approximately 60-70% of your weight distributed on that side.

When using a lofted club, having a slight forward shaft lean is beneficial. 

This means positioning your hands ahead of the ball, which helps make solid contact and use the club's natural loft. Hold your club lightly with your fingers without creating tension in your forearms or wrists.

I recommend positioning the ball closer to your rear foot in your stance. 

This encourages a downward strike and helps ensure the leading edge of your club makes proper contact with the ball.

How Do You Hit a Chip in Golf?

The swing motion for chipping should be much simpler than a full swing. Focus on keeping your wrists quiet and with minimal hinge to maintain control and make proper contact with the golf ball.

Your shoulders should do most of the work, rocking back and forth to provide power and consistency.

Keep your weight slightly forward as you swing and turn your hips slightly to maintain balance and fluid motion. Do not take a stabbing approach at the ball when making contact.

Remember, the goal is to make clean contact with the ball using the leading edge of your clubface.

Your short game will improve dramatically as a result.

Should You Practice How to Chip?

Golf is not something that you can get better at by just watching YouTube videos or thinking about how to execute all the different techniques. 

I know the short game is the last thing golfers think of when practicing, and usually want to hit bombs on the driving range instead.

If you’re actually serious about getting better scores, though, you have to put some practice drills into your routine and improve your chipping skills.

A solid drill to try is the Ladder Drill, which focuses on distance control.

To perform this drill:

• Place five balls in a straight line, each about 5 yards apart.

• Start with the closest ball and chip it to a specific target.

• Move to the second ball and chip again, aiming for a spot slightly farther than the previous target.

• Continue this process with the remaining balls, progressively increasing the distance of your target.

Another effective drill is the Gate Drill, which will help you improve your consistency.

Set up two golf tees, about the width of a clubhead apart, and practice chipping through the "gate" without hitting the tees.

What Other Factors Should You Consider When Chipping?

When chipping, be aware of obstacles such as bunkers, water hazards, and the area around your lie.

Visualize how the ball will roll and how much it will slope after it lands on the green. Observing this will help you choose the right club for your shot and determine the ideal landing spot.

Here are a few factors to keep in mind regarding roll and slope:

• A steeper slope will cause the ball to roll more than a gentle one.

• Chipping onto an upslope usually results in a shorter roll after the ball hits the green.

• Conversely, a downslope will cause the ball to roll out longer and faster.

• On a sloped green, the ball will tend to roll towards the direction of the slope.

Build your muscle memory to consistently prepare yourself for chip shot challenges with the following tips:

• Adjust your club selection based on what is around your lie, the layout between your ball, and the distance to the green.

• Study the green and its contours to understand how your ball will react upon landing.

• Focus on maintaining a steady tempo and solid contact with the ball.

Practice with different clubs; be someone other than the one club person!

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