Chipping is one of the most important skills a golfer can have. Mastering the art of chipping will make you a better player overall and can save you strokes on your score. In this post, we’ll discuss some tips for improving your chipping game. We’ll also provide video instruction to help get you started. So let’s get to it!
If your golf game could use a bit of improvement, you’ve come to the right place. With these easy-to-follow chipping tips, you can take your swing to the next level. Whether you’re a novice golfer or an experienced player looking to sharpen their skills, these techniques will help turn those troublesome chips into success stories as you work toward improving your scorecard.
Table of Contents
Golf chipping tips
Golf Chipping Tips – Ball Position: Most golfers hit a few chips from the “wrong” side of the ball to avoid hitting it too thin or fat. If you feel comfortable doing this, try feeling both sides of the ball to see which gives you better results. With practice, either side will become comfortable for you and your individual swing. However, I recommend using a ball position that’s more in line with traditional pitching wedge swings if possible. This way, you won’t have to make major adjustments when chipping on different types of lies (for example on greens).
Golf Chipping Tip – Club Face Alignment: Try this simple drill at home where you can compare how well the club face is aligned with your swing path. Take 5 balls and place them tightly together so the seam along the top of the ball is pointing straight down your target line. With your pitching wedge, chip towards where you want to land them (for example over a bucket or into another net). Look at how well all five balls landed in roughly the same spot. If most of them went left/right/long/short, then try again to improve contact next time until they’re all landing right on that imaginary ball seam. Once you can do this with a couple clubs, you’ll have a much better understanding about what type of swing works best for your chipping setup. You can even use taller grass as an alternative practice method if it’s easier for you to see the difference between good and bad swings.
Golf Chipping Tips – Club Face Angle: Remember that the club face angle can be slightly open or closed for different kinds of chip shots (click here to see examples). It’s also possible to play two-way shots with the club face pointed straight at your target or away from it. The best way to figure out where you should aim is by practicing both ways until you’re familiar enough with your preferred method.
Golf Chipping Tip – Swing Type: The two main types of pitching wedge swings are the traditional wristy swing and the flatter swing where you hinge your wrists less. The latter is popular with more advanced players because it creates a lot of club head speed (for extra distance) and there’s less margin for error. The former is normally used by beginners to get more spin on the ball or play safe chip shots. Since you’re just starting out, I recommend practicing both techniques to see which one gives you better results around the green. This will allow you to pick between them based on what kind of lie you’re hitting from, how far away the pin is, and how much backspin/roll you need out of your shots.
Golf Chipping Tips– Practice: Work on your chipping with every swing you take during warmups or practice sessions. Once you can consistently make solid contact, it will become much easier to transfer your skills to the course.
Go out and chip onto a practice green whenever you’re hitting balls. A lot of people only focus on their full swings by practicing at driving ranges, but chipping can be crucial around the greens – especially after tough lies or downhill putts. Practice under different types of pressure situations with golf chipping games like “chips for cash” or “chip off the chair.” This will help improve your touch around the greens without having to play real rounds every time.
Golf Chipping Tips – Course Management: Try to identify the best places on the green where you should be aiming your pitch shots and which areas to avoid. This way, you won’t accidentally hit too many risky or reaching chip shots while others might cause problems around the hole. If there’s a spot that’s hard for you to chip from, see if there are any other opportunities near it that give you an easier chance at par (like laying up short of a bunker instead). When chipping onto greens with slopes towards the cup, aim just below the ball at roughly a 45-degree angle so your putt will have less break after your ball hits and rolls back down. For flatter green speeds, aim closer to your actual target because the ball will naturally roll out after landing. You don’t have to try making every chip shot you play. Sometimes it’s better just to let your opponent’s putt the ball into the hole for an easy par instead of trying anything risky that could easily go wrong. This is especially true if they’re on their final stroke or are too far away from success (this method works well with beginners). Keep track of how much you typically score with each club on shots around the green. That way, you can see if there are any specific clubs that deserve more attention in practice like pitching wedges or short irons (and more likely to be used during a match).
Golf Chipping Tip – Basic Strategy: If your opponent is short on a par putt, aim for the hole with your chip shot since you’ll be in good shape if you make it. For birdie opportunities, pick out specific spots near the brink of where you can land so you can have an easy tap-in or at least two putts to finish off the hole.
When facing dangerous downhill putts, try hitting half chips that are less than three feet off the green, so they’ll roll down more smoothly instead of stopping abruptly after landing. This will give you better control over how much energy it has when moving towards the cup.
Chip shots on approach are often played with lofted clubs because the ball is most likely going to stop in a hurry after landing. Mid-irons and wedges work best for this purpose, so use your pitching wedge or 9 iron when you need to get the ball onto the green with a lofted club during chipping training.
If you’re behind trees or other obstacles when hitting a chip shot, play it safe by aiming away from them (so the branches won’t hit the golf ball). That way, there’s less of a chance that your ball will end up in unintended places like sand traps, water hazards, and worst of all; lost balls (if they do not inbound).
Golf Chipping Tips – Playing Around Flagsticks: When putting around flagsticks, aim between your opponent’s feet instead of directly at the flag for better results. This way, you’ll be able to get your ball near the cup even with obstructions in front of it or quicksand/water hazards around it.
If there isn’t enough room between the hole and an obstacle, play with less backspin (so your chip won’t bounce too high) so it will roll away from them after landing. Or else, try hitting thinner chips that go just over sand traps or other objects before quickly rolling right into the cup (similar applies to putting under trees with low branches).
Use sand wedges on short chipping situations when the ball is lying down somewhere on a green. You can also use these clubs for long approach shots with many slopes that are near the cup. That way, your ball will have less chances of rolling off-target if it meets sand or other loose materials. “Sideways” chipping is a good way to make chips land flat on their back without too much trouble. Make sure you keep at least 3/4ths of your club’s leading edge facing forward before making contact since this will help it roll along without sliding around.
When trying for longer chip shots, use harder swings (nearly full power behind each shot) so the ball has better distance control after landing. Or you can try using more lofted clubs up towards the green’s surface because they’ll naturally bounce right over obstructions.
If you have a good putting stroke, try hitting your chips while maintaining the same rhythm and angle as your putt. That way, you can get better results during chipping training because there will be less variation in how long the ball will travel.
The more loft there is on your club at impact, the less you should aim above the golf ball (since it’ll bounce more) so you can roll it along more smoothly. During chipping training, use sand wedges and 9 irons to get higher “bounces” after your shots land so they roll towards the hole instead of away from it.
Golf Chipping Tips – Pinpoint Accuracy: When putting around flagsticks, try hitting thinner chips that go just over sand traps or other objects before quickly rolling right into the cup. Or else, focus on staying low by having your hands lower than usual during setup so it doesn’t fly up into the air afterwards. This way, you won’t have as many problems with your ball bouncing off the flagstick or other obstacles.
If you’re getting too many “heavy” chipping results, check to see if you’re indeed striking down on the ball. To fix this, hit more upwards on your shots by keeping your hands above waist height during swing setup to avoid hitting them too hard.
Utilize “sideways” chipping so your chip shots land flat without rolling away from the cup too much. For even longer shots, try using lofted clubs up towards green’s surface so they bounce right over obstructions before landing near the hole.
What is the rule of 12 in golf chipping?
The rule of 12 in golf chipping states that any chip shot from a distance greater than 12 yards away from the hole should be played using a lofted club. This is because long chips without a lot of backspins will generally roll too far after contacting the ground, which makes it harder to get near the cup by the time it finishes rolling.
Since the rule of 12 in golf chipping implies that you can get closer to the hole by choosing lofted clubs for these types of shots, just remember that your ball will have less chances of rolling off-target if it meets sand or other loose materials.
What is the proper chipping technique?
There are many different golf chipping techniques, but the less complicated method is just to hit your chips downwards while crouching during swing setup, follow through fully and keep your hands below waist height when executing the shot.
During basic chipping, try using more lofted clubs up towards green’s surface because they’ll naturally bounce right over obstructions. Also stay low by keeping your hands below waist height during swing setup so you don’t make hitting the ball too hard a problem for yourself.
If you have a good putting stroke, try hitting your chips while maintaining the same rhythm and angle as your putt. This way, there will be less variation in how long it takes for each chip landing to reach the hole.
What is the rule of 24 in golf chipping?
The rule of 24 in golf chipping states that any chip shot between 6 and 24 yards away from the hole should be played using a lofted club to limit backspin. Since you won’t get much distance after your ball lands on these kinds of shots, make sure to pick out an iron with enough loft to keep it up in the air for longer during follow through.
A basic way to chip is by hitting downwards while crouching during swing setup, following through fully and keeping your hands below waist height when executing the shot. Remember not to hit it too hard so there’s less variation in how long each landing takes to reach the hole.
If you’re getting too many “heavy” chipping results, check to see if you’re indeed striking down on the ball. To fix this, hit more upwards on your shots by keeping your hands above waist height during swing setup and you’ll get a higher shot that won’t fly into the air afterwards.
Do I need to use wedges when chipping?
Hitting short pitching shots (between 1 and 20 yards) requires either a 9 or 8 iron while pitches over 20 yards away usually require at least an 8 iron. The common aim here is to use clubs with less loft to hit it closer, which can be done by using a 9 iron for shots 20-30 yards away and 8 iron 30-45 yards away from the target.
Hitting short pitches requires either a 9 or 8 iron while pitching over 20 yards away usually requires at least an 8 iron. The common aim here is to use clubs with less loft to chip closer, which can be done by using a 9 iron for shots between 20 and 30 yards away and an 8 iron up to 45 yards.
What is some par 3’s that are good “chipping” holes?
The most popular holes on the course with slopes near green surfaces are Par 3s since you can get a much better shot by using lofted clubs when chipping.
When aiming for the cup, try to approach green surfaces from an angle instead of straight-on so that your ball lands on loose materials or less bunkers. The more obstructed your line is, the harder it will be to chip onto the green and find your target.
If there are lots of bunkers surrounding par 3 greens, try taking “sideways” shots so they land flat without rolling away from the hole too much.
What factors should I consider in golf chipping?
Be sure to check which kind of surface you’re playing on before choosing between different types of chips. Sand chips work best at courses with sandy terrain while firm ground chips work best on firm surfaces.
When aiming for the cup, try to approach green surfaces from an angle instead of straight-on so that your ball lands on loose materials or less bunkers. The more obstructed your line is, the harder it will be to chip onto the green and find your target.
If there are lots of bunkers surrounding par 3 greens, try taking “sideways” shots so they land flat without rolling away from the hole too much.
Hitting short pitching shots (between 1 and 20 yards) requires either a 9 or 8 iron while pitches over 20 yards away usually require at least an 8 iron. The common aim here is to use clubs with less loft to hit it closer, which can be done by using a 9 iron for shots 20-30 yards away and 8 iron 30-45 yards away from the target.
How do you chip short distances?
When aiming for the cup, try to approach green surfaces from an angle instead of straight-on so that your ball lands on loose materials or less bunkers. The more obstructed your line is, the harder it will be to chip onto the green and find your target.
Hitting short pitching shots (between 1 and 20 yards) requires either a 9 or 8 iron while pitches over 20 yards away usually require at least an 8 iron. The common aim here is to use clubs with less loft to hit it closer, which can be done by using a 9 iron for shots between 20 and 30 yards away and an 8 iron up to 45 yards.
What are some important factors you should consider in chipping?
1) The amount of green that slopes away from you- If there are no obstructions or very little, then aim to land it on the green surface. Use less lofted clubs up towards the surface so they bounce right over obstructions before landing near the hole.
2) The length of your chip shot – short pitches and chips (between 1 and 20 yards) require 9 or 8 irons while pitches over 20 yards away usually require at least an 8 iron. The common aim here is to use clubs with less loft to hit it closer, which can be done by using a 9 iron for shots 20-30 yards away and 8 iron 30-45 yards away from the target.
3) The distance between you and the flagstick – When aiming for the cup, try to approach green surfaces from an angle instead of straight-on so that your ball lands on loose materials or less bunkers. The more obstructed your line is, the harder it will be to chip onto the green and find your target.
4) The amount of sand around the green – If there are lots of bunkers surrounding par 3 greens, try taking “sideways” shots so they land flat without rolling away from the hole too much.
5) Amount of overgrowth in the direction you’re aiming – Be sure to check which kind of surface you’re playing on before choosing between different types of chips. Sand chips work best at courses with sandy terrain while firm ground chips work on firm surfaces.
6) The hardness of the surface you’re playing on – Hitting short pitching shots (between 1 and 20 yards) requires either a 9 or 8 iron while pitches over 20 yards away usually require at least an 8 iron. The common aim here is to use clubs with less loft to hit it closer, which can be done by using a 9 iron for shots between 20 and 30 yards away and an 8 iron up to 45 yards.
What are some common mistakes people make when chipping?
One of the most common mistakes that people make when chipping is taking too long with each shot. This can be caused by over-thinking the technique, or simply being too anxious and trying to rush the shot. Taking too long also increases the chances of poor contact, which can result in a poor strike with little or no control over trajectory and distance.
Another mistake that is often made is not using the right type of club for the situation. Chipping requires different clubs depending on factors such as how far away the ball is from the hole, how much spin you want to get on it, and what angle you want to approach from. Using a wrong type of club can lead to inaccurate shots due to lack of control over spin and trajectory.
It is also easy for golfers to forget about their ball position when chipping. Ball position has a major influence over where your shot will end up—an improper setup could cause you to hit either under- or over-clubbing your target area. Furthermore, many golfers don’t take into account other critical elements such as wind direction and speed; failing to do so can have significant impact on accuracy due to movement of the ball mid-flight.
Finally, some golfers tend to grip their club too tight during chipping which leads them lack control over each shot. A tight grip can lead to an inconsistent stroke as well as an inability to commit fully to each shot’s momentum and follow through at impact—both key components in generating power and accuracy in any given chip shot. It’s important for golfers understand that a relaxed grip gives them more control without sacrificing feel when chipping around the green.
Do you hit down on the ball when chipping?
No, it’s important to be firm with your shots since dropping the ball will cause it to bounce off course. Even if you’re not trying for distance, hitting down can cause you to put more spin on the surface which makes it go shorter distances.
How do you make a chip checkup?
Most of the time, chips checkup when they hit on more firm surfaces since this causes less rolling. Besides, if you aim for an angle to get over obstacles before landing on the green, your ball will have plenty of room to bounce off course without going too far.
How do you chip like a pro?
One of the most important parts of a chip is the initiation and follow through, which can be improved by taking lessons from a coach. In addition to this, improving your set-up with posture, grip and alignment will make it easier to control your chips as well as improve club contact since these factors play an essential role in striking the ball properly.
What’s the best way to chip?
The best approach during a chip is keeping the club face square with aim at your target for 100% accuracy. However, if you’re closer to figuring out where you want your ball to go, then closing or widening your stance will help you hit more different kinds of shots without having too much trouble controlling their trajectory.
How do you bounce when chipping?
It’s important to be aware of how much the surface of your course is worn down and if there’s a lot of sand surrounding the green since these factors will affect how you land your shots. If it’s not too firm, then landing on the green with less bounce is ideal while hitting hard surfaces with more bounce can generate power.
What do professionals wear when chipping?
During practice rounds, most pro golfers wear what they would usually wear during normal play such as sneakers and shorts (for men) or dresses (for women). During official tournaments, however, they might put on new shoes that have less friction on greens to avoid getting their feet stuck in the turf. Some people even consider adding balls into their socks before play to maximize their swing.
Are there any other things that help the ball bounce?
Besides hitting off a surface with more or less bounce, champion golfers can also control where they end up landing shots on greens by using different kinds of wedges. Pitching wedges have flatter faces while gap and lob wedges have higher face angles to allow the ball to pass over obstacles on tees or fairways. In addition, pitching wedges usually weigh at least 50 grams to add speed while gap and lob wedges usually weigh around 80 grams to add some weight behind them for added power.
What type of wedge is used in chipping?
Chipping requires a pear-shaped wedge with low center of gravity that’s about 48 to 52 degrees. Besides, it should have a grooved face for more suction and a blade length of 2.75 inches while its sole should be about 0.125 inches thick to prevent it from digging into the turf when landing on surfaces that aren’t too firm.
>>> See more: TOP 3 GOLF CHIPPING TIPS
Conclusions
Chipping is a very important concept to learn if you want to take your game to the next level. It’s an extremely difficult skill because it requires a bit of finesse and risk-taking but mastering chipped shots will make you feel like a pro in no time. Everyone can learn more useful skills on our website.
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Jeremy Lambert is a passionate professional golfer who has always had an affinity for the sport. He began playing golf in his early teens, quickly developing an enthusiasm for perfecting his craft and competing in tournaments. With unwavering determination, he honed his skills to become an accomplished athlete on the course. His extensive knowledge of technique and golf etiquette have earned him respect from fellow players and coaches alike. His cheerful demeanor and dedication to the game are admirable qualities that prove him to be a true champion of the green.