How to Chip Around the Green in Golf

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

BLOCKQUOTE_0

Quick Answer

• Focus on a crisp, descending strike with your wedge.
• Use a club with sufficient loft, like a sand or lob wedge.
• Maintain a stable lower body and a pendulum-like swing motion.

Who This Is For

• Golfers who are tired of leaving chips short or hitting them too far.
• Anyone looking to improve their short game and save strokes around the green.

What to Check First for Chipping Around the Green

• Club Selection: You’ll generally want a club with plenty of loft. Think sand wedge, lob wedge, or even a pitching wedge. The higher the loft, the less roll you’ll get.
• Ball Lie: Is the ball sitting up nicely on a clean fairway, or is it nestled down in some gnarly rough? A tight lie needs a different touch than a fluffy one.
• Green Conditions: How far do you need to carry the ball to get it onto the green? Is the green fast and firm, or slow and receptive? This dictates how much rollout you can expect.
• Distance to Pin: This is obvious, but crucial. A 10-yard chip is different from a 30-yard chip, even if they look similar from the tee box.

Step-by-Step Plan: Mastering How to Chip Around the Green

Let’s get you dialed in for those crucial shots. This is all about control and clean contact.

• Choose Your Club: Select a wedge with enough loft for the shot. Look for a club that allows the ball to get airborne quickly and stop near the hole. Mistake: Using too little loft, like an 8-iron, which will likely cause the ball to roll too far and potentially off the green. For most chips, a sand wedge or lob wedge is your best friend. I usually have my trusty Vokey in the bag for these.

• Set Up Your Stance: Position your feet slightly open to your target line, with your weight favoring your lead foot. Observe that your weight remains mostly on your front foot throughout the entire swing. This setup encourages an “irons-first” contact, meaning the clubhead hits the ball before the turf. Mistake: Shifting weight back and forth during the swing. This is a recipe for inconsistency, leading to either fat or thin shots. Keep that weight glued to your lead side.

• Grip the Club: Hold the club with a light, relaxed grip. Feel for minimal tension in your hands and arms. A death grip is your enemy here. You want the club to feel like an extension of your arms, not a vise. Mistake: Gripping too tightly. This restricts your wrist hinge, makes your arms stiff, and prevents the clubhead from releasing naturally through impact. Think 4 or 5 on a scale of 10 for grip pressure.

• Ball Position: For most standard chips, place the ball slightly back of center in your stance, favoring your lead foot. Check that the ball position is consistent for each chip you attempt. This position helps ensure you’re hitting down on the ball. Mistake: Moving the ball too far forward or back. If it’s too far forward, you’ll tend to scoop. Too far back, and you might hit it too low and thin.

• The Swing: Make a short, pendulum-like backswing and a smooth, unhurried follow-through. Focus on keeping your wrists relatively quiet and letting your arms and shoulders work together. The swing should feel controlled and compact. Mistake: Trying to “scoop” or lift the ball into the air with your hands and wrists. This is a common beginner error that leads to inconsistent loft and often results in hitting the equator of the ball.

• Impact: Aim to strike down on the ball, making contact with the ball first, then the turf just after the ball. Notice a small, clean divot after the ball if you’re doing it right. This descending blow is key for solid contact and predictable loft. Mistake: Hitting behind the ball (a “fat” shot) or hitting the equator of the ball (a “thin” shot). Both are usually caused by poor weight distribution or trying to help the ball into the air.

• Follow-Through: Your follow-through should be shorter than your backswing, but still smooth and committed. Observe that the clubhead continues its arc towards the target. Mistake: Stopping your swing abruptly after impact. This kills momentum and can lead to a loss of control. Imagine the clubhead “releasing” through the ball.

Mastering How to Chip Around the Green

Getting the ball close to the hole from off the green is a huge confidence booster and a guaranteed way to lower your scores. The fundamental principle of chipping is to use a club with sufficient loft to get the ball airborne quickly, land it on the green, and let it roll out towards the hole. It’s less about a big swing and more about precise contact and a controlled motion. Mastering the Chip Shot Around the Green is a skill every golfer should develop [1].

The setup is paramount. Your stance should be narrower than a full swing, with your weight predominantly on your lead foot. This encourages a downward strike. The ball position should be slightly back of center. This allows the clubface to strike the ball on its downward arc. Imagine your arms and the club forming a triangle that stays relatively intact throughout the swing. Avoid excessive wrist hinge; think of it as a putting stroke with a longer club. The length of your swing dictates the distance. A shorter backswing means a shorter follow-through, and vice versa.

When you’re practicing, focus on different lies. A fluffy lie allows you to be a bit more aggressive, while a tight lie requires a cleaner strike with less chance of digging. If you’re in the rough, you might need a bit more loft and a slightly steeper angle of attack to get the ball out cleanly. The key is to feel the clubhead making solid contact with the ball, not the turf. A little divot after the ball is a good sign. If you’re consistently hitting behind the ball, check your weight distribution and ensure you’re not trying to lift the ball. If you’re topping it, you might be leaning back or lifting your head.

Common Mistakes in Chipping

• Gripping Too Tightly — Restricts wrist action and leads to a stiff, jerky swing, preventing a smooth release through impact. — Relax your grip pressure; aim for a 4-5 out of 10.
• Scooping the Ball — Trying to lift the ball with your hands and wrists. This causes inconsistent loft, leading to thin or fat shots and a lack of control. — Focus on a descending blow, hitting the ball first, then the turf.
• Poor Weight Distribution — Shifting weight from your lead foot to your trail foot during the swing. This leads to swaying, loss of balance, and inconsistent contact. — Keep your weight favoring your lead foot throughout the swing.
• Over-Swinging — Making a backswing that is too long for the intended distance. This results in a loss of control, poor timing, and inconsistent contact. — Keep your swing length controlled and focused, matching it to the distance you want to hit the ball.
• Topping the Ball — Hitting the ball on its equator, causing it to skid or fly very low. Often caused by lifting your head or trying to help the ball up. — Focus on your setup, keeping your weight forward, and maintaining your head position through impact.
• Hitting Behind the Ball (Fat Shot) — The club digs into the turf behind the ball, losing energy and leaving the ball short. Often caused by poor weight distribution or a steep angle of attack without proper setup. — Ensure your weight is forward and you’re striking the ball first. A slightly shallower angle of attack can help.
• Thinking Too Much — Overanalyzing the stroke, the lie, or the wind. This gets your head out of the shot and leads to poor execution. — Trust your setup and make a committed, simple swing.

FAQ

• What is the best club to use for chipping around the green?

Generally, a sand wedge or lob wedge offers the most loft, making it easier to get the ball airborne and stop it quickly. A pitching wedge or even a 9-iron can work for shots where you want more roll. The less loft you use, the more you’ll rely on the ground to do the work, so choose based on how much green you have to work with.

• How should I position the ball in my stance when chipping?

For most chips, place the ball slightly back of center in your stance, favoring your lead foot. This encourages a descending blow and helps ensure you hit the ball first. Experiment slightly to find what works best for your swing, but this is a solid starting point.

• What is the difference between a chip and a pitch shot?

A chip is typically a lower-flying shot with less swing arc, meant to get the ball onto the green and rolling towards the hole quickly. A pitch is a higher-flying shot with a longer swing arc, used when you need to carry an obstacle (like a bunker or fringe rough) or stop the ball quickly upon landing. Mastering the Chip Shot Around the Green is a fundamental skill, but knowing when to pitch is also crucial.

• Should I use my wrists when chipping?

You want to keep your wrists relatively firm, but not locked stiff. The swing should be more of an arm and shoulder motion, like a pendulum, with minimal independent wrist hinge. Excessive wrist action can lead to inconsistency. Think of your wrists as being connected to your arms, moving together.

• What if the ball is in thick rough?

If the ball is sitting down in the rough, you’ll need more loft and a slightly steeper angle of attack to get it out cleanly. A sand wedge or lob wedge is usually the best bet here. You might need to open the clubface slightly and take a slightly bigger divot after the ball to ensure you get through the grass. Don’t be afraid to commit to the shot.

• How much of a divot should I be taking?

Ideally, you’ll take a small, shallow divot after the ball. This indicates you’re hitting down on the ball. If you’re taking huge chunks of turf, you might be hitting too far behind it. If you’re not taking any divot at all, you’re likely scooping or topping the ball.

• What’s the best way to practice chipping?

Head to the practice green with a variety of clubs (wedges, maybe a 9-iron). Practice from different lies – fairway, fringe, light rough. Focus on getting the ball to land in a specific spot and roll out. Work on hitting shots of different lengths by varying your swing length, not by trying to hit harder.

Sources:

• Mastering the Chip Shot Around the Green