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How to Improve Your Golf Chip Shots

ByMichael Reeves

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery


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Quick Answer

  • Focus on consistent contact with the ball, hitting it slightly after the lowest point of your swing arc.
  • Practice a pendulum-like motion with your arms and shoulders, keeping your wrists firm.
  • Experiment with different clubs (sand wedge, pitching wedge, 9-iron) to see how they affect ball flight and roll.

Who This Is For

  • Golfers who want to shave strokes by owning the greenside. This is key to lowering your scores, plain and simple.
  • Players tired of inconsistent chips and wild distance control. If your chips are going too far, too short, or all over the map, this is for you.

What to Check First When Learning How to Chip Better

  • Club Selection: Grab a club with enough loft. A sand wedge or pitching wedge usually does the trick. Too little loft means the ball runs forever, and nobody wants that. [1]
  • Ball Position: Play it slightly back in your stance. This helps you hit down on it, which is crucial for solid contact.
  • Stance: Keep it narrow. Think athletic, not wide. This promotes a controlled, repeatable swing.
  • Weight Distribution: Favor your lead foot. About 60/40 is a good starting point. This helps you stay on top of the ball.
  • Grip Pressure: Keep it light. A death grip will kill your feel and your ability to make a smooth stroke.

Step-by-Step Plan for How to Chip Better

  • Action: Pick your weapon.
  • What to look for: A club with enough loft to get the ball up and down quickly. Sand wedges and pitching wedges are your go-to choices. They offer versatility for different lies and distances.
  • Mistake to avoid: Using a club with too little loft, like a 7-iron or lower, for most chip shots. You’ll end up with a runaway ball that sails past the pin. I learned that the hard way more than once.
  • Action: Get into your setup.
  • What to look for: A narrow stance, maybe shoulder-width or a bit less. Your weight should be comfortably favoring your front foot (about 60% to 40%). This creates a stable base.
  • Mistake to avoid: A wide stance or equal weight distribution. This can lead to instability and make it harder to maintain your posture through the swing. It’s like trying to balance on a yoga ball.
  • Action: Place the ball.
  • What to look for: The ball slightly back of center in your stance. This encourages a downward strike on the ball, ensuring you hit it first before the turf.
  • Mistake to avoid: Ball too far forward in your stance. This promotes an uphill swing and often leads to a thin shot where you catch the equator of the ball. Trust me, those are no fun.
  • Action: Grip the club.
  • What to look for: A relaxed, light grip. Keep your wrists firm but not rigid. You want enough stability to control the clubface but enough flexibility for a smooth stroke.
  • Mistake to avoid: Gripping too tightly or excessively hinging your wrists during the swing. This leads to a loss of control and inconsistent contact. A death grip is never the answer.
  • Action: Swing back.
  • What to look for: A short, controlled backswing. Think of it as a controlled movement of your arms and shoulders, with minimal wrist hinge. The length of your backswing should correspond to the distance you want the ball to travel.
  • Mistake to avoid: A big, loopy backswing. This often leads to over-swinging and a loss of precision. Keep it compact and smooth.
  • Action: Swing through.
  • What to look for: A smooth, accelerating, pendulum-like motion. Your arms and shoulders should lead the way, and you should finish your swing, making contact with the ball first, then the turf.
  • Mistake to avoid: Decelerating through impact or “hanging back” on your rear foot. This is a recipe for chunks and thins. Keep your weight forward and maintain your swing speed.
  • Action: Practice your tempo.
  • What to look for: A consistent rhythm between your backswing and follow-through. The goal is to feel like you’re brushing the grass after you hit the ball.
  • Mistake to avoid: Rushing the swing or decelerating. This disrupts your timing and leads to poor contact. Think of it as a smooth, continuous motion.
  • Action: Experiment with different clubs.
  • What to look for: How different clubs (e.g., sand wedge, pitching wedge, 9-iron) affect the ball’s flight and roll. A higher lofted club will pop the ball up and stop sooner, while a lower lofted club will run out more.
  • Mistake to avoid: Sticking to just one club for all your chips. Understanding how different lofts work will give you more options and make you a more adaptable player around the green.

Common Mistakes When Trying to Improve Your Golf Chip Shots

  • Fat Shot — Hitting the ground way before the ball. This sends chunks of turf flying and kills your distance, leaving you well short of the green. — Focus on hitting the ball first, then the turf. Feel like you’re brushing the grass with the clubface. Maintain your weight forward and your swing arc low.
  • Thin Shot — Skimming the equator of the ball. The ball rockets off like a missile, usually over the green and into trouble. — Make sure your hands stay slightly ahead of the ball at impact and keep your lower body stable. Avoid trying to “help” the ball into the air by lifting.
  • Over-swinging — Taking the club back too far or swinging too hard. You lose all finesse and control, turning a simple chip into a full swing. — Keep your swing compact, like a pendulum. The length of your backswing should roughly match your follow-through. Think about the distance you want the ball to travel, not how hard you can swing.
  • Scooping the Ball — Trying to lift the ball into the air with your wrists or by cupping your lead wrist. This usually results in thin shots or topped balls that barely get airborne. — Let the loft of the club do the work. Your downward strike, combined with the club’s loft, will get it airborne. Don’t try to scoop it.
  • Moving Your Head — Lifting your head to see where the ball is going before or during impact. This throws off your entire swing plane and balance. — Keep your head down and focused on making solid contact. Trust your setup and your swing. Imagine a spotlight on the ball that you don’t want to turn off until after impact.
  • Too Much Wrist Hinge — Allowing your wrists to hinge excessively during the backswing and downswing. This makes it difficult to control the clubface and strike the ball consistently. — Focus on using your arms and shoulders for the swing motion. Keep your wrists firm and quiet. Think of the club as an extension of your arms.
  • Inconsistent Tempo — Swinging back too fast and through too slow, or vice versa. This disrupts the rhythm of your stroke and leads to poor contact. — Practice a smooth, consistent tempo. The backswing and follow-through should feel like they’re in sync. A good drill is to count “one-two” as you swing back and “three” as you swing through.

FAQ

  • What is the best club for chipping?

A sand wedge or pitching wedge is usually your best bet. They have enough loft to get the ball up and stop quickly on the green. You can also experiment with a 9-iron for a lower, running chip shot that plays more like a putt. [2]

  • How should I position the ball for a chip shot?

Typically, you want the ball slightly back of center in your stance. This encourages a downward strike, helping you make solid contact and get the ball up in the air.

  • What is the ideal stance for chipping?

A narrow stance, about shoulder-width or slightly less, is ideal. This helps maintain balance and control throughout your swing. Think of it as an athletic posture, ready to move.

  • How far should I swing back and through for a chip shot?

Think of a pendulum. The backswing and follow-through should be roughly equal in length and controlled. The length of your swing directly corresponds to the distance you want the ball to travel. For a short chip, a small swing is sufficient.

  • Should I try to lift the ball in the air with my hands?

No, you should not try to lift the ball. Let the loft of your club do the work. Focus on hitting down on the ball, making contact with the ball first, then the turf. Trying to scoop it often leads to thin or topped shots. [3]

  • What’s the difference between a chip and a pitch shot?

A chip shot is typically played closer to the green, with a lower trajectory and more roll. It uses a shorter swing and often a lower-lofted club. A pitch shot is played from a bit further away, with a higher trajectory and less roll, designed to stop quickly. It usually involves a longer swing and more wrist action.

  • How do I adjust my chipping for different lies (e.g., rough vs. fairway)?

When chipping from the rough, you might need to open your stance slightly and take a slightly steeper swing to cut through the longer grass. For a tight lie on the fairway, focus on a clean strike and a smooth stroke, as there’s less margin for error.

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