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The Golf Technique of Chipping

ByMichael Reeves

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery


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Quick Answer

  • Chipping is a crucial short-game shot in golf, designed to get the ball onto the green and rolling towards the hole.
  • It’s characterized by a shorter, more controlled swing with less wrist action than a full shot.
  • The primary goal is to achieve predictable distance and a soft landing, setting up an easy putt.

Who This is For

  • Beginner golfers looking to build a solid foundation in their short game and immediately improve their scoring.
  • Intermediate golfers aiming to refine their touch and consistency around the greens, turning potential bogeys into pars.
  • Any golfer who feels nervous or uncertain when faced with shots from just off the putting surface.

What is Chipping: Key Elements to Check First

  • Stance Width and Weight Distribution: Your stance should be narrow, typically no wider than your heels or a bit less. Crucially, your weight needs to be firmly planted on your lead foot, around 60-70%. This setup encourages a descending blow, which is fundamental.
  • Grip Pressure and Position: Grip the club firmly enough to control it, but avoid squeezing the life out of it. Tension is the enemy of feel. Choking down on the club (gripping closer to the ferrule) offers more control and a shorter swing arc.
  • Ball Position: For most players, the ball should be positioned slightly back of the center of your stance. This helps ensure you strike the ball before the turf, preventing those dreaded chunk shots.
  • Club Selection: While you can chip with various clubs, irons with moderate loft like a 7-iron, 8-iron, or 9-iron are common. A pitching wedge or sand wedge can also be used if you need a bit more height and a softer landing, but be mindful of controlling the distance.

When selecting your equipment for chipping, consider using irons with moderate loft, such as a 7-iron, 8-iron, or 9-iron. For those needing more height and a softer landing, a pitching wedge or sand wedge can also be effective, but remember to practice controlling the distance with these clubs. You can find a variety of excellent golf chipping clubs to suit your needs.

Intech EZ Roll Right Handed Chipper Golf Club | Short Distance Approach Chipping Club for Men | Back-Weighted Design with Alignment Lines | 35” Length 35° Loft, Black/Satin
Intech EZ Roll Right Handed Chipper Golf Club | Short Distance Approach Chipping Club for Men | Back-Weighted Design with Alignment Lines | 35” Length 35° Loft, Black/Satin
  • Back-Weighted Design For Consistent Chip Shots : The back-weighted golf chipper promotes clean contact and a smooth roll, helping golfers control distance and accuracy on short shots around the green.
  • Advanced Alignment Top Lines For Better Aim: Clear alignment markings help square the face at impact, improving confidence and accuracy when setting up chip shots from the fringe or rough.
  • Putter-Length Chipping Club With 35° Loft: Designed at 35 inches with a 35-degree loft, this chipper golf club combines easy swing mechanics with controlled loft for reliable bump-and-run shots.
  • Gooseneck Hosel For Shank-Proof Performance: The gooseneck hosel design reduces mishits and enhances stability, making this chipper club a forgiving option for golfers seeking better short-game results.
  • Right Handed Chipper Golf Club For Men And Women: Available in right and left-hand orientation for men and women. Built for durability and backed by a One-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty for added confidence.
Buy on Amazon

Step-by-Step Plan for Chipping Technique

1. Action: Set up your stance. What to look for: Feet should be narrow, about shoulder-width or slightly less. Your weight should be biased towards your lead foot (60-70%). This creates a stable base and promotes an “in-to-out” swing path. Mistake: Setting up with a wide stance and even weight distribution. This encourages a flatter swing and makes it harder to hit down on the ball.

2. Action: Position the ball in your stance. What to look for: Place the ball slightly back of the center of your stance. This encourages the club to hit the ball first, then the turf, ensuring a clean strike. Mistake: Playing the ball too far forward or too far back. A ball too far forward can lead to scooping or hitting the hosel, while a ball too far back can result in hitting too much turf.

3. Action: Adjust your grip. What to look for: Choke down on the club by gripping further down the shaft. Maintain a firm but relaxed grip pressure. Your lead hand should feel slightly more active in controlling the clubface. Mistake: Gripping too tightly, which kills feel and creates tension, or not choking down, which reduces control over the clubhead.

4. Action: Execute a pendulum-like swing. What to look for: Keep your wrists relatively firm and avoid excessive hinge. The swing should feel like a smooth pendulum motion, with your arms and the club moving together as one unit. Focus on a controlled backswing and a smooth, accelerating downswing. Mistake: Using a lot of wrist hinge or making a “flippy” motion with your wrists. This leads to inconsistency, loss of control, and often results in thinning or chunking the ball.

5. Action: Maintain your head position. What to look for: Keep your eyes focused on the ball throughout the swing. Your head should remain relatively still, acting as an anchor for your body. Mistake: Lifting your head too early to see the result of the shot. This disrupts your swing arc and causes you to strike the ball poorly. Trust the process.

6. Action: Accelerate through the ball. What to look for: The clubhead should accelerate as it approaches and passes through the impact zone. This forward momentum helps ensure a solid strike and good distance control. Mistake: Decelerating or “hanging back” through impact. This results in a weak shot, often with a poor strike, and significantly reduces your ability to control the distance.

7. Action: Complete your follow-through. What to look for: Finish the swing in a balanced position, with your weight shifted onto your lead foot and the club pointing towards your target. This indicates a full, committed swing. Mistake: An incomplete or truncated follow-through. This shows a lack of commitment and can lead to a lack of power and control, even on a short shot.

Understanding the Nuances of Chipping Technique

  • The Role of Loft and Lie: Different clubs offer varying amounts of loft. A higher lofted club (like a sand wedge) will get the ball in the air quicker and make it stop faster. A lower lofted club (like a 7-iron) will launch the ball lower, allowing it to roll out more. Your choice depends on the distance to the pin and the condition of the green. Experiment to find what works best for you.
  • Reading the Green: Before you even set up, take a moment to assess the slope of the green and the lie of your ball. Is the green firm or soft? Is there a significant break? These factors will influence your club selection and the trajectory you aim for. A ball on a soft green might need a little more loft, while a ball on a firm, fast green might benefit from a lower, running chip.
  • Practicing Distance Control: This is arguably the most critical aspect of chipping. You can have perfect technique, but if you can’t control the distance, you’ll still be leaving yourself with tricky putts. A great drill is to set up targets at different distances (e.g., 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards) and practice hitting chips to each. Focus on making consistent swings and feeling the difference in your stroke length for each distance.

Common Mistakes in Chipping

  • Too Much Wrist Hinge — Why it matters: Overuse of the wrists creates a “flippy” action, leading to inconsistent contact and a loss of control over the clubface. This is a primary cause of skulls and chunks. — Fix: Focus on keeping your wrists firm and hinging them minimally. Think of your arms and the club as a single unit swinging like a pendulum.
  • Flipping the Wrists at Impact — Why it matters: This is when the wrists unhinge abruptly at impact, causing the clubface to close or open dramatically. The ball will go wildly off-line. — Fix: Maintain a firm lead wrist throughout the swing. Imagine your lead wrist stays relatively flat from address through impact.
  • Thinning the Chip — Why it matters: You strike the equator of the ball, or even the top half, with the leading edge of the club. The ball rockets low and fast, often sailing far past the green. — Fix: Ensure a descending blow by having your weight on your lead foot and hitting the ball first, then a little bit of turf. Check your ball position to ensure it’s not too far forward.
  • Chunking the Chip — Why it matters: You hit too much grass before the ball, leaving the club with insufficient energy to get the ball to the green. This results in a weak, short shot. — Fix: Verify your weight distribution is forward and your stance is stable. Make sure you’re striking the ball first. A common cause is trying to “lift” the ball rather than hitting down.
  • Trying to Scoop the Ball — Why it matters: This instinctive motion to “help” the ball into the air often leads to fat shots or thin shots because you’re trying to lift instead of using the club’s loft and a descending strike. — Fix: Trust the loft of your club. Your setup and downward strike will get the ball airborne. Focus on a smooth, accelerating swing.
  • Inconsistent Swing Lengths — Why it matters: Not having a feel for how swing length translates to distance means you’ll be guessing every time. This is the root of poor distance control. — Fix: Practice with a structured approach. Assign specific backswing lengths (e.g., hip-high, shoulder-high) to specific distances and commit to them.

FAQ

  • What is the primary goal of chipping?

The main objective of chipping is to get the golf ball onto the green and rolling towards the hole with predictable distance control, thereby setting up an easier putt. It’s about getting “up and down” in two strokes.

  • How is chipping different from pitching?

Chipping is a shot played from just off the green with a lower trajectory and more roll, using a shorter swing and minimal wrist hinge. Pitching is a shot played from further away or with more obstacles, characterized by a higher trajectory, less roll, a longer swing, and more wrist action.

  • What is the ideal ball position for chipping?

For most golfers, the ideal ball position for chipping is slightly back of the center of your stance. This helps promote a descending blow and ensures you strike the ball before the turf.

  • What club should I use for chipping?

You can chip with various clubs, but common choices include a 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, pitching wedge, or sand wedge. The choice depends on the distance to the pin, the amount of green to work with, and your desired trajectory. Lower lofted clubs result in more roll, while higher lofted clubs result in more air time and less roll.

  • How much practice is needed to get good at chipping?

Consistent practice is key. Even 15-20 minutes a few times a week dedicated to chipping can make a significant difference. Focus on feeling the different swing lengths for different distances and making solid contact.

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

A chip is typically a lower shot with more roll, played from close to the green. A pitch is a higher shot with less roll, usually played from further away or when needing to carry an obstacle. The swing mechanics also differ, with pitching involving more wrist hinge and a fuller swing.

  • Should I try to “help” the ball up with my hands when chipping?

No, absolutely not. This is a common mistake that leads to poor contact. Trust the loft of your club and focus on making a smooth, descending strike. Your setup and swing will naturally get the ball airborne.

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