Set Up
Achieving that perfect chip shot in golf may look daunting. However, with the right technique and practice, you can master it! We’ll focus on setting up the chip shot here. Knowing how to set up correctly is critical for hitting a good shot and getting the ball close to the pin.
Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart
Your feet should be apart in line and slightly open. The left foot should point away from the target. This reduces tension in your hands and makes it easier to move from backswing to impact.
Balance your weight evenly. Make sure not to favor one side and have slightly more pressure on the ground under one foot. Correct setup will help control during the swing and give you more freedom of movement.
The hands do all the work during a chip shot.
Make sure the ball is positioned correctly
When setting up for a golf chip shot, put the ball in the middle of your stance, towards the front foot. This will help you hit down on the ball. Don’t put the ball too far forward – else you’ll hit shallow with an ascending blow. Grip down on the club – this will make your swing shorter. A grip further from the clubhead is harder to control.
Use a 9-iron or wedge when chipping around the green – adjust your stance. Proper alignment is key – aim slightly right of where you want to land. Address the ball lightly and keep your head still – tension leads to better control and accuracy.
Choose the right club
Choosing the right club for a chip shot is essential. The lie, distance and trajectory of the shot all matter.
If your ball is on an incline near the green, use a higher-lofted club like a 9 or sand wedge. That will make the ball go high, so it can land softly on the green. The backspin depends on the club. Low-loft clubs (6/7-irons) give less backspin and roll out more. So, look at the terrain ahead of your ball and choose the club that suits the situation.
Swing
Golf’s chip shot is a shorter, more compact swing than a full one. This helps you steer the ball to the desired spot. To perfect it, techniques and fundamentals must be learned. In this section, let’s discuss the fundamentals of a chip shot:
Make a smooth, pendulum-like swing
Use a short, smooth backswing when chipping. Keep arms and hands close to the torso. Don’t break wrists suddenly. Let them hinge gradually. Move the club in a pendulum-like motion. Swing away from and through the ball. Pick out an object in front of you. Use it as an indicator for backswing length. This will help accuracy and control distance.
Make sure your wrists stay firm
Hit a chip shot in golf? Keep your wrists firm! Make sure the club stays low on the way back. Keep your leading arm close to the club’s head when swinging. This will keep your wrists firm. Avoid bringing hands too close to your body during impact. This leads to weaker shots and less accuracy.
Practicing good post-impact follow through will ensure solid contact with the ball. This makes for more precise and accurate chip shots:
- Keep your wrists firm.
- Keep the club low on the way back.
- Keep your leading arm close to the club’s head when swinging.
- Avoid bringing hands too close to your body during impact.
- Practice good post-impact follow through.
Make sure the club face is square to the target
Before you start the chip shot, ensure the club face is square to the target. This way, the ball will fly straight to the target. To do this, stand with your feet parallel to the target line. Grip the club, with one hand leading and both thumbs pointing downward. Right-handers, keep your hands in line and third knuckles inward as you take back and rotate your hips.
Addressing needs practice and patience. It’s key for accurate aim when chipping.
Follow Through
Follow through is key in golfing, especially with chip shots. Taking away, posture and alignment play a role too. To get the best results when chipping, it’s important to learn the correct follow through. Let’s discuss the basics of a successful one:
Keep your head down
Golfers, for a successful chip shot, must keep their head down the whole swing. Head down at impact ensures consistent posture and keeps the clubhead going in one direction. It also helps stay balanced and shift weight from one foot to the other during the backswing and follow-through.
To control trajectory and distance, keep eyes on the ball. This creates a better connection with the clubface.
Make sure your hands and arms follow through
Make sure your arms and hands follow through in a chip shot! After the hit, swing your arms and hands across your body to the target and finish with a balanced stance. This will help you hit accurate shots that fly straight.
Remember that following through helps you get better contact with the ball, which gives an optimal launch angle for longer distances. Checkpoints to keep in mind:
- Right arm close to the body
- Both arms extended after impact, forming a “V”
- Visualize carrying through on a flat line
- Finish balanced with even weight on both legs
Focus on following through from the hit until completion. This will lead to more consistency and lower scores each time you tee off.
Make sure your weight is on your left foot
When hitting a chip shot in golf, weight should be mainly on the left foot. The right foot should be slightly back (half an inch). This helps you stay balanced. For right-handed golfers, move the weight to the left foot quickly. Don’t take a backswing. Let the clubhead lightly rise and take a shorter swing to control distance.
Weight shift and posture are key. Put 80% of the weight on the left leg and 20% on the right leg. Keep your eyes on the ball from start to finish for accuracy.
Practice
Golf chip shots need practice! Different clubs, ball positions and swing speeds can help you improve. You will gain more consistency in putting, plus better control of the ball.
How can you practice chip shots more effectively? Here’s what you need to know!
Practice with different clubs
If you’re looking to master the chip shot in golf, different clubs can make a huge difference. A long club might pull the ball off-course, while a shorter one might spin it too much.
To learn your chipping technique, practice with multiple clubs and find which works best for you. Spend time with each club. You’ll soon get a feel for the angle and speed needed when you set up to chip. You may also realise some shots require one club, and others require another – having choices gives you the flexibility to hit straight and true chips every time.
Practice with different distances
For a perfect chip shot, get to know the distances you can hit with different clubs. Also, become relaxed with the angle of attack. A way to do this is setting up a practice green at home. Test each shot with different clubs and angles.
Choose clubs based on the distance you must cover. Sand wedge or pitching wedge are good for short shots. For further distances, nine or eight-iron work well. Using a lower club helps you control spin and provides a wider margin for error.
When practicing chip shots on the practice green, note how far each club will carry the ball. A good rule of thumb is 10 yards per club length. This can vary depending on your swing and technique. Testing and recording each shot will give you an idea of which clubs to use in rounds of golf.
Practice with different lies
Once you have learnt the basics of hitting a chip shot in golf, use those skills and practice with different lies. Some shots need higher trajectories and lower speeds, while others require more power. Get creative and use uphill or downhill lies to your advantage. All chip shots require controlled power and swinging the club quickly but slower than with a full swing.
To gain confidence with various lies, start flat and progress onto trickier terrain over time. Examples include:
- Tight lies
- Fluffy lies
- Off the fairway
- High rough
- Ball above feet (downhill)
- Ball below feet (uphill)
- On tight turf
Remember, you may need to adjust due to variables like wind or angle. Regular practice is key to improving your chipping game!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a chip shot in golf?
A: A chip shot in golf is a shot that is played with a steep angle of attack and low club head speed, resulting in a low trajectory, low flight and low roll.
Q: What clubs should I use for a chip shot?
A: The best clubs to use for a chip shot are your wedges (pitching wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge). These clubs have a higher loft, allowing for the steep angle of attack needed for a chip shot.
Q: How do I hit a chip shot?
A: To hit a chip shot, keep your wrists firm and hinge your wrists slightly, allowing the club head to move back and forth easily. Keep your lower body still and use your arms and hands to move the club through the ball, making a shallow divot. Make sure to keep your head still throughout the shot and follow through after the ball is struck.
