Chipping

What is chipping in golf?

The chipping refers to the short shot played right next to the green, when the ball is too far from the hole to be putted but too close for a full iron shot. The idea is simple: get the ball to fly just high enough to clear the taller grass bordering the green, then let it roll toward the flag.

This is one of the shots that can really drive your score down: a well-executed chip leaves you with a short putt, while a missed chip often costs you two strokes.

Chip or pitch: What's the difference?

Both are short approaches, but they are not the same:

• The chip: low trajectory; the ball rolls more than it flies. You use this shot when there are no obstacles between the ball and the hole.
• The Pitch: High trajectory—the ball flies more than it rolls and stops quickly. This shot is used to clear a bunker or thick rough, or when the flag is very close to the edge of the green.

Keep the pros' golden rule in mind: whenever possible, choose the lowest shot. It's more forgiving of minor contact errors.

How do you make a chip?

At the address

• Feet close together, turned slightly toward the target.
• Place the ball in the center of the stance, or very slightly back.
• Most of the body's weight is on the front foot, and it remains there throughout the entire swing.
• Hands slightly in front of the ball, with the grip held a little lower on the shaft.

The Movement

The chip is a shoulder rock, like a slightly wider putt. Keep your wrists still: don't try to “lift” the ball—the club's opening takes care of that. The length of the swing determines the distance, and the acceleration remains steady all the way through.

Contact

We're knocking The ball first, and then the club just grazes the ground right after. If the club hits the ground before the ball, the shot is a "fat shot" (the ball doesn't go far enough). If the club hits the top of the ball without touching the ground, it's a "thin shot" (the ball goes too far).

Which club should I choose for chipping?

There isn't a single chip club. The more open the club, the farther the ball flies and the less it rolls:

• Iron 7, 8, or 9: a rolled chip shot (or “bump and run”), when you have a lot of green ahead of you.
• Pitching wedge: the most common compromise—as much flying as driving.
• Sand wedge or lob wedge: when you need to make the ball fly farther and stop it faster.

The right way to do it: First, choose your landing spot, just past the edge of the green, and then the iron that will roll the ball from that spot to the hole.

The Most Common Mistakes

• Wanting to lift the ball With the wristbands: that's the number one cause of chips being scratched or chipped.
• Weight on the hind leg: The lowest point of the swing is too far back, and the club hits the ground too early.
• Braking on Impact For fear of going too far: the club stops, and so does the ball.
• The ball is too far forward In this stance: contact becomes unpredictable.