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ChippingAvoid Fat and Thin ShotsWedge play = Pitching and Chipping Wedges Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 6 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Gripping Down When Chipping, by Van de Velde

For Jean Van de Velde, a good grip changes everything: it saves strokes and lets you attack the greens with more ease. In this lesson, he explains a key aspect of his setup—moving your hands lower on the grip—and how it affects impact.

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Jean Van de Velde
Jean Van de Velde · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.
Schedule · Step 2 of 7Master Your Short Game in 7 StepsValidated when: Out of 10 chips, you have neither a fat shot nor a top.
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To be continued

3 minSame problemPhil Mickelson's Chipping Ball Position: Up or BackPhil Mickelson · Rookie14 minNext Level UpAdam Scott's choice of wedge around the green: the 54° firstAdam Scott · Intermediate6 minFrom the same proShank and chipping: Don't push your hands toward the ballJean Van de Velde · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Jean Van de Velde starts with the challenge. Everyone misses the greens and, at some point, has to save a stroke. Good chipping allows you to save shots when you're playing just okay, and also from’approach the greens with a more relaxed swing, since we know we’ll still be able to make approach putts. He wants simple fundamentals, strung together, to create a repeatable swing: that way, we understand how the ball leaves the clubface and can visualize our shots—whether they roll farther or stop more quickly.

The point he makes here: hands low on the grip. By shortening your swing, you get closer to the ball and are positioned higher above it. The club then moves more vertical. When held at the end of the shaft, with such a small swing arc and no wrist action, the clubhead moves inward and skims the ground during the backswing: you catch the grass behind the ball, scrape the ground, or try to lift the ball and end up topping it. Hands low, the clubhead leaves the ground a little earlier, without using your wrists, and you make contact with the ball as you swing down, in the center of the clubface.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Move your hands down to the grip of your approach club.
  2. Move closer to the ball so you're higher above it.
  3. Start the short backswing with your arms and shoulders, without using your wrists.
  4. Make sure the clubhead leaves the ground a little earlier instead of skimming along it.
  5. Swing down into the ball and aim for contact in the center of the clubface.

Key Takeaways

A good chipping shot saves strokes and lets you approach the greens with more confidence.
Simple fundamentals make the process repeatable.
Hands low on the grip: you get closer to the ball and are no longer positioned above it.
The club is moving more vertically.
Long grip: The clubhead skims the ground and catches the grass.
Hands low: make contact on the way down, in the center of the clubface.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Keep the club at the end of the shaft on a short chip.
  • Stay away from the ball: the club moves inward and skims the ground.
  • Hook the grass behind the ball, or scrape it.
  • Wanting to catch the ball and do a top.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A few long-grip chips, then low-hand grips to compare the contact points
  2. Watch the clubhead during the backswing: it must leave the ground
  3. A series in which I aim for the center of the clubface on every shot

Your Questions

Why move your hands down the grip when chipping?

To get closer to the ball and be positioned higher above it. Jean Van de Velde explains that the club then moves more vertically and leaves the ground earlier, without any wrist action.

What happens if you grip the end of the handle?

With such a small swing arc, the clubhead drifts slightly inward and skims the ground during the backswing. It becomes difficult to make a precise follow-through: you catch the grass, scrape the ground, or hit a top.

Do we have to go all out to get the club to the top?

No. In his demonstration, the backswing starts from the arms and shoulders; it is the low position of the hands that causes the clubhead to lift off the ground, not the wrists.

Learn More

All “Chipping” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Avoiding Fat and Thin Shots” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Wedge Play = Pitching and Chipping” →Find the lesson that's right for you Chip shot from the thick rough—Adam Scott: Read the lieAdam Scott reads the lie by placing the club behind the ball, then plays either a standard bunker shot or a modified bunker shot with fixed wrists against the grain. Adam Scott's choice of wedge around the green: the 54° firstAdam Scott chips with a 54° rather than a 60° from a tight lie, and fixes his thin contact by aiming for a divot after the ball, with his body moving. Phil Mickelson's Chipping Ball Position: Up or BackWeight on the front foot, hands in front, and never hit the ball in the center: aim toward the back foot for a low chip, and toward the front foot for a high chip. Jean Van de VeldeAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jean Van de Velde). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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