Chipping from Tough Lies: Advice from Min Woo Lee
Min Woo Lee describes himself as a player who relies on “feel” around the green, but his number-one tip is simple: focus on making solid contact, and practice from difficult lies. As a child, he would deliberately place his balls in divots so that the actual lies on the course would seem easy.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Every chip is different: sometimes you have to make the ball bite, but most of the time, if you're not on the “short side,” it's better to Use the loft and let it roll. For the enthusiast, it retains the essentials: a a fairly neutral path, without cutting the ball, without scooping it, without pulling it too much. Above all, contact: Good contact produces the right spin and loft. For a low chip, position the ball toward the back of your stance. He significantly shortens its grip: When held at the end of the handle, he often misses. He’d even rather just graze a ball that’s a little too thin or has a groove that’s too low than hit a ball that’s scraped.
On a chip with a lot of green, he doesn't want to lift the ball: a shot that's too high and falls short is really a problem. So he plays it lower and lets it roll, with the ball positioned slightly back, “poking” the ball with a firm stroke. His best advice: practice on difficult lies. As a child, he would place his balls in divots: “If you make practice hard, the easy lies will seem easy.” He shows a ball that’s almost buried, which he can play high or low, and points out that on the course, you can’t reposition the ball. The rest of the video features a Callaway wedge.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Before each chip, decide whether the ball should stop short or roll; if there's no short side, opt for a rolling shot.
- Shorten your grip by a few centimeters.
- For a low chip, position the ball toward the back of your stance.
- Keep your club path neutral and focus only on making solid contact.
- If there's a lot of green, aim lower and let the ball roll rather than hitting it high.
- End each practice session by placing balls in divots or thick rough.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Play the ball onto a chip shot where there's plenty of green, then come up short.
- Cut or scoop the ball.
- Hold the club all the way at the end of the grip.
- Practice only on smooth surfaces.
- Aim for perfection in the movement rather than in the contact.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Shortened grip, ball set back, low chips that roll
- Same chip played high and then low
- A series of shots from divots and thick rough
- One goal: open communication
Your Questions
Why practice on bad lies?
Min Woo Lee had been doing this since childhood: by making practice difficult, good shots seem easy. On the course, he points out, you can’t reposition your ball.
Why does he shorten his grip when chipping?
He says himself that he doesn't know why, but when he holds the club at the very end, he often misses his chip shot. With a shorter grip, he'd rather risk a shot that's a little too thin than a fat shot.
Should you lob the ball or roll it?
It depends on the chip. If it's not a short-side chip, he prefers to use the loft and let the ball roll. When there's plenty of green left, he avoids hitting a high shot that falls short.
What club course does he recommend for amateurs?
A fairly neutral swing: don't slice the ball, don't scoop it, and don't pull it too hard. The key is still the contact.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Min Woo Lee). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.