Phil Mickelson's Hinge-and-Hold Chip Shot
For Phil Mickelson, there’s only one way to chip: snap your wrists on the upswing and maintain that angle through the follow-through. He demonstrates why your hands should never stop moving, how to shift your weight based on the lie, and how the same method works for distances up to 50 yards.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
The “hinge and hold”, means cocking your wrists as you take the backswing and keeping them cocked through the swing. If your hands stop at the ball and the club continues, the leading edge rises and swings at the ball: it’s impossible to get consistent chips. To hold the club properly, you actually have to speed up your hands all the way to the finish, where the arm and the club form a straight line. Before the shot, Mickelson assesses the lie: on a tight lie, shift his weight forward to keep the clubface under the ball; shifting his weight backward on a tight lie will result in a thin shot.
On an uphill lie or a puffed-up lie, with weight shifted forward, the club would pass too far under the ball; he then shifts his weight back to level out the bottom of the swing arc. He also recommends a wedge with less bounce on firm ground and more bounce on soft ground. For a softer shot, he opens the clubface slightly, realigns his body until the clubface is pointing at the target, and resets his grip. At 30 and then 50 yards, nothing changes: he wake up early, simply lengthens the backswing while maintaining the same acceleration. The arms and club move at the same speed, making it easy to control the distance.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Read the instructions before deciding where to place the weight.
- Stand square to the hole, facing it squarely.
- Hinge your wrists early in the backswing.
- Move your hands quickly toward the target while maintaining the angle of your wrists.
- At the finish, make sure the arm and the club form a straight line.
- For a softer shot, open the clubface slightly, realign your body, and then adjust your grip.
- For 30 to 50 yards, simply extend the acceleration phase while maintaining the same rate of acceleration.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Stop your hands when the ball is hit, and let the club swing past.
- Shift your weight backward while maintaining a tight grip.
- Keep your weight forward on an uphill or inflated lie.
- Run a long way, then slow down as you approach the ball.
- Change your technique for 30- or 50-yard approaches.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Short chips: Set up, hold, and control the arm-club line at the finish
- The same series, first on tight lees and then on swollen lees, by shifting the weight
- Shots at 20, 30, and then 50 yards with the same acceleration
- Objective: Get each ball into a circle one meter in diameter around the hole
Your Questions
What does “hinge and hold” mean?
Hinge your wrists on the upswing, then hold that angle through the swing. Phil Mickelson accelerates his hands through the finish so that the club doesn't get ahead of his hands.
Why do my chips get stacked when the hands stop?
When the hands stop, the club continues moving, the leading edge rises and strikes the ball. According to Mickelson, that’s why you can’t chip well that way.
Where should you put your weight on a tight lie or an uphill lie?
With a tight lie, move forward to keep the leading edge under the ball. With an upward or cupped lie, move backward to level the bottom of the clubface and avoid swinging under the ball.
Does the same method work at 50 yards?
Yes. Mickelson takes an early backswing, simply extends the upward motion, and maintains the same acceleration: his arms and club move at the same speed, which makes it easier to control the distance.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Phil Mickelson). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.