How To Chip In Golf? (The Right Way To Chip)

When you’re closer to that green, chip shots are the ones that come in handy. They are responsible for pushing the ball where it belongs. So at such times, what you need to do is get the golf ball through the fringe or rough. If you want to avoid just putting! But it’s easier said than done, right? So let’s find out how to chip in golf?

The ball is placed in your stance during chip shots. You can use a wedge or an iron for the task at hand. But if you’re a beginner, don’t forget to buy clubs that are specifically crafted for you. What I mean to say is this. When I was learning how to hit a driver, the job became much easier with the best golf driver for beginner. So keep that in mind before choosing golf clubs.

Moving on, let’s get to know the proper chipping golf technique!

How to Chip In Golf?

How To Chip In Golf

To strike flawless chip shots, you require a basic understanding of how it works. And more often than not, we tend to neglect these few fundamentals. So it’s time to go back to where we started!

Here are some of the most important chipping golf drills that help in improving your short game.

1. The Grip

chipping-golf-technique - How To Chip In Golf

Pressing down on that grip is an obvious yet the most overlooked mechanic. When you choke down with your hands, you’re performing two important functions.

The first is that you’re getting yourself closer to that ball. An action that helps in achieving an elegant stroke! The second benefit involves counterbalancing the club. It means you’re adding weight right above your hands. And this makes the task of achieving partial full shots easier. Plus, you don’ even feel the need to flip your hands over before the right time!

When choking down, avoid hunching the upper body. Instead, add extra flex to your knees. To get the body slightly lower!

2. The Stance

My advice to you here would be to stay narrow and open. Many of us think that chipping demands aligning the body either parallel to or at the target. So tell me, do you want to know how to chip in golf? If yes, then don’t make that mistake.

You have to remember that your body needs to turn. Now, this is something that doesn’t take place when you’re putting. But in the case of chip shots, body rotation is crucial. Much like full shots!

When too square, the chances of your body resisting the turn are quite high. Also, when that happens, your hands tend to become too active and take over. This means they begin to flip.

So to avoid all of that, make an open and narrow stance. Allow the body to rotate through every shot.

3. The Ball

The golf ball is placed back in the stance. At the same time, you have to make sure that your body weight falls on the forward side. And why is that? These two actions help in achieving a steep downward blow. And that, in turn, prevents thin and fat shots. Along with obtaining consistent ball contact!

When you rest the body weight toward your target, it improves the consistency of impact position. Something that gives you more control over the distance and overall shot.

As for the position of the ball, place it close to the inside part of your back toe. But avoid keeping the ball far ahead in the stance. But if you still wish to do that, then be prepared to strike a lob or flop shot.

4. The Head

chipping-golf-drills - How To Chip In Golf

Don’t face down is the best advice I would like to offer here. When dealing with chip shots, always keep that head up. Otherwise, what happens is the upper body fails to rotate. And I’ve already discussed how the hands take over at such times.

So failing to keep the head up can result in not being able to control direction and distance.

5. The Club

For the task of chipping, you require the right golf club. Feel free to use different club options. Based on the level of roll and height you desire! This way, you can maintain the ball position and chipping stance. While also allowing the club to take responsibility for ball roll and height!

You can use a pitching wedge or sand wedge. The 8-iron is also another excellent choice. This one is more suitable for chips that are low rolling. The same applies to pitching wedge. The only difference is that you can use the PW for deeper grass.

As for the sand wedge, opt for a 56-degree loft. That’s because it delivers optimal spin/height combination. Also, the bounce enables easy solid contact. (About wedge lofts)

6. The Swing

Let me break it down for you.

Hinge your wrist during setup. And maintain that hinge throughout the chip shot.
With that in place, your body tends to rotate the clubhead. As a result of which you can reproduce the stacked impact position. With consistency!

Just keep in mind that longer swing is perfect for longer chips. While shorter chips demand shorter swing! (Difference between chip and pitch shot)

All you have to do is allow your body to turn through the chip shot. This is the only way you can push that golf ball up first and then down.

Final Note

So how to chip in golf? You know the technique in theory. Now it’s time to execute the drills on the course!

Professional golfers make chipping look easy. On the other hand, beginners make the same task seem so much more difficult. The biggest problem with chip shots is achieving solid ball contact. With that in mind, the useful tips discussed in the article give you the opportunity to correct your mistakes.

So I hope you read them all thoroughly. And I also hope that you found the post worth your time.

You can share your tips and techniques with us here. The comments section is right below!

Thank you for reading. Have a nice short game!

About the author:

Patricia B. Domingo is the founder and writer of Longest Shot Club. She has been playing golf all her life. What started off as a hobby turned into a professional career. And what transpired on the golf course soon took over on the web. So this is where she writes about various popular topics with only one goal in mind. And that is to provide intermediate and beginner golfers with knowledge and information about everything golf.