How To Hit Chip Shots [Golf Tips]

How to hit better chip shots is our tip for today. The chip shot is a shot that we play from around the greens where it doesn’t require us to lift the ball very much.

I think the biggest mistake people make when trying to hit chip shots around the green is to take their sand wedge or lob-wedge and carry the ball to the hole. This requires a lot of touch, as well as a lot of skill.

So, to make this process easier, we’re going to have one setup and one swing. And I’ve chosen three different targets today; all we’re going to do is change the four clubs.

So, we’re going to use a seven and go to a further target, maybe an eight-iron claw closer and a nine-iron to go even closer than that without changing anything. And this will make your chip shots a lot easier.

So, when chipping around the green the ball position and chipping the ball should be off our back foot, and I want you to imagine a clock on the wall where 6:00 is.

Our starting position for chipping around the green is three to my right, and nine to my left. We’re going make a swing that goes about five to 7:00 a lot like our putting stroke, maybe just a little bit longer version of it.

So, as I set my club up to my golf ball here, balls off my back foot, my hands are a little forward as a result. Again, from five to 7:00, the ball will land about a third on the way under the green and run the other two-thirds for the next flag.

All I’m going to do is change clubs, so now I’m going to take this nine-iron, make sure I change my alignment here, and same setup. Same swing five to 7:00 for chip shots.

Can you see the ball go a hair higher and it doesn’t roll as much because of the loft? My third target, I’ve got a pitching wedge, which is even closer, but nothing’s going to change.

Still going to have the ball position off my back foot and still five to 7:00. And again, about one-third in the air, two-thirds on the ground. So, you see the difference between the three clubs when hitting chip shots.

The key to hitting good chip shots around the green is reducing our margin for error because we’re not making as much swing and it’s all about keeping the ball as low as possible whenever possible.

30% of your score is going to come from this area, from the green. And if you can get the ball close enough to get it up and down, you’re going to be a much happier golfer.

For more great short game tips visit Around the Green.