Chipping is one of the most critical components of your golf game. It’s one of those areas of golf that requires so much attention because of its drastic scorecard impacts. Someone who is good at chipping may shoot 5-10+ strokes lower than a similarly skilled golfer who is bad at chipping.
Today we will dive into how to practice and improve your chipping game.
The Basics of Chipping
Chipping is designed to lift the ball over an obstacle and land softly onto the green, often rolling towards the hole a bit after landing. Its a shot that requires less than a full swing but even more soft of a touch than some putts. The key to a good chip is mastering the setup and weight technique and practicing the stroke itself.
Choosing the Right Club
A common club for chipping is a wedge, often a 56, or 60 degree. But this is not the only club you can chip with. It is common for golfers to use a lower lofted iron if they need to get it onto the green quickly with more roll out onto the green. In these cases an 8 iron or 7 iron may actually be better. Higher lofted clubs may be better for shorter shots with obstacles or situations where the ball needs to roll out a bit less.
Position and Technique
A narrow stance is preferred for chipping. Position the ball a bit backward in your stance so that you can more naturally sweep the ground just ahead of the ball. Lean your body slightly forward as you take the club back and through the golf ball. Keep a firm grip, a neutral club shaft angle, and minimal wrist hinge as you rock back and forth to sweep the chip off the ground.
Practice Drills for Chipping
Practice is not just about quantity. You want to make sure you are practicing the right things. Here are some drill examples.
The One-Club Drill
Practice chipping with one club, ideally a middle iron. Use it from various distances and understand how to control the flight of the golf ball with this club. It will teach you to adapt and create different shot shapes with one club, so you focus on the technique/feels themselves.
The Ladder Drill
Place several targets on different spots on the green. Aim to land the ball at each target. This will help you learn control and precision. Practicing different length chips is a critical skill to develop here.
Advanced Techniques
Once you’ve gotten the basics, consider trying out other more advanced techniques.
The Flop Shot
The flop shot is useful when you need to chip the ball high with minimal rolling out once it lands. Open the club face of a high loft club and practice sweeping underneath the ball. This shot can actually have a bit of wrist hinge to help create that out to in angle and make the correct contact with the open face.
Bump and Run
The bump and run is a low chip shot that rolls out more once it hits the green. Use a lower lofted club like a 7 or 8 iron and almost use a putting motion to sweep/strike the ball.
Consistency
The key to improving chipping is consistency. Sometimes it can help to set up a golf net in your apartment or home to practice more routinely at home. This can be a great way to get more reps in.
Conclusion
Improving your chipping game is an essential task to lower your scores. Focus on the fundamentals and practice often to achieve the success you need.