Hitting A Chip Shot

A chip shot is best used when your ball is very near the green, but not close enough to putt the ball, or there is some sort of obstacle between you and the green. The goal of this chip shot is the use a small and controlled swing to pop the ball in the air just enough to get it onto the putting surface. Once the ball is onto the putting surface it will roll like a putt toward the hole. The goal of this shot is to get the ball rolling on the green as soon as possible because a shot most similar to a putt is easier to control than one that is hit high in the air and landed near the hole.

The best way to hit a chip shot is to play the ball back in your stance, or more toward your back foot. Angle your feet slightly left of the target and put your feet close together, less than shoulder width apart. Lean the shaft of the club forward toward the target slightly and put about 70 percent of your weight on your front foot. This will cause you to lean forward just slightly, which will help you strike the ball with a descending swing. I recommend gripping down on the club because it gives you more control of your swing. Once you have achieved a good setup you will take the club in your backswing to less than waist height. You can adjust the club that you are swinging with to control the distance and trajectory of the ball that will best suit the particular shot you are trying to play. A chip shot involves very little or no wrist break because you are trying to hit the ball in the air just enough to get it over the grass in front of you and onto the green rolling like a putt. Once you have taken the club back the appropriate length, swing through the ball and make sure you are hitting the ball with a descending blow. You want to hit the golf ball first with your club and then scrape the grass. This concept is very important because it leads to solid contact and easier distance control. When following through, be sure to keep your lead wrist straight. Do not let your lead wrist break down and flip through impact. This will lead to shots that are thin or fat and hard to control.

Once you have learned how to correctly hit a chip shot, experiment with different clubs to see how high the ball flies and how far each shot goes. You will need to use different clubs for varying situations you are confronted with on the golf course. Hopefully this information and advice will help your short game and lower your scores!