Golf Chipping Tips

The golf chipping stroke is a close relative to the putting stroke in that you don’t want much body movement at all. If fact, if you are going to error on the movement side of things error on the still side.

The golf chipping shot mandates a slow rhythmic tempo with crisp content. Probably the biggest mistake I see with people executing the chipping stroke is that they decelerate the swing just before impact and scuff the club on the ground behind the golf ball.

With your chipping stroke, try to stand a bit closer to the ball. This will make it easier to keep your swing path more direct.

Press your weight slightly forward over your front leg this will help you keep your body still and it will help promote keeping your hands ahead of the clubhead through the stroke (very, very, important I might add).

Think of the chipping stroke as a brush stroke and not a ‘hitting’ stroke because you are just trying to ‘brush’ the golf ball off the grass.

With your weight slightly forward, you’ll want your left arm (right handers) to dominate the stroke. In fact, a quick drill you can use while you’re practicing your chipping is to put your right hand directly over your left hand when you grip your club… this force your left hand to take a dominant role and you’ll get the sensation of the left arm ‘pulling’ the club through the stroke. This type of practice grip will make it very difficult for the clubhead to incorrectly pass ahead of the hands.

With the lower body there is virtually no movement throughout the chipping stroke. The only movement at all is just at impact; and this is barely noticeable. It is only used as a slight bit of tempo and allows you to finish the motion through the ball and keep you club going down the target line.

Remember, keep your arms leading the shot.

Your golf chipping strategy should always be one of getting the golf ball on the green and rolling toward the pin as soon as possible.

With this in mind play the ball back in your stance and work on making contact with the golf ball with a slight descending blow. Not too much… you don’t want to ‘jab’ at the ball… remember you want to just sweep the ball off of the turf.

Don’t become ‘pin’ oriented with your target. Yes, it’s true you want to gather the right distance, but distance control will come. Always chip to the landing spot you want to hit and allow for the ball to roll to the hole. Your distance control will come as you learn to make consistent contact with your chips.

When you are first learning don’t try to master several techniques and specialty shots when chipping… keep your practices straightforward and boring….

Ho… hum… another routine up and down from just off the green… that’s what will keep you wallet in your pocket.