Putting Greens News & Blog

Lessons in Chipping

Thursday, July 6th, 2006

Neglect for the finer points of the short game is, in my opinion, the single greatest thing keeping good players from becoming great players. What I don’t understand is why people have no compunction about spending hours on the putting green, but might only give lip service to chipping. They’re equally important, and it takes time to get truly proficient at either pursuit.

Chipping is surprisingly easy if you remember a few fundamental points. First, keep a consistent head speed throughout your stroke. So many people will underhit chip shots by being too tentative or overhit them by being too enthusiastic. An easy, shallow backswing and a smooth, consistent follow-through will do the trick.

Second, stay focused. As with every shot in the game, keep your head level and your eyes on the ball. Look at your target when you’re setting up the shot, but forget about it the moment you focus on the ball. Don’t shift your gaze until your swing turns you to face your target.

Third, chip with your sand wedge. It takes extraordinary control to chip well with a pitching wedge. Sand wedges have a greater margin for error with regard to shorter shots. Hitting a little fat with a sand wedge will usually give you more loft, but not much more distance, which works find. The same miss with a pitching wedge will easily send you off the green entirely.

Last, where to aim on the green. Personally, I have no problem hitting over the pin if I might end up with a better lie as a result, but generally I try to lay it up short. As a rule, I try to aim about six feet in front of the hole. With practice, you’ll find a system that works for you.

Always remember to relax, keep your eye on the ball, and let the club do the work. Nice and easy does the trick.