One of the best ways to save strokes around the green is to improve your chipping technique. By adding a variety of chip shots to your arsenal you will be able to quickly lower your golf scores. The chipping lessons shown below include four of my favorite chipping techniques. I use all of these chip shots during an average round of golf. These tips on chipping have consistently helped me to save strokes around the green, improve my short game and shoot lower golf scores. Here are the four golf chipping tips.
The Chunk and Run Chip Shot – This shot is invaluable for when you need to play from thick rough around the green. It’s nearly impossible to decide where to hit behind the ball for a chip that sits down in the rough. Either you don’t hit the shot hard enough, chunk it, or catch it thin. To play the chunk and run chip shot set up with the ball slightly back of center in your stance and your hands ahead of the ball. Focus on a spot two to three inches behind the ball where your club should enter the grass. Use a short follow-through and very the speed of your swing based on the distance you want the ball to travel. Hit this shot similar to a bunker shot with an abbreviated follow-through.
The Low Runner Chip Shot - For a consistent chip shot that lands, takes one hop and consistently rolls out each time this is the choice. Position the ball slightly back of center with your hands set forward. This is mostly a dead wrist shot, however, I do use a slight setting of the wrists. Feel like you close the clubface down at impact and trap the ball. Finally, finish with the toe of the club facing the target as this will allow the ball to turn over and run with a consistent role each time.
The Soft Floating Chip - Use this chip shot when you have very little green to work with and need to land the shot softly. Set up with the face open and ball in front of center. Feel like you carry the clubhead to the hole and keep the clubface pointing towards the sky throughout the follow-through. As this shot comes out high and soft make sure you hit it hard enough.
The Flop Chip - This is the shot you see the pros use on television when they have a small landing area and need to hit a high shot that stops quickly. Set up left of target, open your clubface and play the ball inside your front foot. Take the club back more upright, swing along your stance line and hit hard left through impact. Use either a 56 or 60 degree wedge for this shot, accelerate the club and make sure to keep the clubface pointing to the sky.
