subject: Golf Tips 101 - How to Execute a Chip Shot [print this page] Golf Tips 101 - How to Execute a Chip Shot
Golf Tips 101 - How to Execute a Chip Shot
This article is from a group of articles that detail free golf tips. This article talks about a chip shot and the proper way to execute it. A good chip shot can mean the difference between a tap in and a 30 footer.
So what exactly is a chip shot? A chip shot is one that where the amount of time spent in the air is lower than the amount of time it rolls on the ground. A good percentage would be 30-70 where 30 represents the time spent in the air and 70 represents the time spent rolling on the ground. A pitch shot would be the opposite. This type of shot would be like a 70-30 or even higher. Otherwise known as a lob shot, the pitch shot travels mostly in the air and will not roll much on the ground.
Where do you hit chip shots from? A chip shot can be hit from anywhere just off the green to about 30 yards. Sometimes you'll hear a golfer talking about a chip and run. This shot comes at a distance greater than 30 yards where the goal is just to punch it towards the green and let it run across the ground up to the flagstick. I will hit my chip shots off the fringe, fairway, and even out of the rough.
chip shots can be pretty easy to execute. The setup is really not that much different than a normal setup. Let's start out with the stance. I usually like to have an open stance when i'm that close to a green. So, I will line up my feet so they are a bit open. My hips and shoulders will still be in line with my target point. The ball position will be a little closer to my back leg/foot than in a normal position. I do this just to make sure I have good contact with the ball and hit it before the ground. A chip shot that you hit fat (ground first) will result in a poor effort and will not go that far. As I set up for the shot I make sure the grooves on the clubface are exactly in line with my target point. Once everything is lined up, I can begin the swing.
A chip shot swing is a bit different than normal swings. I try not to break my wrists at all. I'll keep my wrist stiff as I take my backswing. I will also keep it pretty flat and not to high off the ground. The swing also needs to be a bit abbreviated. This means it should be shorter. You will not take a full swing when trying to hit a chip shot. My follow-thru will normally be straight to my target and about as long as my backswing. So, lets recap. Swing goes low and flat, straight back, with not much wrist hinge. I will make sure to hit the ball first and my follow-thru will be straight to the target and the same length as my backswing.
Hopefully by following this chipping tip, you will lower the length of those tricky putts. I know that this tip is one I use everytime i'm out on the golf course. If it can work for me, it can work for anyone!
