Chipping tips

[Queen of the Beach]

Chipping is one of the most important parts of one's golf game. According to the CGPA Pros, "The key to chipping is understanding the feel for the shot and knowing the distance from your ball to the hole. The combination of the flight and the roll, which is determined to a large extent by the club selection, will result in a good shot. In order to practise this, pick three points on the practice green and chip to each point with a pitching wedge, a nine-iron and a seven-iron. Note the distance the ball rolls after reaching the target. This will provide you with an idea of the roll you will achieve with each club. “Feel” the distance for every shot. " Well I've tried this drill at the practice green at Bloomington Downs. I think that it's a lot easier to do during practice but when it comes time during my golf game I find it really tough. I am able to get good loft but I tend to over hit and it roles past the hole and off the green. Does anyone have any tips on when to take a full swing and when to take a half swing? How does distance get affected, if you are chipping from a slope/hill?

[Focker Singh]

Chipping is one of the most important parts of one's golf game. According to the CGPA Pros, "The key to chipping is understanding the feel for the shot and knowing the distance from your ball to the hole. The combination of the flight and the roll, which is determined to a large extent by the club selection, will result in a good shot. In order to practise this, pick three points on the practice green and chip to each point with a pitching wedge, a nine-iron and a seven-iron. Note the distance the ball rolls after reaching the target. This will provide you with an idea of the roll you will achieve with each club. “Feel” the distance for every shot. " Well I've tried this drill at the practice green at Bloomington Downs. I think that it's a lot easier to do during practice but when it comes time during my golf game I find it really tough. I am able to get good loft but I tend to over hit and it roles past the hole and off the green. Does anyone have any tips on when to take a full swing and when to take a half swing? How does distance get affected, if you are chipping from a slope/hill?

QB,
What a great question. I usually never take a full swing chipping unless I'm in a deep bunker. When chipping you're never far enough to full swing. I think the important key is to always accelerate through your chip. Even if its a delicate chip you still need to accelerate, just take a shorter backswing. One common problem among us is we're scared we're going to skull the ball and hit to the other side of the green so we tend to slow down upon impact. If you keep your hands infront of the ball and don't break your wrists with a good follow through you will notice better shots.
When you are chipping on a down hill slope, the ball should be more towards your back foot, not in the middle of your stance. Take a more lofted club and swing with your club following the angle of the slope. Your weight should be more on your forward leg.
If you're chipping uphill, take a less lofted club cause when you're swinging uphill you're losing distance. Also address the ball more on your back leg and swing with the angle of the hill. Of course this all needs practise. Sort of hard to explain and picture. Hope this helps if you're still following...haha

[Queen of the Beach]

Hey Focker, thanks for the great pointers. I'll try to remember to accelerate through my swing the next time I'm chipping. And I never knew that I should change clubs when chipping from an upward slope. hmm since I don't have different degree wedges should I use my 9 iron to chip? Is that allowed?

[Chambokl]

Hey QB,

Focker is right about accelerating through your swing. Short back swing, accelerate through the ball and finish your swing. If you want to go a bit farther take a longer back swing.

If you are having trouble chipping I would always use the same club (for me PW) and only use that one until you can control it perfectly.

Keep your hand in front of the ball, ball in the back of your stance and DO NOT break your wrist. It is as easy as it sounds.... lol

You should be hitting the ball on the way down. You do not lift the ball. You strike the ball on the way down and it will magically fly up.

Good luck and practice....

[Focker Singh]

If you are having trouble chipping I would always use the same club (for me PW) and only use that one until you can control it perfectly.

Good point Chambokl. When I first started playing golf I only used my PW to chip too. Partly because I didn't have any other wedges but once I got comfortable with it, I used it for everything. Bump and run and even delicate chips, I just opened and closed the club face more or less. Once you get better at it, get other wedges. I don't know what I would do now if I didn't have a full wedge set.

QB, there is no rule saying which club you're not allowed to use for any shot. You can even putt with your driver if you wanted to. I play with someone who pitches when they have a long putt. GO figure!

[Queen of the Beach]

Hey Chambokl...thanks for the tip! My beginner set does not come with a PW. :( But I bought myself a cheap wedge at a Golf clearance centre about a year ago. It has a 56 degree angle. Is that the same as a PW?

[Queen of the Beach]

Good point Chambokl. When I first started playing golf I only used my PW to chip too. Partly because I didn't have any other wedges but once I got comfortable with it, I used it for everything. Bump and run and even delicate chips, I just opened and closed the club face more or less. Once you get better at it, get other wedges. I don't know what I would do now if I didn't have a full wedge set.

QB, there is no rule saying which club you're not allowed to use for any shot. You can even putt with your driver if you wanted to. I play with someone who pitches when they have a long putt. GO figure!
Hey Focker, really? I can use any club with any swing for any shot? I can't believe that with all the strict Golf rules out there...there is no specific penalty for mis-use of clubs.

[Focker Singh]

Hey Chambokl...thanks for the tip! My beginner set does not come with a PW. :( But I bought myself a cheap wedge at a Golf clearance centre about a year ago. It has a 56 degree angle. Is that the same as a PW?

Most PW's are 48deg and a standard SW is 56deg. Thats why some people need gap wedges. 52, 54, 58, 60, 64. Thats when you get specific about yardage. I use a 52, 56, 60 wedge system. Covers pretty much every shot I need within 115.

[Focker Singh]

Hey Focker, really? I can use any club with any swing for any shot? I can't believe that with all the strict Golf rules out there...there is no specific penalty for mis-use of clubs.

QB,
YES you can use any club you want for any type of shot. Just certain shots you're not allowed to ground your club (touch the ground or sand) or take practice swings ie: bunkers and hazards. If you ground your club you get penalized. The only other thing I can think about with mis use of clubs is using somebody else's clubs.