Chipping around the greens can really make or break your scorecard, but honestly, a lot of golfers ignore it until they're staring down a tricky shot over a bunker with the pin tucked behind.
That feeling, standing over a supposedly easy 20-yard chip, only to chunk it into the fringe or blade it across the green, is all too familiar.
The real difference between solid chippers and those who struggle usually boils down to three things: getting the setup right, choosing the right club for the shot, and picking smart landing spots.
No magic tricks or tour-pro secrets here, just basic stuff that, with a bit of practice, can totally change your short game.
Chipping's appeal is that you don't need crazy athleticism or flawless timing like a full swing. With a little know-how and some reps, even weekend golfers can chip like single-digit handicaps.
So let's dive into how to set up, which clubs make sense for different situations, and how to pick landing areas that actually give you a shot at getting close.
Key Takeaways
- Chipping setup means standing closer to the ball, feet nearly together, weight balanced
- Pick clubs based on the shot: more loft for obstacles, less loft for more roll
- Choose landing spots based on distance—usually a third to halfway to the hole
What Is Chipping and Why It Matters
Chipping is the backbone of scoring around the greens. It's not a full swing, and it isn't a pitch shot either. Knowing when and how to chip makes a huge difference in saving strokes and feeling confident in your short game.
The Role of Chipping in the Short Game
Chipping is our main move when we're just off the green but putting's not an option. These shots usually stay low and roll out, making them perfect for anything inside 30-40 yards.
Think of chipping as the bridge between putting and pitching. When the ball's just off the green or in the fringe, a chip gets it up and rolling more like a long putt.
Chip shot highlights:
- Low flight, little airtime
- Lots of roll
- Simple, putting-like motion
- Hardly any wrist action
We stand closer to the ball, feet narrow, and focus on hitting down on it first. The swing is more about shoulders and arms, not a big body turn.
Comparing Chip Shots and Pitch Shots
Knowing when to chip versus pitch is a game-changer. Chip shots stay low and roll a lot; pitch shots go high and stop quick.
Chipping works best when there's plenty of green between your landing spot and the pin. The ball spends most of its time rolling, not flying.
Pitch shots come into play when you need to clear something or stop the ball fast. That's when you go high, soft, and let it check up.
Chip vs. Pitch:
| Shot Type | Flight Path | Roll Distance | Best Used When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | Low | Long roll | Lots of green to work with |
| Pitch | High | Short roll | Need to carry trouble |
Club choice reflects this: 7-9 irons or pitching wedges for chips, sand or lob wedges for pitches. The setup changes too—chipping is more like putting, pitching is a mini full swing.
Scoring Impact Around the Greens
If you want to lower your scores, focus on chipping. Getting up and down—chip and a putt—turns bogeys into pars, doubles into bogeys.
Most of us only hit 4-6 greens in regulation, so we're chipping 12-14 times a round. That's a lot of chances to save strokes.
Dialing in your chipping can save 3-5 shots per round, which is the difference between breaking 90 or just missing it.
There's a mental side too. When you know you can chip it close, everything else feels easier. On the flip side, bad chips lead to three-putts or worse, and that's just demoralizing.
If you're new to golf, spend time chipping. The motion is simple and builds good habits for the rest of your game.
Chipping Setup Fundamentals
A good chip shot starts with setup: narrow your stance, get your posture right, adjust ball position for the shot, and lean your weight forward with a little shaft lean.
Stance and Posture Adjustments
Make your stance narrower than a full swing—about half to two-thirds of shoulder width.
This gives you control and keeps you balanced. Imagine standing at a counter, not locked up but ready to move.
Bend your knees a bit, maybe 15-20 degrees. Keep your shoulders square to the target and let your arms hang naturally.
- Feet close together
- Knees slightly bent
- Shoulders square
- Arms hang loose
Stand a little closer to the ball than you would for a regular shot. It sets up that pendulum motion you want.
You won't turn your body much. The stroke is more shoulders, less hips.
Proper Ball Position
Where you put the ball in your stance changes the shot. For most chips, put it just behind center—about an inch or two.
Further back for low, running chips; more centered for higher, softer ones.
- Low runners: 2 inches back of center
- Standard chips: 1 inch back
- High, soft shots: center
If you're bumping and running with a 9-iron, go back in your stance. Using a lob wedge? Center it up.
The biggest thing is picking a spot and sticking with it.
Weight Distribution and Shaft Lean
At address, lean 60-70% of your weight onto your lead foot. This helps you hit down on the ball.
Push your hands 1-2 inches ahead of the ball to create forward shaft lean—about 10-20 degrees.
- Weight: 60-70% on lead foot
- Hands: 1-2 inches ahead
- Shaft: 10-20 degrees forward
Keep that forward lean through impact. If you flip your wrists, you'll lose consistency.
Forward weight and shaft lean move the low point ahead of the ball. That's how you catch the ball first and then brush the turf—exactly what you want.
Choosing the Right Loft and Club for Chipping
Picking the right club is what separates a tap-in from a chip that runs off the back. Knowing how loft affects trajectory and spin helps you make the right call around the greens.
Pitching Wedge, Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge, and Lob Wedge Explained
Each wedge does something different. The pitching wedge (44-48°) gives you low chips with lots of roll.
The gap wedge (50-54°) is the in-betweener—great for medium-length chips.
Sand wedges (54-58°) fly higher and land softer. Use them when you need the ball to stop quick.
Lob wedges (58-64°) are for the highest, softest shots—think tight pins or clearing a bunker right in front of you.
How Loft Influences Trajectory and Spin
More loft means higher flight and softer landing. A 60-degree wedge pops the ball up and gets it to stop faster than a pitching wedge.
Less loft = more roll. A pitching wedge might roll out twice as far as a lob wedge from the same distance.
Roughly: sand wedge flies a third, rolls two-thirds; pitching wedge flies a quarter, rolls three-quarters.
Club Selection Tips for Different Lies
Tight lies? Go with more loft. The extra bounce helps you avoid digging in.
In the rough, you can use less loft—the grass helps get the ball up.
On uphill lies, use more loft because the slope takes some away. On downhill lies, use less loft to keep the flight down.
Picking Landing Spots for Consistent Chips
Consistent chipping is all about landing spots. You want a spot that's easy to hit and gives you a predictable roll, not just the closest patch of green to the hole.
Visualizing Landing Zones
First, look for the biggest, safest landing area that still gets you close. Like tossing darts, bigger targets are better.
- Green surface: best bet, most predictable
- Fairway or fringe: okay, but less reliable
- Rough: only if you have to
Avoid slopes, ridges, or tiny areas where a small miss turns into a disaster. Flat spots give you more margin for error.
If you have to choose between a perfect-but-risky landing spot and a safe one with some wiggle room, go safe. Every time.
Balancing Carry and Roll
Carry-to-roll ratios guide your landing spot. Each club flies and rolls differently.
- Lob wedge: 2:1 (flies twice as far as it rolls)
- Sand wedge: 1:1 (equal carry and roll)
- Pitching wedge: 1:2 (twice as much roll as carry)
- 9-iron: 1:3 (lots of roll)
If you're 30 feet from the pin with a pitching wedge, land it about 10 feet on and let it roll. With a lob wedge, land it closer to 20 feet on.
Pick your landing spot first, then grab the club that fits.
Adapting to Green Speeds and Slopes
Green speed changes everything. What works on slow greens won't work on fast ones.
Fast greens? Land the ball farther from the hole, use less loft, and aim for upslopes if you can.
Slow greens? Land it closer to the pin, use more loft, and be a bit more aggressive.
Slopes matter too. Downslopes make the ball run; upslopes help it stop. Side slopes will kick the ball off line, so plan for that.
Pin position changes your options. Back pins mean more green to work with. Front pins? You'll need more loft and less roll.
Technique Essentials for Reliable Chip Shots
The best chip shots come from three things: steady wrists, controlling swing size (not speed), and matching your club to the shot you want.
Minimal Wrist Hinge and Stable Body Movement
Keep your wrists steady and quiet on chip shots—barely any hinge from start to finish. Imagine your arms and chest moving together, not as separate parts.
It’s easy to want to “help” the ball up with your wrists, but honestly, the club’s loft handles that. Flipping or scooping just leads to weird contact and results that’ll make you shake your head.
Key checkpoints for wrist control:
- Hold the same wrist angle from setup through impact
- Let your chest rotation power the motion
- Keep grip pressure even—firm, but not a death grip
- Skip any wrist flicks that twist the clubface
Your body movement should stay minimal and controlled. This isn’t a full swing—just a gentle torso turn while your lower body stays mostly still.
Great chippers rely on their core for a smooth, repeatable motion. This cuts out extra variables and gives you the kind of consistency that builds confidence around the greens.
Swing Size Control
Control distance by adjusting swing size, not speed. Longer backswing? More distance. Shorter backswing? Ball stays closer.
A lot of golfers swing back too far and then slow down at impact. That’s a recipe for chunked shots and frustration.
Distance control basics:
- Short chips (5-15 yards): Backswing to knee height
- Medium chips (15-30 yards): Backswing to hip height
- Longer chips (30+ yards): Backswing to chest height
Always accelerate through impact, no matter the swing length. The grass will naturally limit your follow-through, so don’t force a short finish.
Practicing with different swing lengths helps you develop a feel for various distances. Start small, then add length as you get comfortable—it’s so much easier to add distance than to take it away.
Matching Trajectory with Shot Selection
Every situation calls for its own ball flight, and you get that by picking the right club—not by changing your technique. Each club gives you a natural trajectory if you just let it.
Your pitching wedge offers a medium flight with some roll. It’s perfect for most standard chips when you’ve got green to work with.
The sand wedge pops the ball higher and lands it softer. Use this to clear obstacles or stop the ball quickly on firmer greens.
A 9-iron keeps it low and rolling. That’s your go-to for longer chips or when you want the ball to release and run out.
Club selection basics:
- More green to the pin? Use a lower lofted club.
- Less green? Go with higher loft.
- Uphill lies: less loft
- Downhill lies: more loft
Don’t mess with your swing just to change trajectory. Pick the club that fits the shot and let the loft do its thing.
Common Chipping Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Poor contact ruins more chips than anything. We’re talking chunked shots (hitting behind the ball), thin shots (catching it too clean), and wild strikes from too much wrist action.
Avoiding Chunked and Thin Shots
Chunked shots—that thud before the ball barely moves. Thin shots—ball rockets across the green. Both are maddening.
Usually, these come from bad swing path or setup.
To fix chunked shots:
- Ball just back of center in your stance
- Hands ahead of the clubhead at address
- Contact the ball first, then the turf
- Hit down—don’t scoop
For thin shots:
- Don’t stand up during the swing
- Keep your spine angle steady
- Trust the club’s loft to lift the ball
- Accelerate through impact
You want a slight downward hit, ball first, then turf. That’s how you get clean contact.
Curing Inconsistent Contact
Inconsistent contact turns chipping into a guessing game. It usually traces back to setup mistakes and swing mechanics that change from shot to shot.
Dial in your setup:
- Same ball position for similar shots
- Same stance width and posture
- Consistent grip pressure and hand placement
And keep your swing consistent:
- Same backswing length for each distance
- Steady tempo
- Minimal lower body movement
Build a repeatable routine. Take the same number of practice swings, visualize the shot, and set up the same way each time.
Keep your weight favoring your front foot. That helps you hit down and catch the ball first.
Fixing Overuse of Wrists
Too much wrist action? That’ll kill your chipping. Flipping your wrists at impact makes distance and direction unpredictable.
Keep your wrists quiet:
- Tiny hinge on the backswing, if any
- Firm wrists through impact
- No flipping or scooping
- Lead with your body, not your hands
Chipping should feel like a putting stroke with loft. Let your chest and shoulders move the club, not your wrists.
Try practicing with your trail hand off the club. It really forces you to use body rotation instead of hand action.
Quiet wrists mean you’ll get predictable flight, better distance control, and way more accuracy.
Practicing and Drills for Better Chipping
Consistent chipping takes focused practice. Specific drills for setup, distance control, and landing accuracy make a big difference. You can work on these at home or on the course, and mixing things up keeps it interesting.
At-Home Chipping Drills
Towel Drill for Connection
Tuck a towel under both armpits and take some practice swings. This keeps your arms and body moving together.
Gate Drill Setup
Lay two alignment sticks or clubs just wider than your clubhead on either side of your swing path. Chip through the gate to groove a straight-back, straight-through motion.
Landing Spot Targets
Set up towels or hoops at 10, 15, and 20 yards. Try to land chips on each target—ten shots per spot is a solid start.
Coin Drill for Ball-First Contact
Put a coin two inches ahead of your practice ball. Try to clip the coin after the ball—if you do, you’re hitting ball first.
One-Club Challenge
Use only your sand wedge for 30 minutes. Experiment with ball position and swing length to get different trajectories and distances.
On-Course Practice Game Ideas
Three-Club Ladder Game
Pick one pin and chip with an 8-iron, pitching wedge, and sand wedge. Notice how carry and roll change. It’s great for learning course management.
Up-and-Down Challenge
Drop three balls around the green at different spots. Try to get up-and-down on at least two. Track your percentage over time.
Pressure Cooker Drill
Start with 10 points. Chips inside three feet earn a point. Chips outside six feet lose a point. See if you can reach 15 before hitting zero.
Different Lies Practice
Find uphill, downhill, thick rough, and tight lies. Hit the same distance from each and see how the ball reacts.
Clock Face Drill
Set balls at four spots around a pin (3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock). Chip from each to learn how angles and slopes affect your shot.
Tracking Progress for Short Game Improvement
Distance Control Metrics
Count how many chips finish inside a three-foot circle from 15, 25, and 35 yards. Track your success rate each week.
Proximity Stats
Check your average distance to the pin from:
- 10-15 yards: within 4 feet
- 15-25 yards: within 6 feet
- 25+ yards: within 8 feet
Up-and-Down Tracking
Log your up-and-down percentage in practice and during rounds. Break it down by distance to spot weak areas.
Practice Session Structure
Try splitting your short game practice: 60% on distance control, 25% on different lies and slopes, 15% on pressure drills. That balance keeps things fresh and covers all your bases.
Weekly Practice Log
Write down how long you practiced, which drills you did, and what improved. Note which drills seem to help your swing the most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most chipping questions are about setup, club choice, and picking the right landing spot. These are the things that trip up just about every golfer at some point.
What's the secret to a solid chipping setup for consistent contact?
Stand closer to the ball than you would for a full swing—about a foot or so from your toes to the ball.
Keep your feet close together, nearly touching for short chips. This helps you control the clubhead.
Split your weight evenly on both feet—no shifting needed on chips.
Put the ball just back of center in your stance. That helps you hit down on it, catching ball first.
How do I choose the best loft for chipping around the greens?
A pitching wedge handles most chips around the green, giving you a medium trajectory with good roll.
If you want more roll, grab a gap wedge or 9-iron. Lower loft is great for longer chips where you want the ball to run out.
Use the sand wedge when you need to clear something or stop the ball fast. Just remember, more loft means less roll.
Think about pin position too. Back pins? Go higher loft. Front pins? Lower loft works better.
Any tips for judging the perfect landing spot when chipping?
Aim for a landing spot, not the hole. It’s like tossing a ball underhand—you wouldn’t aim right at the target.
For short chips (under 20 yards), land it about a third of the way to the hole. On medium chips, go about halfway. For chips over 40 yards, two-thirds of the way works well.
Picture the bounce and roll from your spot. If it doesn’t look right in your head, pick a new landing area.
Can you break down the ideal chipping technique for a weekend golfer?
Use an up-and-down motion, not the low sweep of a full swing. Take the club up, then down through impact.
Keep your wrists steady—let your chest and arms do the work, not your hands.
Hit the ball first, then brush the grass. A tiny divot after the ball means you did it right.
Keep the follow-through short. Let the grass stop the club—no need to force a big finish.
As a senior golfer, how should I adjust my chipping to maintain accuracy?
Focus on technique, not power. Chipping doesn’t require athleticism—just good fundamentals.
Stand even closer to the ball for more control. That little tweak can help with stability.
Use more chest rotation, less arm swing. It’s easier on your joints and keeps things consistent.
Take a few extra practice swings to groove your tempo. There’s no rush—use those rehearsals to build confidence.
What are some effective ways to practice chipping to lower my scores?
Start with those short 5-10 yard chips—just to get the feel and some early confidence. Before you try anything fancy, nail the basics.
Try hitting to the same target a bunch of times. Repetition helps groove that motion, and honestly, there's no shortcut.
Take a few practice swings on grass without a ball. It sounds simple, but feeling the right contact and shape matters more than people think.
Mix up your lies and distances once you're comfortable. Golf rarely gives you the same shot twice, so it's worth practicing the weird stuff too.