Chipping - How to Chip a Golf Ball

An article by: Bobby Eldridge on 12-17-2007
This article has been read 2142 times.

How to Chip a Golf Ball

If you can not putt a golf ball because of irregular terrain or longer grass just off the edge of the green, you have to CHIP or PITCH the golf ball. If you do not have to fly the ball OVER any obstacle or if the green is reachable with 1/3 air then you can CHIP. If you have to fly over a bunker, bush, tree, deep rough, pond etc. you are going to have to PITCH the golf ball.

The method of chipping is related right back to the 1/3 air, 2/3 roll theory. The next step of the method, after you have decided to chip the ball is to select a golf club and that is where the 5-7-9 irons enter into the picture. The first step is to decide whether or not to chip or pitch and then what club you are going to use.

Chipping - The Setup

The next part is the set-up and then the swing you use. As you can tell there is an awful lot of effort that goes into the shot way before you strike the ball.

Addressing the golf ball with the correct set-up allows you to make contact with the ball with the angle you need to make the ball to go up in the air, land where you want it to and roll to the hole.

Chipping - You need to Read the Green

Before you play any shot the first item on your check list is to "see the picture". Take in your entire surroundings, uphill, downhill, side hill, fast or slow greens, etc. Picture exactly what your shot is going to look like on its journey into the hole. Pick out an exact blade of grass you want the ball to land on. Read the green as though you were reading a putt.

The next three parts are entirely about the set-up. If you are not standing to the ball correctly with your chip shots, you will have to compensate during the swing to get the clubhead to arrive in the correct position.

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You can continue viewing golf lessons on the chipping introduction. The next lesson in the Chipping series is on club selection. Or you can view golf lessons on the chipping Setup, Backswing, or Downswing.