Chip Shot
Give Yourself A Chance For Birdie

Developing a good chip shot will save you so many shots in your round, particularly if your a beginner or high handicapper, you need to develop a sound short game to get your handicap down.

As a beginner you will have an allowance of 28 shots for male (36 for a female) the reasoning behind this is that you will not hit the greens in regulation, therefore you will be using a chip shot more often than not.

The chip shot is in fact very easy to perform technically, unlike the full golf swing, but needs a lot of practice as it's what we call a 'feel' shot.

Golf chipping takes a lot of practice, you need to get to know your distances, 5 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards. This can be done by chipping balls into a buckets, or into an upturned umbrella, or better still, around the practice putting green of your local golf course.

The correct way to set up for your chip shot is to open your stance. Stand with feet parallel, as with your normal full golf swing, then pull your front foot back from the target line. This will open your stance, the front of your body will begin to face the target.

Put 60 percent of your weight on your front foot, this will generate a downward strike, which will produce backspin, and get the ball in the air. You will not be shifting your weight to the back foot as with the full golf swing, but maintaining your weight on the front foot.

Very important golf tip:

In order to get the ball in the air you must hit down on the golf ball, do not try to 'scoop' it in the air. This will result in the ball 'skimming' along the ground to god knows where!

Use a putting grip, I find that using a putting grip to chip around the greens gives me much more 'feel' and confidence.

Now with your open stance, weight 60 percent on your front foot, the ball should be positioned in the center (or slightly farther back) in you stance, the center of your chest in front of the ball with your putting grip, hands positioned in front of the ball.

The chip shot is like an exaggerated putt. Keeping the wrist stiff, just pull the hands and arms back as you would with your putting stroke, rocking back from your shoulders, then rock forwards. the club head will strike down on the ball, projecting the golf ball in the air towards the target.

Be sure to keep your wrist stiff. Cocking the wrists adds power to the swing. The aim of chipping is to eliminate power and create better distance control.

Judging the distance again takes practice. There are 2 ways to create distance with a chip shot. One is to bring your hands farther back on the shot, the other is to use a less lofted club.

I tend to use a sand wedge, or a pitching wedge when I'm just of the green. Some golfers like to use a 9 iron. I use a 7 iron if I have about 20 yards or more to chip.

With practice you'll soon find your distances and you'll realize what an easy shot this is to perfect. Golf chipping will cut the 10 extra shots you effectively get as a beginner playing of 28 handicap, and you'll soon be down to 18 and looking to get to single figures.

You will also get far more enjoyment out of the game as you chip closer, make more putts and have a much tidier round.

Lesson Thirteen The Pitch Shot

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