How to Execute a Chip Shot in Golf?
A chip shot in golf is when the ball is played from just off the green and onto the green. It’s a short shot, usually played with a lofted club, that goes low and doesn’t travel very far. Many golfers find this shot to be difficult, but with a few basic steps, you can make it simple.
Chipping is often considered one of the most difficult shots in golf. If you’ve ever watched Tour professionals chip, it looks so effortless and easy.
But when you try to do it yourself, it’s anything but. If you’re struggling with your chipping, or even if you just want to take your game to the next level, then this blog post is for you.
We’re going to show you how to execute a perfect chip shot and explain why it’s such an important part of golf.
1. Executing a Perfect Chip Shot
Now that we know what a chip shot is, let’s talk about how to execute one properly. First things first, you want to make sure that you have the correct club.
For most people, this will be either a 7-iron or a pitching wedge. Once you have the correct club, it’s time to set up correctly. Here are some key pointers:
- Your feet should be shoulder width apart
- Your weight should be shifted onto your front foot
- Your shoulders should be square to your target
- The clubface should be square to your target
- Your grip pressure should be light
- Your elbows should be close to your sides
As you can see, there are quite a few things to think about when setting up for your chip shot. But once you have the hang of it, it will become second nature.
Now that you’re all set up, it’s time to take your swing! The key here is to keep everything smooth and steady.
You don’t want any sudden jerks or movements—everything should flow nicely from start to finish. As you swing back, shift your weight onto your back foot and cock your wrists slightly.
On the downswing, transfer your weight back onto your front foot and allow your arms and wrists to uncock naturally.
The goal is for the clubhead to strike the ball first, and then move smoothly through the grass without catching too much turf.
If everything goes according to plan, you’ll hit the ball dead center with a nice little pitch that rolls out towards the hole!
2. Why Bother Hitting Chip Shots?
Now that we’ve gone over how to hit a perfect chip shot, you might be wondering why they’re even important in the first place?
Can’t you just putt from anywhere on the green? While it’s true that chipping isn’t always necessary, it’s still a good skill to have in your arsenal. Here are a few reasons why:
-They can get you out of trouble: Let’s say you find yourself in a bunker with only 10 yards of green between you and the hole—a putt from there is incredibly risky and could easily end up in another bunker (or worse).
But if you can execute a perfect chip shot and get it close enough, then suddenly that 10-yard putt becomes much more manageable.
Chipping can also help when there are obstacles like trees or rough between your ball and the hole—it allows you go over them without having worry about making contact.
-They improve scoring: When executed properly, chip shots almost always lead to better scores than putts—especially if you find yourself off the green frequently.
If hitting greens isn’t really your strong suit but you’re decent around the greens, then chipping can really help lower those scores quickly!
3. Key Points for Remembering
There are key points to remember when chipping the ball:
- Think about using less club than you would for a normal shot because you don’t want the ball to go too far. Using too much club will make the ball go over the green.
- Your weight should be shifted more towards your front foot than your back foot as you make contact with the ball. This will help ensure that the ball doesn’t go too high.
- Remember to keep your arms straight and wrists firm as you swing. This will help maintain control of the shot.
- When you make contact with the ball, try to hit down on it slightly so that it pops up into the air and then come down onto the green. You don’t want to hit too much down because then the ball will dig into the ground and not go as far.
- Visualize where you want the ball to land and then give it a soft touch so that it rolls towards that spot once it hits the green.
By following these key points, you can make chipping much simpler than it seems at first glance. With a little bit of practice, chip shots will become second nature.
Conclusion
A well-executed chip shot is an important part of golf that can help get you out of trouble and improve scoring.
By following our advice on how to execute one properly, you’ll be chipping like a Tour pro in no time! You can find more related articles here.
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