Chipping Definition and Introdution

Let’s begin by defining a chip shot.
A chip shot is shot around the green that has 1/3 air and 2/3 roll on its way to the hole. Another way to say it is a chip shot is a shot that is hit with minimum air and maximum roll. You use a chip shot when the golf ball is off of the green and you are unable to putt. This will carry the ball over the fringe without a lot of height and then roll the rest of the way to the hole. On the other hand, the definition of a pitch shot is a shot that has 2/3 air and 1/3 roll on its journey to the hole.

Chipping – How this Shot can Lower Your Scores

There are a couple of reasons why this part of the game is so important. Anytime you can put the ball on the ground instead of in the air you will have more control over your golf ball. You will be more accurate and your distance control is easier to learn.

When to use the Chip Shot

Remember my mantra I have used for the past 25 years: PUTT before you CHIP and CHIP before you PITCH, PITCH before you SAND and SAND before you LOB. If you have a chance to putt the ball go ahead and do it. If there is some grass or uneven terrain that you think a putt won’t go through smoothly, chip the golf ball. If you can not reach the green SAVELY with 1/3 air then it is time to pitch the ball with a pitching wedge first, a sand wedge secondly and lastly with a LOB wedge. Ok, so there is a little bit of grey area, some golf courses are either very firm or there are parts of the world where there is not a lot of grass around the green and yes it would be best to use the Texas Wedge (putter). The ground can be so firm you could not hit a pitch shot if you tried, that is when you put the method aside and putt the ball. Otherwise, keep the golf ball as low to the ground as possible.
It doesn’t matter how close or far your chip shot is from the hole, there is only one swing that you have to learn. The distance the ball travels is controlled solely by the club you select. We will discuss this later in more detail.
As I said earlier, a chip shot is 1/3 air and 2/3 roll. If you can’t get the ball safely on the green with 1/3 air then it is no longer a chip shot, it would be a pitch shot. After the golf ball lands safely on the green 1/3 of the way to the cup, it rolls the rest of the way. I can’t stress enough that the game of golf is easier and safer on the ground versus in the air. The distance to the cup does not play any role when deciding to chip or pitch.
You can control the direction of the chip shot similarly to that of a putt – it’s fairly easy. Then you will begin to notice how you have a great chance of making the chip since it’s going to roll towards the hole.

It is much more difficult to make a pitch or flop shot since you have to fly the ball further in the air. It is more difficult to judge the distance and the amount the ball rolls after landing on the green.

Chipping – Common Mistakes

The most common mistake in chipping is not hitting the bottom of the golf ball. You might top the ball, hit it fat, hit behind the ball, or hit it too thin. If you do not hit solid chip shots you will not have any consistency with your distance control. Distance control in chipping is difficult enough when you are hitting solid chip shots.

Now that you know the definition of a chip shot, we can start talking about how to chip. We are going to break it down into eleven chapters that you have to learn to improve your chipping. There may be other moving parts in the swing, but if you are able to understand the eleven chapters, you will find immediate improvements.

The purpose of the eleven chapters is to teach you a method that you can easily apply and most importantly, learn how to become your own best instructor.

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.