By Bobby Eldridge Head Professional,
PurePoint Golf Reprinted with permission
Golf Chipping Introduction - Chipping Definition
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.
Golf Chipping Introduction - 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.
Golf Chipping Introduction - 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 SAFELY 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.
Golf Chipping Introduction - 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.
Golf Chipping Introduction - 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.
Golf Chipping Introduction - 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.
Golf Chipping Introduction - 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 club head to arrive in the correct position.
Golf Chipping Introduction - Club Selection
There is one swing in chipping that you control the distance you want the ball to travel by changing clubs. The 9 iron is for short chips, the 7 iron is for medium length chips and the 5 iron is for longer chips.
When you practice your chipping, pay close attention to how far the three clubs travel, in the air and on the ground. Practice on a flat green if possible so you can measure the distance between each iron. Make sure you spend time learning uphill and downhill distances also.
Golf Chipping Introduction - Distance Control
If you are a one-club-chipper you had to learn your distance control from the length of the backswing. This is a very difficult way to chip a golf ball. Being a one-club-chipper means you have to have incredible touch ALL of the time, however if you chip with the 5-7-9 irons, you take all of the grey area out of your chipping game and put it in the hands of the three chipping clubs.
If you have struggled with chipping, this method is going to get you started on the right path to improve your chipping game. The single best way to begin to see improvement is for you to start with the 9 iron. You understand the definition of chipping and now you know which clubs to use and soon you will learn the mechanics of chipping. The reason the 9 iron is the best place to start; it is the easiest of the three clubs. Over the course of a lifetime most of your chip shots will be between the 7 and 9 iron with very few chips being the longer ones. So why not start practicing with the 9 iron?
So, you have the flat face clubs rolling along the ground and then you have the loftier clubs that will help you get up and over a sand trap or the edge of a pond.
All golfers are very individual. I can not tell you how far your chip shots should travel however I have posted a chart at the end of the book that will give you a general idea of how far the average chip shots travel, both in the air and on the ground. It is very important that you spend time practicing so you know EXACTLY how far your chip shots fly and roll. The chart is to simply provide you with a guide to work off of.So, short airtime, a lot of roll time for chipping. A lot of airtime and very little roll time for pitching.
Golf Chipping Introduction - Chipping Mistakes
Let's go over the top 6 chipping mistakes so you can figure which one you make and how to fix it on your own.
Topping and Thin Chip Shots
If you are topping or hitting your chip shots thin, there are two possible reasons why you are making this mistake.
If you are swinging the golf club too much from inside to outside, the club head is reaching the bottom of the arc behind the ball and by the time the leading edge of the golf club reaches the golf ball, the club head is beginning to swing up and the leading edge catches the ball in the middle or top.
Lesson: Check weight and handle placement. If the tops or thins continues, place the ball further back in your stance.
Topping
Yes there is another way to top the golf ball. If you swing the golf club too much from outside to in, the inside of the club will travel too vertical during the downswing. You will either hit tops or fat shots. If the club head travels too steep, the bottom of the arc moves from under the ball to another inch further forward; on top of the ball.
Lesson: Check the ball position. Move your right shoulder back an inch or two so the golf club can swing more from the inside.
Too Long
If you believe your method is correct and yet you continue to hit chip shots that run across the green consistently, you will need to correct one thing. Your downswing is way too steep. The club head is coming down too vertical.
Lesson: The first thing you will have to check is the ball position. If the ball is too far back in your stance, this will create too steep of an angle. The second problem might be the handle of the golf club. Check to make sure the handle is across from your belt buckle, not your left pant leg.
Too Short
If you believe your method is correct and yet you continue to hit chip shots that come up short consistently, you will need to correct one thing. Your downswing is way to shallow. The club head is coming down too level to the ground.
Lesson: Check the ball position and make sure it is not too far forward. 70% of your weight has to be on your left leg and the handle has to be across from your belt buckle.
Pulls
If you have a tendency to pull your chip shots, the golf club is traveling too much from outside to inside in the downswing and the club face is aiming left at impact.
Lesson: The first thing you have to check is the ball position. Make sure the ball is slightly back of center and then check your shoulder alignment and have the shoulders parallel to your target line.
Pushes
If you have a tendency to push your chip shots the golf club is traveling too much from inside to outside in the downswing and the clubface is aiming right at impact.
Lesson: The first thing you have to check is the ball position. Make sure the ball is slightly forward of center and then check your shoulder alignment and have the shoulders parallel to your target line.
