How to Chip a Golf Ball

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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A chip shot, necessary when you're only a few yards from the putting green, is usually played with a low-lofted club in order to get the ball rolling on the green as quickly as possible.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Golf Shirts
Golf Lessons
Golf Bags
Golf Balls
Golf Club Cleaners
Golf Club Grips
Golf Clubs
Golf Gloves
Golf Hats
Golf Practice Equipment
Golf Shoes

Step1

Select a club with low loft (usually anything from a 4-iron to a 7-iron), which will allow for the ball to just carry onto the putting surface.

Step2

Select a target on the green to aim for and estimate where you want the ball to stop.

Step3

Grasp the club by the steel shaft close to the end of the grip.

Step4

Flex your knees to get down to the golf ball.

Step5

Keep the golf ball close to your feet.

Step6

Shift most of your weight to your left side (your right side if you are left-handed).

Step7

Loosen your elbows.

Step8

Use a putting stroke to swing the club an equal distance back and then through the ball.

Tips & Warnings

Keep your hands ahead of, or even with, the club head on the follow-through.
Grip the club firmly so that the rough doesn't twist the club on the swing.
Get the ball rolling on the green as soon as possible; this will make it easier to control the shot.
In deep rough, angle the club so the toe is the only part touching the ground.
In windy or downhill conditions, or on fast greens, always chip the ball instead of pitching it.
Repair all divots taken.
Be careful not to hit the ball too hard; otherwise it might roll off the other side of the green.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 8/18/2006 Stand with your feet closer than normal. Then position your feet 10-15 degrees left of the target. Focus more of your weight on you front leg, left (vice versa for lefties). Hold the club soft, but not too soft. Swing in a pendulum, the position of arms should make a 'Y,' including the club. Play the ball off your front foot using the needed power to reach your target.

Anonymous said

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on 8/14/2006 Set the ball position to the back of your stance, say 2 inches inside your right heel, keeping your stance narrow no wider than shoulder width apart. Pick a spot 6 inches on line with your intended target line and take the club back slowly. With the feeling you are hitting the ball with the back of your left hand, strike the ball over your target spot on toward the flag. Don't flip at the ball with your right hand and don't look up. Hope this helps.

Anonymous said

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on 8/11/2006 For a soft landing greenside shot, use your lob wedge (60*), open the face, (for more hight and less roll play ball center of stance), for a soft landing lower shot with more run, open the face and play it back in your stance. This is one of my favorite shots, it is not a flop shot, nor is it a spinner.

NOTE: Do not play it forward in your stance, only center or back or you'll most likely thin it.

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 U usually use a 5 wood to chip it close to the hole. Pretend you are using your putter (even though you are using your 5 wood).

Anonymous said

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on 3/13/2006 Chipping is easy. It is mostly mental. Just try not to think about it too much. Get the club where your grip is firm, but not too tight or too loose. Put the ball toward your back foot to get more loft and toward the front foot for keeping it low.

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