If you've ever felt that little knot of panic before a chip shot, worrying about hitting it too thin and watching it sail across the green, then this is for you. This video breaks down a simple, five-minute chipping routine that can seriously help.
Key Takeaways
- Improve your contact on chip shots instantly.
- Use one chipping technique for every chip shot.
- Learn to control the distance of your chip shots.
Most golfers think they need a whole new way to chip when they struggle. But really, it's about having a repeatable method to control your strike, manage the bottom of your swing, and build confidence. This routine is exactly what many coaches use with students who are having trouble with their short game.
Getting Consistent Contact: The Foundation
When you're warming up before a round, the first thing to focus on isn't distance or the target. It's about building confidence through consistent contact. That awful feeling of thinning it or hitting it fat can really mess with your head. To get good contact, you need to control two things: where the club hits the ground, and how it hits the ground. You don't want it digging too deep, and you certainly don't want to miss the ground entirely. This means controlling the depth of your swing arc.
The Leaning Tower Drill
A great drill for this is the "leaning tower drill." Many golfers struggle with consistent contact because their bodies move too much – leaning back to try and help the ball up, or swaying forward. This drill helps create a more stable and repeatable motion.
Here's how it works:
- Setup: Get into your normal chipping stance. The ball position can vary; further forward makes the ball go higher, further back makes it go lower. Your hands should be opposite your lead leg, and you should stand reasonably close to the ball.
- The Lean: Imagine your body tilting forward, like a leaning tower. To exaggerate this, try to almost lock your trail leg (the back leg). This helps keep your upper and lower body stacked and stable throughout the swing, preventing the kind of movement that throws off your strike.
- The Rock: With your body tilted and trail leg locked, gently rock your weight. Notice how your body works up through the shot, rather than down. This feeling is key.
To get a better feel for this rhythm, try holding a golf bag and swinging it side to side. You'll notice there's no real body turn involved. It should feel like an underarm throw.
When you apply this to a chip shot, focus on keeping that trail leg locked and developing your body's pivot. Don't worry about where the ball goes. The goal is to get your body's pivot working to help control your contact. This leads to beautiful, ball-first contact.
Controlling Your Trail Arm for Better Strikes
Once you've started to get a handle on your body's pivot and control where you strike the ball, the next step is looking at your trail arm. When you swing the bag side to side, notice the position of your trail arm. It should be in a specific place, and it should be swinging, not rotating around.
Many golfers mess this up. They might get the arm in the right position, but then they rotate their hand, which controls the clubface. This often leads to thins, fats, or a jabby motion. Instead, keep your trail arm in that position, with your palm facing forward. Your wrists should stay calm and passive – no rolling or extra movements.
With your body pivot established and your wrists staying still, think of it as an underarm throw. Your trail arm works underneath naturally. This isn't about trying to hit down on the ball; it's about letting the ball get in the way of your swing arc. The downward strike is a natural result of this motion.
Adding Height to Your Chip Shots
If you want to hit the ball higher, you don't need to change your swing dramatically. Simply move the ball further forward in your stance and open the clubface a bit. Crucially, keep your hands in the same position as they were for your lower chip shots. Trust that the setup changes will create the height. All you do is control your pivot and strike, and swing underarm. With a 60-degree wedge, moving the ball forward and opening the face will give you that extra height with the same motion.
Mastering Distance Control
Once you've got consistent strike, the next step is distance control. For many, just achieving good contact is a huge win. But to control distance, think about the underarm throw again. Just like learning to throw a ball underarm to a specific spot, you develop a feel for it.
With a good strike and growing confidence, you can start to develop the feel for throwing the ball onto the green. Over time, your strike will improve, your confidence will build, and you'll start to relax. This relaxation allows you to experiment and develop different shots around the green. Dedicating just five minutes to this routine before each round can make a big difference in your short game.
