6 Questions To Ask Before Chipping

How good is your short game?

If you’re like most golfers, it’s probably not as good as you’d like. We all can benefit from a better short game—no matter what our golf handicap. So if you take the game seriously, you’ll work hard on your short game.

If you saw Rory McIlroy battle Phil Michelson in the PGA Championship recently, you saw a good reason to improve your short game. It saves strokes. Plain and simple. Their short games helped both golfers save par time and time again.

Both players are short game masters. Michelson is probably the best on the Tour—maybe the best ever. Both are also great at getting up and down. One secret to mastering the up and down is good chipping.

When you chip it close, you turn three strokes into two. Eliminating that extra stroke is often the difference between saving par and not saving par. But hitting great chip shots isn’t as easy as McIlroy and Michelson make it look. It takes time and work to learn.

Below are 6 questions from our golf lessons that can help you master the art of chipping. Ask them before every chip.

1. Should I pitch, chip, or putt?

Try to putt as often as possible. If the ground between you and the green is too uneven or the grass is too tall, then chip. If there’s a bunker or other obstacle between you and the flag, then you may have to hit a pitch.

2. What club should I use?

Choose the club that’s most comfortable. Some experts say using one club for all chips. Others say vary the club based on the length of chip and type of lie. Using one club makes you an expert with that club. Using more than one club hones your ability to adapt to different conditions.

If you’re a beginner, you may want to chip with more than one club. It will give you a feel for each club’s natural movements and advantages. You can then go to one club, if you like. Experienced players often get used to chipping with one club. That’s fine, if the club helps you get it close.

3. Where’s my landing spot?

Landing the ball on the green provides the best distance control. But obstacles between you and the hole may be a factor. Choose a less lofted club to get the ball rolling quickly. Choose a more lofted club if you have to carry the ball a short distance.

4. How long a stroke do I take?

It depends on your landing spot. The farther away the landing spot (and hole), the longer your stroke. Generally, a chipping stroke is about 2 feet long—in both directions. Try to match shot lengths on both sides of the stroke.

5. Do I use a putting stroke or a chipping stoke?

Using a putting stroke reduces the chances of hitting it fat or thin. It also provides better distance control. Good clubs for this type of stroke are the 6-iron through the 9-iron.

Using a chipping stroke works well when you need some carry. It also makes it easier to put backspin on the ball. Good clubs for this type of stroke are your sand, gap, and pitching wedges.

6. Do I hit it straight or work the ball?

If you’re chipping into a severely sloping green, you may have to work the ball—either right to left or left to right. Learn to work the ball so it spins into the slope. This straightens the chip. Using a less lofted club makes it easier to impart sidespin.

Answering these questions—and remembering our golf tips—before chipping can help you chip it close. A good chip turns three strokes into two. That can help you save par.
Saving par more often lowers your scores and golf handicap.