You must make two critical decisions when chipping: What club do I chip with and where is my landing spot on the green? Ideally, you want the ball to roll more than it carries. When chipping, roll equals control. That’s because it takes near perfect distance control to fly the ball all the way to the hole. Determining your roll-to-carry distance answers both questions.
Here are the 5 key steps to roll-to-carry distance:
1. Pace off yardage to the hole
2. Walk off the distance to landing spot
3. Divide the smaller number by the larger number
4. Subtract the roll/carry ratio from total distance
5. Hit the chip using the right club
Ideally, you want the chip to roll three times more than it flies. Hitting the chip with the right club increase your chances of achieving this ratio. That’s because every club has a unique roll-to-carry distance.
Here are the key steps in the process:
1. Walk off the total yardage from the ball to the hole. This gives you the chip’s total distance. Let’s say it’s 10 yards.
2. Walk off the distance from your ball to a spot 1-yard deep on the green. This is your landing spot. Let’s say it’s 2 yards.
3. Divide the larger number (10) by the smaller number (2). This gives you your roll/carry ratio. Here, it’s 5.
4. Subtract the roll/carry ratio (5) from 12—a constant in this chip trajectory distance formula (12-5=7). This gives you your chipping club. In this case, it’s the 7-iron.
5. Choose a landing spot 1-yard deep on the green. Hit this landing spot and you’ll it close using your 7-iron.
If the shot runs uphill, increase the chip’s total distance by a yard or so. If the chip runs downhill, decrease the total distance by a few yards or so.
With practice, you’ll hit your landing spot and roll the ball close to the hole, leaving you an easily makeable putt.