Golf Chipping Tips

Matches are often won or lost in the "short game." The short game includes golf chipping and pitching. Should you really want to become accomplished in golf, you must become capable at golf chipping. A golf chip is not a pitch; pitching puts the golf ball into a higher trajectory and is accomplished with a wedge. Golf chipping comes into play when you're around 10 to 15 meters away from the green.

A bad chip is what happens when you hit the golf ball too low or too high. You will either end up with a "fat" chip (also called a "chucker") that dies where it lies. Or you may end up with a "thin" chip (also known as a "skull") that goes shooting across the green, giving you another chance to chip from the other side.

Want to know how to hit a good golf chip? Hit the ball first instead of the ground. Some players say that it's like "squeezing" the ball between the club head and the turf. Getting sufficient acceleration into your golf chipping swing is difficult to achieve. The most widespread concern that players have when chipping is hitting the golf ball too far. Decelerating the golf swing is often an unconscious result. Decelerating is precisely what you don't want to do. The shorter backswing lets you maintain acceleration without overshooting the green. A good rule of thumb is that your chipping backswing will probably be about 25% to 50% of your normal backswing.

The question is which of your clubs is best for golf chipping? Golfers argue over the proper club to use. In the end, the most suitable club for you is that which you like better, the one with which you can control the spin better, and the one that gives you better overall control. Start by experimenting with each of your clubs to find one that seems to work the best for you. After that spend all your time practicing with that club. A lot of players tend to think that it's better to master one club and control the flight of the golf ball by adjusting your backswing. That way you don't have to become proficient with four or five clubs and then choose the correct one based on the distance factor alone.

Typically, players find that a more narrow stance works better for golf chipping. Position yourself closer to the ball and choke up on the club. To make sure of a more solid hit on the golf ball, try to keep it closer to your back foot.

Golf chipping should be about shallow flight trajectories and lots of rolling. When golf chipping, you aren't trying to hit the golf ball up and high. A notable exception is when your lie puts you behind an obstacle of some kind. When the outlook is clear focus on getting to the green without a lot of fanfare.

Handling the short game right usually means you have to get the feel right. You must be aware that the best way to get the feel right is practice. Constant practice of your chip shots will help you discover which club is best for you and how to attain the best form. There is really no requirement to go to the practice range. Mark an area on any reasonably sized area of grass and then practice chipping the golf ball into that spot and notice how your game improves.