The Importance of Chipping a Golf Ball
Whether you hit the ball 300 yards or 100 yards off the tee, you will find yourself chipping around the green at some point during a round of golf. To accomplish the idea of “a chip and a putt” to close out your hole, you will need to incorporate a basic chipping strategy.
This strategy should not be complex nor precisely the same for every golfer. It simply needs to be a plan around the greens you are comfortable with. The greater your comfort level is in the strategy, the more likely you will be able to execute it at a consistent rate.
How Much Better Your Game Will Be When You Chip With Intention
A chipping strategy is an integral part of golf for anyone looking to lower scores.
Many factors go into a good chipping strategy, but the result is the only part that matters. This simplifies creating a chipping strategy as philosophies will change based on skillset and comfort level.
A strong chipping strategy will increase how often you leave the golf ball inside a distance you comfort finishing with a single putt. You do not need any stat from the PGA or elsewhere to know that the closer you are to the flagstick, the more likely you are to make the putt.
Club Selection Should Matters When Creating A Chipping Strategy
When I am out golfing, I constantly see players reaching for a 60-degree any time they are around the green. Often with little thought of ball lie, slope, or how much they want the ball to roll after it hits the green.
Selecting a club should be determined with one thought: How quickly can I get the ball back on the ground and rolling? The objective is to get the ball on the green and roll in the flagstick’s direction. This is the standard line of thinking; however, some shots require you to land the ball on the fringe and release it onto the green to roll.
Simplify Your Chipping Strategy As Much As Possible
Try to build out your process around three core club groups.
High Lofted Irons
Chipping with your higher loft iron will be a surprising change for most golfers. I generally do not recommend golfers use anything longer than a seven iron for chipping. If you are thinking of grabbing your six iron, you are likely in a position to use your putter.
However, the swing you use in this situation will closely resemble a putter stroke. The ball will pop up slightly and then run along the ground just like a putt with minimal backspin to slow its path. The seven iron will have more run than the same swing with the nine iron.
This group will be used whenever you are not looking at an obstacle between you and the flagstick or if you are short-sided. The putter-style stroke will allow you to assess the shot like a putt. Plan your shot to account for the slope and break of the green to ensure as the ball rolls, it has a chance to go in, but if it does not, you will be in a great position to make your next putt.
Pitching Wedge
This wedge gets its own group because it is versatile around the greens. You will not see as much run with this club as you did with the others because of the spin created by its loft. Plan on needy a little more accuracy with this club in your hand.
Unlike the putter swing approach with your high lofted irons, you will want to use the “Y Swing” approach when using your wedge. To do this, start your backswing until you form a Y with your golf club. Your lead arm and the club shaft will align, and your trail arm will create the rest of the Y shape.
The pitching wedge should be your go-to club for shots that risk being hit thin because there is too much space between you and the green. If you are most comfortable with a high iron bump and run, the pitching wedge will help you from leaving balls in the rough before the green.
If the ball is deep in the rough, raise the club handle to point the toe down, stand closer to the ball and complete the same swing. Do not overcomplicate the process. If the ball sits up, focus on contact, so you don’t fluff it short.
56 Degree Or Higher Wedges
This group should be limited to only being used when necessary. The clubs included in this group are sand wedges and lob wedges, which give amateur golfers the most issues. Because their loft golfers tend to leave shots very short or, even worse, blade the shot and send it screaming across the green.
Even with that, there are certain times when you will choose this club grouping over the others.
Steeper downhill lies will call for more loft to replicate the same you would see on level ground. Just remember to put the ball back in your stance and match your shoulders to the slope of the hill. Another scenario in that you would benefit from this group would be if you’re short-sided and do not have a lot of green to work with. A shot with more air and less roll will help you stop the ball closer and give you a chance to close out with a single putt.
Closing Thoughts On Chipping Strategy
When building out your chipping strategy, work in the order in which the groups were listed in this article. Focus on your approach to achieve your desired end result, then practice finding the best group that delivers that for you.
I have said it many times, you do not have to hit the far to play good golf, and a solid short game can compensate for any shortcomings from the tee. In that same thought, a strong plan, in this case, a chipping strategy, can help offset any lack of skill you may have when starting.
Smart golf is easy golf.
