Purepoint Golf is known as one of the #1 golf instruction resources on the internet today. They have DVD and online instruction that covers every part of the game, from the grip to the full swing, from the short game to putting.

They have allowed us to re-post articles on different aspects of the golf game. This series is on chipping and it can definitely help your short game.  The following is part 1 of a 5 part series.  I will post the rest over the next few days.  If you are more of the "visual learner", their short game ebook with bonus DVDs, photos, and more just Click Here!

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By:  Bobby Eldridge, Purepoint Golf

Introduction

Chipping Lessons

This stroke is used exclusively around the green. It is used as a very dependable way to position your ball close to the pin when you miss the green with your approach shot. This can only be used when there are no obstacles between the ball and the green. The whole theory is to get your ball on the green and rolling to the pin. We have specifically designed our chipping system for dependability and distance control.

How to Chip a Golf Ball

If you can not putt a golf ball because of irregular terrain or longer grass just off the edge of the green, you have to CHIP or PITCH the golf ball. If you do not have to fly the ball OVER any obstacle or if the green is reachable with 1/3 air then you can CHIP. If you have to fly over a bunker, bush, tree, deep rough, pond etc. you are going to have to PITCH the golf ball.

The method of chipping is related right back to the 1/3 air, 2/3 roll theory. The next step of the method, after you have decided to chip the ball is to select a golf club and that is where the 5-7-9 irons enter into the picture. The first step is to decide whether or not to chip or pitch and then what club you are going to use.

Chipping - The Setup

The next part is the set-up and then the swing you use. As you can tell there is an awful lot of effort that goes into the shot way before you strike the ball.

Addressing the golf ball with the correct set-up allows you to make contact with the ball with the angle you need to make the ball to go up in the air, land where you want it to and roll to the hole.

Chipping - You need to Read the Green

Before you play any shot the first item on your check list is to "see the picture". Take in your entire surroundings, uphill, downhill, side hill, fast or slow greens, etc. Picture exactly what your shot is going to look like on its journey into the hole. Pick out an exact blade of grass you want the ball to land on. Read the green as though you were reading a putt.

The next three parts are entirely about the set-up. If you are not standing to the ball correctly with your chip shots, you will have to compensate during the swing to get the clubhead to arrive in the correct position.

Chipping Definition and Introdution

Let's begin by defining a chip shot.

A chip shot is shot around the green that has 1/3 air and 2/3 roll on its way to the hole. Another way to say it is a chip shot is a shot that is hit with minimum air and maximum roll. You use a chip shot when the golf ball is off of the green and you are unable to putt. This will carry the ball over the fringe without a lot of height and then roll the rest of the way to the hole. On the other hand, the definition of a pitch shot is a shot that has 2/3 air and 1/3 roll on its journey to the hole.

Chipping - How this Shot can Lower Your Scores

There are a couple of reasons why this part of the game is so important. Anytime you can put the ball on the ground instead of in the air you will have more control over your golf ball. You will be more accurate and your distance control is easier to learn.

When to use the Chip Shot

Remember my mantra I have used for the past 25 years: PUTT before you CHIP and CHIP before you PITCH, PITCH before you SAND and SAND before you LOB. If you have a chance to putt the ball go ahead and do it. If there is some grass or uneven terrain that you think a putt won't go through smoothly, chip the golf ball. If you can not reach the green SAVELY with 1/3 air then it is time to pitch the ball with a pitching wedge first, a sand wedge secondly and lastly with a LOB wedge. Ok, so there is a little bit of grey area, some golf courses are either very firm or there are parts of the world where there is not a lot of grass around the green and yes it would be best to use the Texas Wedge (putter). The ground can be so firm you could not hit a pitch shot if you tried, that is when you put the method aside and putt the ball. Otherwise, keep the golf ball as low to the ground as possible.

It doesn't matter how close or far your chip shot is from the hole, there is only one swing that you have to learn. The distance the ball travels is controlled solely by the club you select. We will discuss this later in more detail.

As I said earlier, a chip shot is 1/3 air and 2/3 roll. If you can't get the ball safely on the green with 1/3 air then it is no longer a chip shot, it would be a pitch shot. After the golf ball lands safely on the green 1/3 of the way to the cup, it rolls the rest of the way. I can't stress enough that the game of golf is easier and safer on the ground versus in the air. The distance to the cup does not play any role when deciding to chip or pitch.

You can control the direction of the chip shot similarly to that of a putt - it's fairly easy. Then you will begin to notice how you have a great chance of making the chip since it's going to roll towards the hole.

It is much more difficult to make a pitch or flop shot since you have to fly the ball further in the air. It is more difficult to judge the distance and the amount the ball rolls after landing on the green.

Chipping - Common Mistakes

The most common mistake in chipping is not hitting the bottom of the golf ball. You might top the ball, hit it fat, hit behind the ball, or hit it too thin. If you do not hit solid chip shots you will not have any consistency with your distance control. Distance control in chipping is difficult enough when you are hitting solid chip shots.

Now that you know the definition of a chip shot, we can start talking about how to chip. We are going to break it down into eleven chapters that you have to learn to improve your chipping. There may be other moving parts in the swing, but if you are able to understand the eleven chapters, you will find immediate improvements.

The purpose of the eleven chapters is to teach you a method that you can easily apply and most importantly, learn how to become your own best instructor.

Chipping Club Selection

There is one swing in chipping that you control the distance you want the ball to travel by changing clubs. The 9 iron is for short chips, the 7 iron is for medium length chips and the 5 iron is for longer chips.

When you practice your chipping, pay close attention to how far the three clubs travel, in the air and on the ground. Practice on a flat green if possible so you can measure the distance between each iron. Make sure you spend time learning uphill and downhill distances also.

Chipping - Distance Control
 

If you are a one-club-chipper you had to learn your distance control from the length of the backswing. This is a very difficult way to chip a golf ball. Being a one-club-chipper means you have to have incredible touch ALL of the time, however if you chip with the 5-7-9 irons, you take all of the grey area out of your chipping game and put it in the hands of the three chipping clubs.

If you have struggled with chipping, this method is going to get you started on the right path to improve your chipping game. The single best way to begin to see improvement is for you to start with the 9 iron. You understand the definition of chipping and now you know which clubs to use and soon you will learn the mechanics of chipping. The reason the 9 iron is the best place to start; it is the easiest of the three clubs. Over the course of a lifetime most of your chip shots will be between the 7 and 9 iron with very few chips being the longer ones. So why not start practicing with the 9 iron?

So, you have the flat face clubs rolling along the ground and then you have the loftier clubs that will help you get up and over a sand trap or the edge of a pond.

All golfers are very individual. I can not tell you how far your chip shots should travel however I have posted a chart at the end of the book that will give you a general idea of how far the average chip shots travel, both in the air and on the ground. It is very important that you spend time practicing so you know EXACTLY how far your chip shots fly and roll. The chart is to simply provide you with a guide to work off of.

So, short airtime, a lot of roll time for chipping. A lot of airtime and very little roll time for pitching.

Tomorrow we go into Setup. 

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Make sense?  The rest of the series will include the Setup, Backswing, Downswing, and Follow Through.  If you prefer a more visual type of instruction, then check out Purepoint's Short Game ebook, DVD's and more, just Click Here!

Kevin
Roseville, CA

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