How to Chip a Golf Ball Like Phil Mickelson

Chipping like Phil Mickelson means having a go-to shot that is reliable under pressure and versatile enough to handle almost any situation around the green. It's a method built on crisp contact, predictable spin, and total distance control. This article breaks down his signature hinge and hold chipping technique into simple, actionable steps so you can develop world-class touch on your own shots.

The Mindset of a Short Game Artist

Beforewe even touch on technique, it's important to understand Phil's philosophy around the greens. He isn't just trying to get the ball on the green, he's actively trying to hole the shot. This aggressive and creative mindset is the foundation of his greatness. He sees the line, visualizes the ball's behavior on the green, and then selects the technique to match that vision.

For most amateurs, the default is a nervous, timid jab at the ball, hoping for the best. For Phil, it’s a commitment to a specific shot with a confident, accelerating stroke. His primary technique, often called the "hinge and hold," is designed to take the guesswork out of chipping. It creates a very' 'neutral' ball flight - a low, piercing trajectory with a delayed, checking spin. This shot is incredibly predictable because it minimizes the variables. You are not trying to "lift" the ball, you are trapping it with a downward strike that uses the club's loft to pop it up perfectly.

Adopting this mindset is the first step. Walk up to your chip with a plan. See the shot you want to hit before you even pull a club. Confidence comes from having a reliable method, and the hinge and hold is one of the most reliable in golf.

The Setup: Building Your Foundation for Finesse

A great chip starts long before you swing. The way you stand to the ball dictates the swing path, the angle of attack, and the quality of contact. Mickelson's setup is engineered to promote a clean, downward strike that catches the ball first, then the turf. Get this right, and you're 80% of the way there.

Step 1: The Stance - Narrow and Open

Forget your regular full-swing stance. For a chip, you need to get closer to the ball and restrict lower body movement.

• Feet Together: Bring your feet close together, almost touching. This discourages any swaying or massive weight shift, which are killers for consistency in chipping.
• Open Up: Pull your lead foot (left foot for a right-handed golfer) back slightly, so your feet and hips are now "open" to the target. This pre-clears your hips and gives your arms and the club a clear path to swing through impact without the body getting in the way.

Step 2: Weight and Ball Position - Forward and Back

This is where many golfers go wrong. To hit down on the ball and ensure that "ball-then-turf" contact, your weight and ball position must be precise.

• Ball Position: Place the ball off the inside of your trail foot's big toe (your right big toe for right-handers). This back-of-stance position makes it all but guaranteed that you will strike the ball on the downswing. Putting the ball in the middle or front of your stance for this type of shot invites a "scooping" motion, leading to thin or fat shots.
• Weight Distribution: Lean decisively onto your lead foot. We're talking about 70-80% of your weight. Your lead shoulder should feel like it's directly over your lead foot. Once you establish this weight distribution, keep it there throughout the entire swing. You should feel firmly planted over that front leg.

Step 3: Hand Position - Presses Forward

Now for the final piece of the setup puzzle. With your weight forward and the ball back, your hands will naturally be ahead of the golf ball. We want to exaggerate this slightly. Push your hands forward so the shaft of the club is leaning significantly towards the target. This "forward press" accomplishes two things:

1. It de-lofts the clubface, producing that low, driving trajectory.
2. It sets your wrists in a powerful position to execute the "hinge and hold" motion.

When you look down, the butt end of the club should be pointing near your lead hip pocket. Everything about your setup should now scream, "I'm going to hit down on this golf ball."

Executing the "Hinge and Hold"

With the setup dialed in, the swing itself becomes surprisingly simple. The “hinge and hold” is named for its two distinct phases: the setting of the wrists in the backswing and keeping that angle through impact.

The "Hinge": A Crisp Takeaway

The backswing for this shot is not a slow, wide takeaway like you’d make with a full swing. It's short, abrupt, and powered by the wrists.

1. From your setup position, initiate the backswing by hinging your wrists upward almost immediately.
2. There is very little arm swing and almost no body rotation. Think of it as a "picking up" motion with your wrists until the club shaft is roughly parallel to the ground.
3. The club head moves up quickly, not back and around your body. The entire purpose is to create angle and store energy in a very compact motion. The length of this backswing controls your distance - a shorter hinge for a short chip, a longer hinge for a longer one.

The "Hold": Keep the Angle Through Impact

Here it is: the move that separates the pros from the amateurs. Most weekend golfers release this wrist angle too early, "flipping" the clubhead at the ball in an attempt to help it into the air. Phil does the opposite. He maintains, or "holds," that angle through the shot.

1. Start the downswing by simply rotating your chest towards the target. Because your weight is already forward, this move is a simple turn.
2. The magic happens here: as your a chesta rotates, feel like you're pulling the handle of the club down towards the ball, keeping your hands well ahead of the clubhead.
3. Maintain the "lag." The angle you created in your wrists during the "hinge" should be held for as long as possible. Don't let your trail wrist un-hinge to scoop the ball.
4. Accelerate through the ball. The strike should feel firm and descending. Your sternum should be over the ball at impact.
5. The follow-through is abbreviated. Your hands and arms finish low and left (for a righty), with the clubface still pointing at the target or slightly down at the ground. You have "held" the wrist angles. The clubhead never passes your hands. This low, stable finish is the visual proof that you've done it correctly.

Drills to Make it Automatic

Understanding the theory is great, but ingraining it requires repetition. Here are three simple drills to practice the Mickelson method.

1. The Right-Foot-Back Drill

Set up to a chip shot as normal. Before you swing, pull your trail foot back so only your big toe is on the ground for balance. This forces nearly 100% of your weight onto your lead foot, making it impossible to sway back. Hit small chip shots focusing on that downward strike. It trains you to stay centered and rotate through the shot.

2. The One-Handed Chip (Lead Hand Only)

This is a classic for a reason. Take your setup, then remove your trail hand from the club. Using only your lead hand (left hand for righties), practice hitting little 10-foot chips. You will physically feel what it's like to lead the swing with your hand and chest, not with a flippy motion. You simply can't scoop the ball with one hand, you're forced to use your body rotation, which is precisely the feeling you want for the "hold."

3. The Gate Drill

Place your ball on the practice green. About six inches in front of it, and just wider than your clubhead, place two tees to form a "gate." The objective is to hit the chip and have your clubhead swing through the gate on the follow-through, low to the ground. If you flip your wrists and scoop at the ball, your clubhead will swing upwards and miss the gate entirely. This provides instant feedback that you are maintaining the "hold" through impact.

Final Thoughts

Mastering Phil Mickelson's chipping technique distills down to a proper setup and a commitment to the "hinge and hold" motion. By keeping your weight forward, your hands ahead, and rotating through the shot without flipping your wrists, you'll produce crisp, predictable chips that stop on a dime.

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