What Is a Chip in Golf?

A crisp chip shot that cozies up next to the pin is one of the most satisfying and score-saving feelings in golf. Getting this fundamental shot right takes the pressure off your long game and turns potential bogeys into easy pars. This guide will give you a clear understanding of what a chip shot is, when to use it, and a simple, repeatable technique to execute it with confidence.

What Exactly is a Chip Shot (Finally) Explained

Think of a chip shot as the smallest, most controlled swing you can make. The defining characteristic of a chip is that the ball spends more time on the ground rolling than it does in the air flying. It’s a low-trajectory shot designed for precision and control when you're very close to the putting surface.

Many golfers confuse chipping with pitching. Here’s the simplest way to remember the difference:

• A chip shot is a low-flying shot that lands on the green quickly and rolls out towards the hole like a putt. Think minimal airtime, maximum roll.
• A pitch shot is a higher-flying shot with more airtime and less roll, used from further away or to carry over an obstacle like a bunker or deep rough.

Essentially, whenever possible, you want to turn a difficult pitch into a simple chip. Why? Because the less time the ball spends in the air, the less can go wrong. A ball rolling on the ground is far more predictable than a ball flying through the air.

When Should You Chip? Your New Go-To Scenarios

Knowing when to chip is just as important as knowing how to chip. You should opt for a chip shot when you find yourself in these common situations:

• You are just off the fringe of the green, typically within 5-20 yards of the putting surface.
• You have a relatively clear runway to the hole - no bunkers, water, or thick rough stand between you and the putting surface.
• You feel that putting is not an option because the fringe or fairway grass is too thick or bumpy to roll the ball smoothly.

The golden rule is this: get the ball on the green and rolling like a putt as soon as you can. If the situation allows you to use your putter, do it. If not, the chip is your next best friend.

Choosing the Right Club for Chipping

One of the biggest mistakes golfers make is using the same club - usually a sand wedge - for every single chip shot. Varying your club choice is a simple way to control your shots without changing your swing. Using a consistent chipping motion and simply changing the club will give you a predictable arsenal of shots.

Think of it like this: the more loft, the more the ball will fly and the less it will roll. The less loft, the lower it will fly and the more it will roll.

Here’s a simple system to get you started:

• 7-Iron or 8-Iron: This is your "runner." Use it when you have a lot of green between you and the hole. The ball will pop onto the green and release, rolling a long way. This is a very predictable shot once you get the hang of it.
• 9-Iron or Pitching Wedge: These are your all-around "default" chipping clubs. They provide a nice balance of flight and roll and are perfect for a wide variety of situations. If you're new to chipping, start by mastering a shot with one of these.
• Sand Wedge: This is for chips where you have very little green to work with and need the ball to stop quickly. The higher loft means more carry and less rollout. It’s a useful tool, but often requires more skill to get the distance just right.

The Blueprint: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Chip

This is where we put it all together. A great chip shot is built on a solid, simple foundation. Follow these steps, and you’ll eliminate the inconsistency that plagues so many golfers around the greens.

Step 1: The Setup - Your Foundation for Contol

Your chipping setup should feel much different than your full swing setup. It’s narrower, closer, and promotes solid, crisp contact.

• Feet Together: Start by bringing your feet very close together, maybe only a clubhead's width apart. This prevents your body from swaying and promotes the simple, rotational motion we want. For a right-handed golfer, your lead (left) foot can be slightly pulled back (an "open" stance) to help you see the line.
• Ball Position Back: Position the ball toward the back of your stance, in line with the inside of your trail (right) foot. This is one of the most important elements. Placing the ball back ensures you make a downward strike on the ball, hitting the ball first and then the turf. This is the secret to crisp contact.
• Weight Forward: Put about 60-70% of your weight on your lead (left) foot and keep it there throughout the entire shot. Your lower body should stay very, very quiet. Leaning into your front foot pre-sets the downward angle of attack we need.
• Hands Ahead: With your hands, grip down on the club for extra control. Then, press your hands slightly forward so the shaft is leaning toward the target. Your hands should be ahead of the clubhead. This also promotes that "ball-then-turf" contact.

Step 2: The Motion - Keeping it Simple

Now that you're set up for success, the swing itself is incredibly simple. Do not think of this as a miniature version of your full swing. Think of it more like your putting stroke.

• A "One-Piece" Takeaway: The goal is to move your arms, shoulders, and the club away from the ball as a single, connected unit. Form a small "triangle" with your arms and shoulders at address, and simply rock that triangle back and forth.
• Quiet Wrists: Resist the urge to flick your wrists. Excess wrist action is the number one cause of inconsistency in chipping, leading to fat and thin shots. The wrists should remain passive. The slight cocking of the wrists will happen naturally as a result of momentum on bigger chips, not because you are actively trying to hinge them.
• The Pendulum Stroke: Let your shoulders control the motion. Rock them back and rock them through. The length of your backswing will control the distance of your shot. For a basic chip, think "thigh high to thigh high." Your backswing and follow-through should be roughly equal in length.
• Accelerate Through The Ball: This is a mental commitment. Many golfers get fearful at the moment of impact and slow down, which causes the clubhead to dump into the ground behind the ball (a "fat" or "chunky" shot). Commit to your shot and brush the grass through the impact zone.
• Common Chipping Faults and How to Fix Them
• Even with a solid technique, a couple of common bad habits can creep in. Here’s how to identify and correct them.
• The "Scoop" or "Helping it up" Motion
• The Problem: This is the natural, but incorrect, instinct to try and lift the ball into the air. Golfers try to do this by flicking their wrists and scooping under the ball at impact. This usually results in a "thinned" or "skulled" shot that shoots across the green, or a "fat" shot where you hit the ground first.
• The Fix: Trust the loft on your club! Its design will get the ball airborne. Your only job is to strike down on it. A great drill is to practice chipping with just your trail (right) hand for a righty. It's much harder to scoop the ball this way and forces you to use the forward shaft lean and downward strike that create good contact.
• Decelerating at Impact
• The Problem: This is a move born out of fear - fear of hitting the ball too far. The player takes a long backswing and then slows the club down as they approach the ball.
• The Fix: Build confidence by using a smaller stroke. Don't be afraid to take a short, compact backswing and make a positive, accelerating move through the ball. Remember what we talked about - the length of the backswing, not the speed, is the primary way to control distance on short shots.
• Too Much Body Motion:
• The Problem: When you start moving your head or swaying your hips and lower body, you change the low point of your swing. This leads to wildly inconsistent contact - you'll hit fat shots, thin shots, and maybe a good one every once in a while.
• The Fix: Remember the setup keys: weight forward and quiet lower body. Feel like your legs are planted in concrete from start to finish. A good thought is to keep your lead knee (left knee for a righty) pointing at the ball throughout the stroke. This will lock your lower body in place and allow your shoulders to do the work.
• Final Thoughts
• The chip shot is not complicated. It's a simple, reliable stroke built on a solid setup that you can depend on to save you shots in every single round. Mastering this shot turns a moment of panic into an opportunity and builds the confidence that echoes through your entire game.
• We know that reading about technique is one thing, but applying it on the course, especially from a tricky lie, is another challenge. That’s why an on-demand golf expert in your pocket can be so valuable, and it's what we aimed to build with Caddie AI. When you're standing over a tough chip from thick rough or a bare lie and you're not sure which club to use or how to adjust, you can snap a photo, ask for a recommendation, and get instant, pro-level advice so you can commit to the shot with confidence.