Chip and Putt is a powerful and enjoyable version of golf that focuses entirely on the shots that matter most for your score: those right around the green. This guide breaks down what it is, why it's so helpful for your game, and gives you simple, actionable steps to master the basic chip and putt strokes. Let's get you feeling confident and shaving strokes off your handicap.
The best AI golf app: Caddie is your personal AI golf coach. Get expert-level golf advice instantly, 24/7 to help you play like a pro. Try it free →
What Exactly is Chip and Putt Golf?
Think of Chip and Putt as a miniature version of the full game, but with all the long drives and full-swing approach shots removed. It zooms in on the scoring zone, typically played on dedicated courses with holes that are much shorter than a regular golf hole, often ranging from just 20 to 60 yards. Players will typically use only two clubs: a wedge or mid-iron for the "chip" shot from off the green, and a putter for the shot on the green.
It's different from a Par 3 course, where you're still expected to hit a full-swing iron shot to the green. Chip and Putt is all about finesse, touch, and strategy right next to the hole. The goal is simple: get your first shot (the chip) as close as possible, then make your next shot (the putt).
Who is Chip and Putt For?
The short answer is: everyone. It's an accessible and enjoyable format for any golfer.
For Beginners: It strips away the intimidating parts of golf, like using a driver. It allows new players to learn the feel of the most important scoring shots in a low-pressure, fun environment.
For Families: It's a quick and easy way to get outside and enjoy a family-friendly activity. The shorter distance and simpler rules make it perfect for kids and adults to play together.
For Experienced Golfers: This is where serious players come to sharpen their knives. If you want to lower your score, you have to save strokes around the green. A dedicated Chip and Putt session concentrates your practice where it will have the biggest impact.
Get pro-level golf advice instantly, 24/7
Ask Caddie anything. From “what club should I use?” to “how do I play this shot?” and get instant answers.
You Will Master Distance Control: In a single Chip and Putt session, you'll hit more feel-based shots than you might in five full rounds of golf. This repetition quickly trains your brain and hands to understand how much energy is needed to send the ball different distances. You stop guessing and start knowing how hard to hit the ball.
Confidence Clicks In: How often do you miss a green and immediately feel a knot of anxiety in your stomach? Chip and Putt solves that. Practicing getting "up and down" (chipping on and putting in one) over and over builds an unshakable confidence. Soon, a missed green doesn't feel like a disaster, it feels like an opportunity.
It Creates Shot-Making Versatility: You'll quickly learn that not all chips are created equal. You’ll begin to see the different shots you can play - a low runner with a 7-iron that scoots across the green, or a softer-landing shot with a pitching wedge. This expanded toolbox makes you a more creative and effective player on the course.
It's Fun, Fast, and Affordable: Let's be honest, 18 holes of golf is a big-time commitment. A round of Chip and Putt can be played in under an hour, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule. It's less expensive and provides a fantastic way to enjoy the game without the grind of a full round.
Your Guide to an Automatic Chip Shot
A good chip shot is one of the most satisfying shots in golf. It’s not about power, it's about control. A basic chip is a low-trajectory shot that flies a short distance onto the green and then runs out towards the hole like a putt. Think of it as a shot that spends more time on the ground than in the air.
Step 1: The Setup for Success
Your setup controls the result. To hit a crisp chip, your body and ball position need to be set up to promote a slightly downward strike on the ball. Here's a simple, repeatable setup a lot like the best pros use:
Narrow Your Stance: Bring your feet closer together than for a full swing, about the width of your hips or even slightly narrower. This helps encourage your body to rotate through the shot.
Ball Position to the Back: Play the ball back in your stance, somewhere between the middle and your trail foot (your right foot for a right-handed player). This makes it easy to hit the ball first before the club touches the turf.
Weight Forward: Lean your weight onto your front foot. Aim for about a 60/40 or even 70/30 split. Keep it there throughout the stroke. Don't let your weight shift back.
Hands Ahead: Position your hands slightly ahead of the golf ball, so the shaft of the club is leaning forward toward the target. This de-lofts the club and produces that low, running shot we want.
Step 2: The Simple Motion
The secret to a great chipping motion is to keep it simple and use your bigger muscles. Do not think of this as a miniature version of your full swing. Here’s the key thought: make a putting stroke.
Lock the Wrists: Unlike a full swing, there should be almost no wrist hinge at all. Your arms and shoulders should form a stable triangle. Feel as though your wrists are locked in place.
Rock Your Shoulders: The motion is generated by rocking your shoulders back and through, just like a pendulum. Let your chest and torso turn with the motion naturally.
Accelerate Through The Ball: A common mistake is slowing down at impact. Make sure you accelerate the clubhead smoothly through the ball toward the target. You're not hitting *at* the ball, you're swinging the club *through* it.
Plan every shot like a pro
Describe your situation and Caddie AI helps you pick your target, shot shape, and club with confidence.
You've just hit a perfect chip to 5 feet. Now you have to complete the job. A solid putting routine is just as important as your chipping technique for actually saving those pars.
An Easy Way to Read the Green
Before you even step up to your putt, take a moment to understand what the ball is going to do. Most players just look from behind the ball, but a better read comes from seeing the whole picture.
Take a Walk: Look at the putt from behind the hole. Seeing how the ground tilts from the other side can give you a completely different perspective.
Feel it in Your Feet: Your balance is an amazing level. As you stand over the ball, you can often feel if your weight is tipping more toward your toes or heels, indicating a downhill or uphill putt. You can also feel sidehill breaks this way.
Find the Apex: Imagine the full path of the putt. Your goal isn't to aim at the hole (unless it's perfectly straight), but to aim at the "apex" - the highest point of the curve where the ball will start to turn back toward the hole.
The Fundamentals of a Consistent Stroke
Like chipping, a good putting stroke is all about a simple, repeatable motion. It’s about creating a pendulum that swings the putter appropriately back and through.
The Setup: Get your eyes directly over the ball, or just slightly inside the line. Use a light grip pressure to allow for maximum feel. Your arms and shoulders should hang comfortably.
The Stroke: The power comes from rocking your shoulders. Your lower body must stay perfectly still. The only thing moving is the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders.
Focus on Pace: Poor speed is the cause of most missed putts, not a bad read. Your primary goal should be to get the speed right. A fantastic drill is the ladder drill: set up tees at 3, 6, 9, and 12 feet. Practice hitting putts that just barely roll past each tee. This gives you an incredible feel for distance control that translates directly to the course.
Play Golf like a Pro with Caddie
Learn and improve your golf game as you play. Get pro-level tips, strategy and guidance anytime.
Mindlessly hitting balls on the practice green can get boring. To make your practice more effective and fun, turn it into a game. Here's a simple one you can play by yourself or with a buddy.
Grab your putter, a wedge, and nine golf balls.
Scatter balls around the practice green. Place some in easy spots, some in tough lies in the rough, some short-sided to a pin. Give yourself variety.
The goal is to play a 9-hole course. Each ball is a new "hole."
"Par" for each hole is 2 (one chip, one putt). Your goal is to get "up and down" for each ball.
If you chip and one-putt, you score a 2 (par). If you chip and two-putt, a 3 (bogey). If you manage to chip in then congrats–you just made a 1!
Play all 9 "holes" and add up your score. A perfect game is 18. This drill adds a little pressure and forces you to focus on every single shot, just like you would on the real course.
Final Thoughts
Embracing Chip and Putt golf is one of the most effective and straightforward ways to see real improvement in your scores. By concentrating on these critical scoring shots, you build the touch, confidence, and technique required to turn bogeys into pars and pars into birdies.
When you're out there on the course facing a tricky lie in the rough or an uncertain chip, having an expert opinion can make all the difference. This is where Caddie AI comes in, you can literally snap a photo of your ball's lie, and it will analyze the situation and suggest the smartest way to play the shot. It takes the guesswork out of those tough spots around the green so you can focus on hitting a great shot with confidence.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
Other posts you might like
What Is the Best Way to Practice My Golf Swing at Home?
Don't let being away from the course or driving range stop your golf progress. Some of the most significant improvements a golfer can make happen right in their living room, garage, or backyard, often without ever hitting a ball. This guide will walk you through the absolute best ways to practice your golf swing at home, outlining specific drills and a clear structure to build powerful, consistent mechanics that will be there for you when you step up to the first tee.
Curious about the golf ball Rory McIlroy is teeing up in 2024? He made a significant switch, moving from his trusted TaylorMade TP5x to the brand new <strong>2024 TaylorMade TP5x</strong>. This article breaks down exactly why one of the world's best players made this change, what it means for his game, and most importantly, what you can learn from his decision to improve your own.
You’ve heard the famous saying a thousand times: Golf is 90% mental. But is that actually true? While the number itself is more of a catchy phrase than a scientific fact, it points to a massive truth that every golfer, from weekend warriors to tour pros, eventually confronts. Your mind is either your greatest weapon or your biggest liability on the course. This article will show you exactly what the mental game is, breaking it down into specific skills you can actually improve, so you can stop battling yourself and start shooting lower scores.
For a spectacular, three-year stretch, David Duval wasn't just a great golfer, he was a machine. Armed with his signature wraparound shades and a powerfully rhythmic swing, he hunted down 11 PGA Tour victories, a 59 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and The Open Championship, briefly dethroning Tiger Woods as the World No. 1. Then, almost as quickly as he arrived, he was gone from the top of the leaderboards. This article will break down the chain of events that led to the decline of one of golf's most formidable talents, and just as importantly, what every golfer can learn from his story.
Thinking about joining a golf league is one of the best ways to play more often, meet new people, and test your skills in a friendly setting. But with so many different types, formats, and levels of competition, it's easy to feel a bit lost. This guide will walk you through all the options, from casual weekly scrambles to more serious competitive circuits, helping you find the perfect fit for your game and your goals.
Finding the perfect gift for the golfer in your life can feel like trying to hit a one-iron straight - intimidating and with a high margin for error. You want to get them something they'll genuinely love and use, not something that collects dust in the garage. This guide will break down foolproof gift ideas by category, covering everything from essential gear and cutting-edge tech to training aids that actually improve their score, making it simple to find a surefire hit for any golf enthusiast.
