Top 5 Golf Tips for Chipping
Although driving the ball in golf is glamorous, games are often won or lost from short range. Being able to chip the ball close to the hole is a skill that many golfers lack, but would desperately like to have.
- Use your whole body when you swing. Do not be rigid. The chip shot more than any other shot requires movement of the hips, knees and trunk to get the right loft on the ball.
- Do not be afraid to take a good swing at the ball, especially if you are buried in the bunker. Trust that the wedge you are using has the appropriate loft to compensate for your harder swing.
- Try different types of chip shots. The flop shot is often used by professional Phil Mickelson and gets the ball high into the air without going a long distance. This is helpful if you need to get out of a bunker but do not need the ball to travel far. You will also want to work on a bump and run chip. This shot has a very low trajectory and rolls the ball onto the green like a very long distance putt.
- Keep your feet firmly planted when you chip, especially if you are in the sand. It is not unusual to see golfers stumble and even fall when they do not plant themselves properly.
- Work on getting spin action on the ball. The proper spin on a chip shot can cause an average chip to turn into a hole-out if you spin the ball just right.