A chip shot is an essential part of your golfing skills; the shot involves a typical path of motion where the ball rises and stays in the air briefly before it hits the putting surface and rolls towards the cup. Chipping in golf is usually done when a player is a few yards from the putting surface with a pitching wedge or specific irons. Chip shots are very different from pitch shots; in the latter you are trying to achieve a higher trajectory path which will give you a ball landing that is closer to the pin with little roll. If you would like to master the chip shot; here is a look at what chipping entails; the swing and the set up required for the shot and the selection of a golf club that will yield the desired results.
Chipping in Golf: What does the shot entail?
Even if you manage to get the longest and the straightest shot of the game; it will be ineffective unless you can get the ball in the cup in regulation figures; or better still, a chip shot is the perfect culmination to a fairway shot. Chipping is the part of the game that will help you to land the ball with accuracy on the greens.
In order to take the perfect chip shot where the ball moves forward and upward; you will need to calculate the loft of the club face vis à vis the speed with which the club should be moving at the point of impact. However, you also need to remember that you will need steady acceleration during the swing to execute the perfect chip shot.
Chipping in Golf: The set up:
The set up for the chip shot includes setting the hips in an open position at address; your shoulders should be square to the target line. Put the weight of your body on your left leg; however ensure that your head is held behind the ball with an imaginary line drawn upwards from the tee creating an angle with your spinal axis. Ensure that your head stays behind the ball till the golf ball has been struck with your weight firmly on the left leg through the back swing and the down swing
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If you want the ball to bounce higher when chipping in golf; you will need to open your hips further at address; aligning your body more towards the target area. Then, move the ball a little ahead of its position in the stance; the club face should also be opened hit the ball higher. Another option is to use a pitching wedge that has a higher degree of loft for the same results.
Make sure that while executing the shot the elbows are held as close together as physically possible. The more intently you focus your gaze on the ball as the club makes contact with the surface of the ball the better will be your chances of executing a perfect chip shot.
Chipping in Golf: The golf swing
A chipping shot is simply a longer version of a putting shot; taken with an assortment of club lofts depending on the height and distance that you are trying to achieve. In order to execute the chip shot accurately; it is vital to move the shoulder, arm and club as one unit. Here is an analysis of the swing needed to take a chip shot with precision.
The Back Swing:
Because you need steady acceleration and not a lot of speed for the shot; you will need to adjust your back swing to get the right amount of acceleration. Usually, you will not need any more than a half back swing or even a quarter backswing for a delicate chip shot.
When chipping in golf ensure that your shoulder-arm and club unit moves as one with the club and arms held in a firm condition so that the angle created by the club in reference to the arms does not wary through out the shot.
You will need to use a combination of the hip movement (hips moved across the spinal axis) and the rotational movement of the shoulders which swings the arms and the club. Focus on the movement of the left shoulder to take the shoulder-0arm-cluib unit into the back swing.
The Down Swing:
The hips should lead the movement in the down swing while the shoulder-arm club unit still moves as one with minimal wrist movement even at impact.
For perfect chipping in golf; ensure that your elbows are still held close together; the head should remain behind the ball in fixed frontal position and the angle of the upper body should be retained.
Focus intensely on the surface of the golf ball at the back edge; you will need to see the club make contact with the surface and the impact created by the descending blow as a wedge is driven between the grass and the ball. Continue to swing the club head to the bottom of the swing arch.
Chipping in Golf: The most important consideration
Never lose focus of the ball; unfortunately, too many players shift their gaze at the point of impact which can ruin the shot. Also, remember to hold the position including the set up that you had at address
Apart from failing to see the club head strike the ball, another factor that can make your chip shot go awry is placing the club head too far behind the ball. Make sure that the club head is directly behind the ball at address.
Another reason why many golfers stub the ground in this shot is because they move their weight from the left leg to the right leg during the down swing in the swing
Chipping in Golf: Choosing the correct iron for the chip shot:
Remember this simple formula when choosing an iron for your chip shot; choosing a 10- iron will make the ball fly half the way and roll for the other half while choosing a 8-iron will give you 2/3 roll and 1/3 fly and a 6-iron will provide the maximum role at 3/4 and a short fly of just 1/4.
If you are going uphill, you will need to add a number to the iron while going down hill calls for going down one club depending on the shot that you want to execute. For a fast green, go down one club and do the exact opposites for a slow green and you should have the correct iron for your chip shot.
