TOUR TIP: PERFECT CHIPPING

The chip shot is one of the simplest in golf and, yet, one that is often poorly executed and rarely practiced. These pointers will have you chipping like the pros in no time.

The chip shot is one of the simplest in golf and, yet, one that is often poorly executed and rarely practiced.

To be a good chipper, you need to start the swing in the correct position. As is the case with the full swing, if your set-up position is poor you are more likely to hit a bad shot.

You should set-up to the ball with your feet close together and aiming slightly left of the target. The ball lies in the middle of your stance and your hands are positioned in front of the ball. The position of your hands assists in creating a ‘y’ shape with your arms and the shaft of the club, which is a shape you should try and maintain during the chipping action. You can see this position perfectly achieved by Adam Scott here.

Before impact, the club moves into the backswing while the body remains quiet and the hands are passive.

The effect of keeping your body quiet during the backswing is seen at impact, as your position will mirror your original ‘y’ set-up. If your body moves during the backswing it would be almost impossible to emulate your address position at impact.

As the impact position mirrors the set-up so does the follow-through in relation to the backswing. As the clubhead swings through, the body stays quiet, the hands are passive and the ‘y’ shape formed by the arms and shaft is, again, maintained.