Chipping · Lesson
Chip Setup: A Base and Two Variations
Part of our chipping programs for fat or chunked, thin or bladed. Build a program with it
There's more than one way to set up for a chip. Start with a solid base. Feet narrower than your shoulders. Ball in the middle. Weight on your lead leg so your legs stay quiet. Now adjust for the shot. For a lower chip, move the ball back and lean the shaft forward a bit more. For a higher one, keep it centered and the shaft straighter. Never lean the shaft back at address. That exposes the front edge. Keep your follow-through short.
Step by step
- Narrow stance, ball centered.
- Weight on your lead leg.
- Shaft straight or slightly forward.
- Ball back and more lean for a lower chip.
- Never lean the shaft back.
Why it works
A narrow stance with weight on your lead leg keeps your lower body quiet, so the low point of the swing stays in the same place each time. Shaft lean forward delivers the club with the loft reduced and the leading edge above the turf, which helps you hit the ball first. Moving the ball back adds more forward lean and a lower launch, while a centered ball with a straighter shaft keeps the loft and launches the ball higher.
Common mistakes
- You lean the shaft back at address, so the hands sit behind the ball.Set the hands level with the ball or slightly ahead, so the shaft is straight or leaning toward the target.
- You keep your weight even or on your trail leg and shift during the swing.Set most of your weight on your lead leg at address and keep it there through the strike.
- You use a wide stance and a long follow-through.Narrow your feet to less than shoulder width and finish with a short follow-through.
How you'll know it's working
- The club strikes the ball first, then brushes the turf just after it, with no thin shots skipping off the face.
- The ball starts on your intended line and lands on a similar spot each time you repeat the setup.
- With the ball back and more lean, the flight is clearly lower and rolls out more than from the centered setup.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice with only the base setup and the centered ball, and ignore the lower variation until your contact is solid.
Harder: Hit chips to one target while switching between the low and high setups, and aim to land each ball on a chosen spot.
Common questions
Where should the ball be for a basic chip shot?
Place it in the middle of a narrow stance for a standard chip. Move it back a little when you want a lower flight with more roll.
Why do I keep hitting thin chips?
A common cause is leaning the shaft back at address, which exposes the front edge of the club. Set your weight on your lead leg and keep the shaft straight or leaning slightly forward.
