Chipping · Tip
Land It on a Spot and Count to Two
Part of our chipping programs for thin or bladed, distance control, chip yips. Build a program with it
Under pressure, two simple things help your chips. First, find a landing spot. Don't aim at the hole. Read the roll and pick a spot, often about halfway there. Then keep your rhythm smooth. Once you're set, count "one" going back and "two" coming through. Say it in your head. It keeps your stroke from getting jerky when you're nervous.
Step by step
- Read how much it will roll.
- Pick a landing spot.
- Settle over the ball.
- Count one going back.
- Count two coming through.
Why it works
A chip is a carry plus a roll. When you pick a landing spot, you control the carry and let the ground handle the roll, so the target becomes something you can actually hit. Counting gives the stroke a steady tempo and gives your mind a simple job, so you are less likely to rush the start of the downswing or stab at the ball when you are nervous.
Common mistakes
- You aim at the hole instead of a landing spot.Look at the green first, judge how much the ball will roll, and pick a spot short of the hole where you want the first bounce.
- You rush the count, so the backswing and the forward swing both come out quick and jerky.Say the count slowly in your head and make the two numbers about equal in length, with no pause between them.
- You pick the landing spot but then stare at the hole while you swing.Keep your eyes on the ball once you are set, and use the spot only during your read and your practice swing.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball's first bounce lands on or very near your chosen spot.
- Your contact feels the same chip after chip, with no thin or heavy strikes from a rushed start.
- The count "one" and "two" ends as the ball leaves the clubface, and the stroke feels smooth from start to finish.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Put a towel or a headcover on the green as your landing spot and chip from a flat, close lie with plenty of green to work with.
Harder: Chip from different lies and distances, change the landing spot each time, and try to finish within a club length of the hole while keeping the same count.
Common questions
How do I pick a landing spot when chipping?
Look at the distance to the hole and how much the ball will roll after it lands. For a standard chip with a mid-iron or wedge, the spot is often about halfway, but you should move it closer if the ball will roll a lot and farther if it will stop quickly.
Why does counting help my chipping tempo?
Counting gives your stroke a set rhythm, so the backswing and the forward swing stay even instead of speeding up. It also gives your mind something simple to focus on when you feel tense.
