Chipping · Lesson
A Soft Chip From Short Rough
Part of our chipping programs for distance control. Build a program with it
Short-sided in the rough? You need the ball up fast and down soft. Start square. Then pull your lead foot back to open your stance. Open the face so it still points at the target. Use your most lofted wedge. Pick a landing spot and stare at it. Take the club back a little outside your line. That uses the bounce. Taking it inside de-lofts the club and the ball shoots out. Then accelerate into the grass. Grass needs speed.
Step by step
- Open your stance after setting up square.
- Open the face to the target.
- Use your highest-lofted wedge.
- Take it back a bit outside.
- Accelerate through the grass.
Why it works
Opening the face adds loft, and opening the stance lets you swing along your body line without the face closing. A slightly outside takeaway keeps the bounce under the leading edge, so the club glides through the grass instead of digging. Taking it inside de-lofts the face and the ball comes out low and fast. Rough grabs the hosel and slows the club, so you need speed through impact to keep the loft and pop the ball up.
Common mistakes
- You open the stance but leave the face pointing left of the target.Open the face after you set your stance so it points at the target, then take your grip.
- You take the club back inside the target line.Take it back a little outside your line so the bounce stays down and the loft stays on the face.
- You slow down into the ball to keep it soft.Accelerate through the grass, and let the open face and the loft make the shot soft.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball launches high and lands at your chosen spot with little roll.
- The club slides through the grass and the strike feels clean, not heavy or thin.
- The ball starts on your target line, not left or right of it.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice from a light lie in short rough with a landing spot only a few paces away, and a large target past it.
Harder: Use a thicker lie or a tighter pin, and pick a landing spot that leaves very little green to work with.
Common questions
Why does my chip shoot out low from the rough?
The face is likely de-lofted, often from an inside takeaway or a closed face. Open the face to the target and take the club back a little outside.
Should I use a lob wedge to chip from the rough?
When you are short-sided and need the ball up fast and down soft, yes. It gives you the most loft to work with, and you can open it further.
