Introduction

Chipping is one of the first short-game skills every new golfer should learn. It is the shot you play when you are close to the green — usually just off the fringe or in light rough — and you want the ball to land on the putting surface and roll toward the hole like a putt.

Good news: chipping does not require a big, athletic swing. It is a small, controlled motion. If you can make a smooth putting stroke, you are already halfway there.

What You're Going to Learn

  • What chipping is and when to use it
  • Which club to choose as a beginner
  • A simple setup and swing you can repeat
  • How to control distance and avoid common mistakes

What Is a Chip Shot?

A chip shot flies low, lands on the green quickly, and rolls most of the way to the hole. Think of it as a putt with a little air time. You are not trying to lift the ball high into the sky. You are trying to get it on the ground and rolling as soon as possible.

Chipping is different from pitching. A pitch flies higher and stops faster. As a beginner, focus on chipping first. It is simpler, more forgiving, and will save you strokes faster than almost any other skill around the green.

Choose the Right Club

Most beginners chip with a pitching wedge or a gap wedge. These clubs have enough loft to get the ball onto the green without sending it too high. As a simple rule:

  • Pitching wedge: good default choice for most chip shots near the green
  • 9-iron or 8-iron: when you have more green to work with and want the ball to roll farther after it lands
  • Sand wedge: when you are in thicker grass or need the ball to stop a little quicker

Do not overthink club selection at first. Pick one club — a pitching wedge works great — and learn to control it before switching.

Simple Chipping Setup

Stand close to the ball with your feet slightly narrower than a full swing. Place the ball back in your stance, roughly in line with your back foot or just inside it. Lean a little weight onto your front foot — about 60 to 70 percent. This helps you hit down slightly and make clean contact.

Hold the club lower on the grip if that feels more comfortable. Your hands should be slightly ahead of the ball at address. Keep your posture athletic: knees soft, back straight, eyes on the ball.

The Chipping Motion

Think of your arms and shoulders doing the work, not your wrists. Make a short back-and-through motion, like a putting stroke with a little hinge. The club should brush the grass under the ball. You do not need to scoop or help the ball into the air — the loft of the club does that for you.

Your backswing and follow-through should be roughly the same length. A common beginner tip: imagine the letter Y formed by your arms and the club at address, and try to maintain that shape through the shot.

Why It Matters

Most beginners lose strokes around the green by swinging too hard when a chip would do. One clean chip that lands on the green and rolls close beats three aggressive swings that leave you in trouble.

What Should It Feel Like?

A good chip feels quiet and controlled — no rush, no flipping of the hands. You should feel steady over the ball, with a crisp brush of turf and a smooth roll toward your target.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Trying to Lift the Ball

Many beginners lean back and scoop under the ball, hoping to get it airborne. This leads to thin shots that shoot across the green or fat shots that barely move. Trust the loft on your wedge. Hit down and through the ball with your weight on your front foot.

Using Too Big a Swing

A chip is a short shot. Long backswings create long follow-throughs, and distance becomes hard to control. Keep the motion small. For most chips near the green, your swing should not go past hip height.

Decelerating Through Impact

When you get nervous, it is tempting to slow down right before you hit the ball. That almost always causes poor contact. Commit to a smooth, even tempo. The length of your swing controls distance — not how hard you jab at the ball.

Try This Simple Drill

Place five balls about ten yards from the fringe. Pick a landing spot on the green — not the hole — and try to land each ball on that spot with your pitching wedge. Once you can do that consistently, move back a few yards and repeat.

One Thing to Remember

Chipping is a small swing with a clear goal: get the ball on the green and let it roll. Keep it simple, stay balanced, and let the club do the work.