MY GOLF BLUEPRINT

Chipping: contact and rollout

An iron clubhead beside a golf ball on short grass. — Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels

Choose a chip when the ball only needs a little carry before rolling. The landing area and surface determine how the shot should behave.

Work through it

Read the lie and the first landing surface.
Select enough loft to clear the fringe.
Use a compact motion with a clear landing target.
Watch the first bounce before judging the final distance.

A practical example

A ball landing on an upslope may stop sooner than one landing on a flat patch even with similar contact.

Practice task

Hit five chips each with two clubs to the same landing zone. Record rollout separately. Use your own observations rather than a fixed ratio.

Common mistakes

Avoid taking a high-lofted wedge automatically. A different club may let you make a smaller, more reliable motion.

Choose a comfortable movement and change one variable at a time. Stop if a movement causes pain; a qualified coach can adapt the task to your mobility and experience.

Sources and further reading

PGA of America: chipping and pitching setup

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