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Chipping Tips For Your Short Game

Before we begin, I should start with the disclaimer that there are quite a few types of chips you can make when you get near the pin. In other words, there is no solitary approved method for getting the ball nearer to the flag. The effectiveness of your chipping will hinge on the lie you have, the length of the grass, distance to the pin, and the state of the green.

Let's kick off our golf chipping pointers with a typical chip. This shot is best when you are around the green but haven't yet reached it. Generally, you hit it with either the 9-iron or one of your wedges. My recommendation is that a decent chip will travel about a third of the distance to the hole in the air and then roll the rest of the way. This shot should be placed in the center of your stance with your hands well ahead of the ball and the face of the club perpendicular to your stance.

As we proceed with our golf chipping techniques, let's examine the soft shot. This style of stroke enables the ball to fly longer in the air and gently land close to (and hopefully rolling into) the hole. The most popular club used for this type of shot is the lob wedge, but your sand wedge may also be chosen.

To hit the soft shot, you should prepare to hit the ball with the club face open slightly. Move the ball forward in your stance and leave your hands behind it during the stroke. It is crucial that you learn to accelerate the club head when making this shot. When done the right way, the ball will fly high for a short distance and then bounce gently and roll just a little.

If you've got a lot of green between your ball and the hole, you should try the low chip shot. This swing is commonly done with a mid-iron, like a 6- or 7-iron. You must play the ball near the back of your stance to achieve the downward kind of impact you need. Once again, keep your hands ahead of the club head and the club face square to the target.

This shot generates the most roll when the ball reaches the green, and is best to hit when you are able to aim directly at the flag but are nervous about hitting too far behind it. This can take place if a sand trap or water hazard is near the back side of the green.

First and foremost, the most important golf chipping tip you can get is to practice by regularly using all of your chipping clubs, especially mid-irons to wedges. Each calls for its own setup and swing, and the most effective way to master each of these alternatives is to get to the range and consistently use them.

Start with the normal shot and proceed to the soft shot, the two shots you will employ most frequently on an average day. Once you have these mastered, progress to the low shot. It may take more hours to perfect than the more common shots, but it is definitely worth the investment.

By mastering these golf chipping pointers, you can start to get good at your short game and accomplish a lower score, time after time. Have patience, and keep practicing until you get it perfect.

By: Chris Keller

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Chris Keller writes about golf on his blog Golf Problems, which is about solving common golf issues like slicing, hitting it fat, and driving.

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