Chipping clubs

[HomerJSimpson]

I'll use most clubs in the bag to chip depending on the lie, distance to the flag.

 

[garyinderry]

Its so dry at the minute I haven't seen anyone spin a chip or pitch is ages.

 

[Dan2501]

I use a dave pelz method. Everything off the back foot. With your stance wide open. Worked really well this year. Pity i cant find the rest of my game

I find the further back in the stance I have the ball, the more likely I am to knife it. I like the ball middle of the stance, feet fairly close together, slightly open, and then just rock back and through like a putting stroke. Works great, and because it's such a simple stroke, you can use it with loads of clubs.

Personally, I almost exclusively use my sand wedge around the greens. I've found it's really simplified everything for me. I can use the same club but use it in different ways. I feel I can manipulate the loft depending on the shot I want to play, I can get it low and running or pitch it over a bunker and get some stop. Removing the indecision in regards to the club selection has really free'd me up around the greens and my chipping and pitching has improved so, so much. Removing the indecision and then practicing (although I've not done as much of that as I should) has completely transformed my short game.

 

[bobmac]

There are three ways to play these shots around the green.
You can learn one technique and use it for all shots. You just vary the club used for different situations.
OR
You use one club for all shots, you just vary the technique for each situation
OR
You learn all shots with all clubs, mixing up the technique.
I would not go lower than a 7 iron though.
Whichever way you choose, you must practice it...........a lot

 

[Evesdad]

I'll use any club that I think the shot requires. That said my main go to clubs are 9i to sw. I only really use the lw when need to clear a bunker etc or flop style shots. I would say I'm a half decent chipper.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I read the OP as meaning what club(s) to use rather than how to play a chip shot.

Its hard not to talk technique... I started off not doing that but it came out anyway

 

[ChrisB0210]

Interesting to see so many similarities and differences in how everyone approaches this.

I've had a couple of lessons on this and have been advised to use pw, 50, sw or 60 depending on distance, conditions, lie etc. My coach also advised me to practice 7 shots (varying difference/height) with each club to give me plenty of options.

I also use my 8i for bump & runs.

I've been practicing this consistently over the last couple of months and have definitely seen a vast improvement In my short game, particularly at my home course.

My suggestion would be to find something that suits and practice until you are 100% comfortable with it. As well as practicing it at the range or practice ground, I start my warm ups with chipping before I hit full shots.

 

[fundy]

I have a choice between 5 clubs for 5 different shots when chipping.

8/7 iron bump and run, hybrid, 52* and 56* chips.

My chipping is pretty standard, ball on back foot, hands resting on leading leg at address, weight mostly on leading side, hit down on the ball with a a back and forth stroke.

Key focuses are:

-Absolutely zero body/hip movement, this keeps from hitting off the toe and losing control/spin.
-Hit the ball out the middle of the face
-Keep weight on left side
-Keep it as simple as possible!
-Light grip, "light" swing for backspin.
-ACCELERATE THROUGH THE BALL!
-Knowing when to chip and when to pitch! This was key to stopping mid shot deceleration!

I aim for the first flat bit of green between me and the flag, accounting for break, pick my landing spot and choose the club that will roll out to the hole.

My 56* bites very quickly especially if there is any slope so thats for landing spots close to the hole.
52* bites less but still checks, this is for medium roll out, which is a majority of chips.
7/8 bump and run is for green length chips where I need to ball to get on the surface quick as there is no flat spot to land on about halfway or closer.
Hybrid chip for those tricky lies.

It takes a bit of practice to learn the roll out but this method leads to the least number of duffed, fatted or thinned chips for me. I have tried many methods but I keep going back to this because it just WORKS!

I get up and down more times than I should, mastering this basic shot and learning the roll out has taken shots off my game. I used to chip this way at my best but in search of something magic I did stray, I am back here again and its working the magic I was seeking. The only difference? I am not trying to hit the ball off the toe and I have ZERO body/hip movement, these were the magic elements!


If you are outside chipping distance hit a pitch, this has a smidge of body movement and a different ball position, key is always to hit a chip when set up for one, never try and swap between the two without totally stepping away and even picking a different club (you probably need to anyway).

If you think all of that is simple Id hate to see your idea of complicated

 

[fundy]

For Op

Nice track you play at and I can imagine you end up chipping a fair bit around there

For me I will use pretty much anything in my bag if i think it works, use the hybrid a lot especially from poor lies, and then anything from 6 iron to LW depending on the lie, whats in front of me, how much green etc etc

A sound technique and then try it with a variety of clubs the best approach imo

 

[shortstuff]

OP: totally depends on the lie. A nice lie and it's an 8I. However, depending what it's sitting in/on it could be anything from 8I to LW. In the right conditions I have even used a putter. One thing I have learned about those 10 yard chips is that one club does not suit all occasions.

 

[bobmac]

One thing I have learned about those 10 yard chips is that one club does not suit all occasions.

And yet there are those who only use one club for all shots by altering the ball position/clubface etc.
Neither is right or wrong, just what suits you best

 

[Smiffy]

I've always tended to use my PW for chip shots around the green, adjusting the loft as required.
With my new clubs I am using my GW for the shorter ones, as the lofts are a little different to what I have been used to.

 

[ScienceBoy]

If you think all of that is simple Id hate to see your idea of complicated

Fancy a cuppa tea mate? It did end up being longer than intended!

Most of what I said was waffle though!

 

[duncan mackie]

I read the OP as meaning what club(s) to use rather than how to play a chip shot.

You have 2 choices:

1. Use 1 club for most shots and figure out where you need to land it.
2. See where is best to land it then figure out what club to use.

Personally I prefer #2 but nothing wrong with either way.

Depending on the situation I'll usually use 8i, PW, 54 or 58.

My only advice on playing the shot is that I think it's best to choose a landing area that is fairly level for a few feet around it.
For example, if I'm chipping up a green that has a tier in it, my landing spot won't be anywhere near the tier, purely because if I get it wrong by a few feet the ball will end up nowhere near where you want it to be.

having worked through the options eloquently set out in post #24 I have ended up with the above and aim to avoid spin as an element in the shots to take out the huge variation on landing inherent in playing on lots of different greens at different courses.

it has the huge advantage (in my view) of always enabling me to (try and) land the ball on both an inviting target, and brings that target closer to me than the hole :thup:

that said I also practice variations with the more lofted clubs but these tend to be for either sloping/poor lies or shots that I would class as more pitches than chips ie longer, higher and including spin.

 

[Snelly]

I, like you used to use s variety of clubs for chipping and pitching. Due to inconsistent strikes I have started using my 60* for all my chips/pitches. So basically anything from around 60yds to greenside gets the same club. It has made me more consistent and also more inventive and versatile. It takes away the question of club selection, so I can get on with visualising the shot/landing spot etc. It won't be for everyone but it seems to work for me.

Great post. Excellent advice. Use the same club for all the shots around the green and it will with practice, reward you.

I also use a 60 degree wedge for every chip and am reasonable around the greens. Focus on seeing the strike and the area you want the ball to land. This will deliver positive results, but the only way to get a proper intuitive feeling for pace and length of roll after landing is through practice. And a lot of it. Hit thousands of practice chips with the same wedge and after that, you will be a good chipper. Fact.

No quick fixes or magic tips that can short circuit this.

 

[Snelly]

OP: totally depends on the lie. A nice lie and it's an 8I. However, depending what it's sitting in/on it could be anything from 8I to LW. In the right conditions I have even used a putter. One thing I have learned about those 10 yard chips is that one club does not suit all occasions.

John Daly has a cracking short game and disagrees 100% with with what you've written here.... He uses a lob wedge for every chip and is lethal.

 

[chrisd]

John Daly has a cracking short game and disagrees 100% with with what you've written here.... He uses a lob wedge for every chip and is lethal.

I used to use only the lob wedge but more recently switched to the 51 degree wedge as its newer and requires less hitting for the longer shots. I will use the 58 degree for the high parachute shot if needed. I would rather learn the characteristics of those two clubs than those of 5 or 6 clubs. I have also started to use the technique demonstrated at Kings of Distance recently which entails standing more upright and taking the ball more off the club toe end with the heel slightly off the ground - it works for me!

 

[garyinderry]

Using a 60 wedge around the green all the time is only making shots harder than they need to be. to play quite a number of shots with a 60 you will have to deloft the club. Negating much of the bounce and bringing the possibility of sticking the leading edge in the ground. Fine in current dry conditions but not so hot come soggy times.

I have moved away this year from playing shots that are harder than they need to be. I still gravitate towards using my 56 quite a lot but I am trying to use less loft more often.

If you must use one club for chipping I would suggest using a 56.

 

[Vmixture]

Thanks for all the replies!

Had a lesson today with the club pro on chipping and turns out I have a pretty solid technique. The only thing I've changed is to use the lob wedge instead of the sand iron which keeps me with the three club option. Got some good tips using the lob and very happy with how things are working out.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Thanks for all the replies!

Had a lesson today with the club pro on chipping and turns out I have a pretty solid technique. The only thing I've changed is to use the lob wedge instead of the sand iron which keeps me with the three club option. Got some good tips using the lob and very happy with how things are working out.

Interesting. The Assistant Pro at RAGC told me that if he ever saw me chipping with my 58' wedge again he'd snap it two and shove it...you get the picture.

Now I see why. There are very few situations that require that much loft when chipping, still if it works for you then that's all that matters