To become a professional golfer, in addition to mastering techniques such as the swing, putting, and lofted shots, golfers need to excel in the chipping technique in golf. This is a fundamental shot used at least 10 times during rounds. Golfers with good chipping skills can enhance their chances of victory.
What is the chipping Technique in Golf?
Before delving into the technique—one of the fundamental shots in golf—let’s first understand the definition of a bump-and-run shot. How does a well-executed chipping contribute to the results of a golf round?
A chip is a shot played around the green that travels over the fringe and rolls close to the golf hole. It is a basic shot, executed at least 10 times in each round of golf. The chipping shot plays an equally important role as the swing or putting techniques.
The role of a good chipping shot is crucial, increasing the player’s chances of winning. If a golfer executes a chip that hugs the flag, it will only take one putt to get the ball into the hole. Alternatively, if the shot is not close to the flag but lands on the green, the player may require 2 to 3 putts. Therefore, if a golfer combines a well-executed chipping with a perfect putt, they can save 10 to 20 strokes in a round and realistically chase the dream of touching the championship cup.
Guide to Creating the Perfect chipping Shot
To achieve the perfect chipping, golfers should first choose a suitable golf club. Typically, regular golfers will use Pitching Wedge, Sand Wedge, Wedge with lofts of 52, 56, 60 degrees to perform this shot.
The chipping technique is used within a distance of 10-35 yards and is highly effective in challenging situations.
After selecting the preferred golf club, golfers proceed to execute the chipping with the following technique:
- Step 1: Stand with feet about half a step wide.
- Step 2: In the setup position, align the toe and clubface perpendicular to the target.
- Step 3: Place the ball slightly forward of the midpoint between your feet. Then, lean the clubhead forward just enough to have the club’s tail rest on the ball, creating spin and making the ball stop on the green in the desired position.
- Step 4: When executing the shot, players need to open the clubface, making a rounded swing to make the ball go high and spin more.
In addition to the necessary techniques, creating a perfect chipping also requires imagination and a golfer’s feel for the ball. Each time a golfer executes a shot, they must have confidence in their mind that the ball will reach the green and stop at the desired location.
Many golfers encounter errors in their stance during practice and competitions, including placing the ball in the wrong position, leaning too far back towards the right foot, the right wrist turning over the impact point, and shifting all the weight to the right side. To avoid these avoidable mistakes and create perfect chipping shots, golfers need to dedicate time to training. However, to achieve the best results, a golfer needs a scientific training approach.
Firstly, choose a flat area on the green with short grass for training. Use a fixed object on the green about 3-5 meters away as a target and use a marking ribbon to create a target. If the ball falls within the marked area, the golfer has succeeded.
Some real ball chip experience
Additionally, golfers should keep in mind some practical chip shot experiences gathered by other golfers:
In situations where the ball is close to the green and cannot be putted, golfers should still try to chip the ball close to the flag. When the ball is 2 meters from the edge of the green and 9 meters from the flag, use a PW club, then aim at a spot on the green, about 3 meters away from the feet, in the middle of the feet and the flag, and then hit the ball towards that spot.
The bump-and-run technique in golf is a challenging skill often applied during golf rounds. Therefore, golfers should focus on practicing this shot to gain an advantage on the course and get closer to victory. By following the guidance in this article, golfers can confidently shine on the golf course.
