We all know that a strong short game is one of the fastest ways to lower your handicap and improve your scores.
One of the best ways to build a good foundation is to brush up on fundamentals. Not only will this boost your contact, but it will also help you to master your distance control.
Here’s a quick and easy guide that will help you leave your chip shots closer to the hole — boosting your odds of making the up-and-down.
1. Setup is key
As a refresher, a chip is a short stroke where the ball spends more time rolling than it does in the air. Because the swing is small and controlled, your setup plays a huge role in your success.
There are a couple setup adjustments you can make for better distance control. The first is gripping down on the club. You can also narrow your stance to reduce unnecessary movement and weight shift, which allows for a more precise strike.
2. Ball position
For a standard chip shot, you can play around with ball position depending on the type of shot you need. Playing the ball in the middle of your stance will produce a slightly higher launch shot with more spin, while moving it a hair back promotes forward shaft lean and results in a lower trajectory with more roll.
3. Forward lean at address
Once you’ve got your setup down, I want you to check that your upper body and torso are tilted slightly toward the target, leaning the club shaft forward. This adjustment achieves two things: 1) It delofts the club slightly, which promotes roll; and 2) it lowers your lead shoulder and moves your sternum ahead of the ball, helping ensure the club strikes the ball first, then the ground.
4. Find your go-to stroke
As you practice hitting these shots, focus on making clean, solid contact. Once you’re able to produce consistent, center-face strikes, shift your attention to distance control.
A great way to do this is to figure out your most natural and comfortable backstroke length. Don’t overthink it too much; just make an instinctive swing and make a note of the approximate length.
For example, my natural stroke feels about knee-height. That’s the default motion I’d use when chipping without conscious adjustments.
5. One stroke, many clubs
A simple way to control distance is to use the same comfortable stroke length you just figured out and swap out your clubs. This lets you vary the carry-to-roll ratio without changing your swing.
By simply changing clubs, you can calibrate distance with a single stroke.
If you liked these tips and are serious about lowering your scores, check out my short game course designed to help you calibrate every aspect around the green. With focused, consistent practice, you can improve your technique and build a reliable short game script to lower your scores.