Use this blueprint for crisper chips up onto elevated greens

By: Doug Spencer, with Zephyr Melton February 7, 2026

aldrich potgeiter hits chip shot during the 2026 waste management phoenix open

Chipping onto elevated greens can be tricky.

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Chipping around elevated greens can be tricky, often leading to chunky shots that miss the mark and add unnecessary strokes.

The key is having a clear blueprint — one that helps you ask the right questions before you ever pull a club. Do that, and you’ll give yourself a far better chance to consistently get the ball closer to the hole.

1. Assess the situation

Questions to address:

How is the ball sitting in the grass?
What is the slope under your feet, and how does the green slope toward your landing spot?
Is the turf wet, dry, muddy, or firm?
Is there wind, and how strong is it?
Is chipping truly the best option, or can you roll the ball onto the putting surface? Do you need to carry an obstacle or navigate thick grass?

2. Choose the right club

Questions to address:

Which clubs have you practiced with and feel confident using to produce the shot you need?
Do the conditions call for more loft and bounce, or less?

To execute a successful chip shot, you must strike the ball first. Once you’ve answered the questions above, choose the club that provides the appropriate loft for the situation — and then apply a technique that matches the conditions so the club contacts the ball before the ground.

For example, for a right-handed player chipping to a turtleback green from a flat, muddy fairway lie, set up with a narrow stance and slightly more weight on the lead side. Your right side should sit higher than your left, with the ball just back of center. Position your head slightly forward, your chest turned left, and ensure the bottom of your swing arc is in front of the ball.

Whether you need to hit the shot high or low, your setup writes the script. Practice from different lies and experiment with changes in club selection, stance, ball position, and club delivery. Spend time in the practice area learning how these adjustments affect contact and trajectory.

Build that awareness, and you’ll step onto the course confident in your options — and far less likely to chunk another chip.

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