A duffed chip is one of the most frustrating misses you can hit on the golf course. One second you’re standing over your shot, visualizing the ball rolling next to the hole — and the next, you’ve barely hit it, leaving the ball just a few feet in front of you. It’s a shot that looks bad, feels worse and deflates your confidence.
But, don’t get discouraged. It’s a common problem among many amateur golfers and fortunately is an easy one to fix. According to GOLF Teacher to Watch Parker McLachlin — also known as Short Game Chef — the solution comes down to one simple key: getting your weight forward at impact.
How to stop duffing chips
In the video above, McLachlin explains that for many amateurs, these mishits are caused by their weight being too far back at impact. This results in the low point happening before the ball position — leading to a duffed shot.
Instead, McLachlin says to get your weight toward the target as you move the club through impact. It doesn’t require a big, dramatic weight shift; as his student demonstrates in the clip, it’s just enough to feel like you’re tipping forward. This subtle shift helps move the low point to the ball — or just past it — resulting in cleaner, more consistent contact on your chips.
So the next time you find yourself around the green, remember: get your weight forward.
By focusing on this small key, you’ll improve your contact and stay committed through the shot. Turning those frustrating duffs into crisp, controlled chip shots.
Like anything else, it takes a bit of practice to perfect — but when you do, you’ll be on your way to a better short game.
You’ll find much more of McLachlin’s advice at ShortGameChef.com, which provides golfers with a comprehensive resource to improve their short games. Through personalized tips, drills and expert insights, McLachlin helps players of all levels gain more confidence and a deeper understanding of their short game to lower their scores. You can browse membership options here.
