chipping - "like a putt" or "mini swing"?

[4thand11]

My short game is terrible and I am making a concerted effort this year to improve my chipping. There seems to be a lot of conflicting advice on Youtube about the correct way to chip. Some advocate chipping like a putt, just rocking the arms like a putting stroke and using a putting grip. Others say to chip like a miniature swing, rotating around and through the ball to use the bounce.

 

I realize that both methods can be valid but I am interested to hear what method works best for others, and why they feel it is better than the alternative?

[Badgergolfer2]

I treat it like a putt. For me, the difference between chipping and pitching has always been mostly wrist hinge. Theres no wrist hinge with a chip, there is with a pitch.

[deathbymuffin]

I set up like a putt. Square to target, ball centered in stance, choke way down on my wedge and try to get my chest over the ball. Then just turn my shoulders back and through making sure to continue through the finish, getting my upper trail arm around and chest facing the target. I don't keep my wrists stiff like I would with a putt. I try to grip it lightly and allow the wrists to hinge naturally. I tried a ton of different techniques and this is the only one I feel relatively confident with and it's been the most shank-proof.

[b.mattay]

Definitely a mini swing. I setup generally like a full swing, with the exception of a narrower stance/slightly open feet, but position my hands "higher" (between where they would be for a full swing and a putt). During the swing, I let the momentum of the club head smoothly swing my right arm/hand and support that motion with chest rotation (something that doesn't happen in a putt).

[naval2006]

If your short game is terrible OP, the putting motion is the shortest way to improvement. At least that's my experience. And when you get it ok you'll gain such a confidence that you'll eventually hole out from the greenside. I go from 9 iron through 58 with that type of chipping.

[Argonne69]

Neither. I was taught to play the ball off the back foot, with hands pressed forward, 80% of your weight on your left side (for a right hand player), and wrists locked. This doesn't describe a putt or a partial swing.

 

The backswing is basically the same length each time, and club selection is based on the distance. Short side? Chip with a lob wedge. Long chip? PW or GW.

 

By having the ball back in the stance, it almost guarantees you'll make contact with the ball first, and not stub the club into the ground.

 

That said, I do putt with my hybrid at least half the time around the greens if I have a decent lie and 3 feet or less to the green.

[Popeye64]

If you struggle with this shot, treating it like a putt can take a ton of pressure off of the short game.

Changing the club you use based on how far to carry the fringe would be your only variable in the process.

There are so many ways to get it done but simple is good when you are struggling.

[JDFish]

Glancing through a recent version of Golf Mag., I saw a blurb about "sidesaddle" chipping. Essentially, align your feet at a 30-45 degree angle, turn your body to address the ball and "chip" it using a slight wrist hinge. It's supposed to be foolproof - no thin or fat shots. I gave it a quick shot, as did my 14 year old daughter, last night while at the driving range and it worked really well.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

I think of chipping as puttish, and pitching as swingish.

[RBImGuy]

most add grip pressure and change the arc

dont

[dlygrisse]

You can do it either way. They are two subtly different shots. Use which ever one works best for you. I personally will use both techniques depending on the circumstance.

 

From my experience the chip-putt launches a bit higher than the standard chip using the same club, say a 8 iron.

[Argonne69]

You can do it either way. They are two subtly different shots. Use which ever one works best for you. I personally will use both techniques depending on the circumstance.

 

From my experience the chip-putt launches a bit higher than the standard chip using the same club, say a 8 iron.

 

Yes, because most chipping involves pressing the hands forward, and delofting the club. If you put a putting stroke on it with the ball in the center of your stance, the angle of attack will be nil.