You’re standing just off the green, faced with a simple chip. In your mind, it’s a perfect shot—clean contact, soft landing, easy tap-in for par.
But what actually happens?
You chunk it—a big, fat divot and a ball that barely moves.
Or you blade it—sending it screaming across the green like it’s late for a meeting.
Or maybe you leave it short, and now you’ve got the same shot again.
Sound familiar?
Chipping should be easy. It’s a short shot, just a little pop of the club. But it’s also one of the biggest score-killers in golf.
The problem? Most golfers make the same seven mistakes—but the fixes are simple. With the right technique (and a little practice), you can turn your short game from a disaster into a weapon.
Let’s dive in.
1. Poor Weight Distribution
The Mistake: You lean back, trying to “help” the ball into the air. It feels natural, but it causes fat or thin shots.
What Happens? Instead of crisp contact, you either hit the ground before the ball (chunk) or hit the ball too high on the face (thin).
The Fix:
- Start with 60-65% of your weight on your front foot.
- Keep your chest over the ball throughout the swing.
📌 Phil Mickelson’s tip: “Keep your sternum ahead of the ball—this guarantees a descending strike.”
Example: Imagine you’re cracking an egg on the ground with your clubhead. You wouldn’t scoop it—you’d strike down on it. That’s the motion you want.
Drill: Place a golf tee just in front of the ball. Focus on clipping the tee after contact—that ensures you’re striking down and through.
2. Decelerating Through Impact
The Mistake: You start the swing fine, but then… you slow down right before impact. You’re afraid of hitting the ball too hard, so you hesitate.
What Happens? Deceleration leads to stubbed shots that don’t reach the green—or weak, inconsistent strikes.
The Fix:
- Pick a landing spot and commit to it.
- Keep your tempo smooth and confident.
📌 Tyrrell Hatton’s tip: “Maintain body rotation—don’t try to ‘help’ the ball up.”
Example: Picture a child on a swing. If you slow down the push halfway through, the swing dies. The same happens in your chipping motion.
Drill: Try a stop-and-go drill—swing back, pause slightly, then accelerate through impact. This prevents hesitation and promotes a confident motion.
3. Incorrect Ball Position
The Mistake: You place the ball dead center in your stance (or too far forward/back), limiting your control.
What Happens?
- Too far back = digging into the ground.
- Too far forward = hitting it thin.
The Fix:
- For a low-running chip: Play the ball off your back foot.
- For a higher shot: Move it slightly forward.
📌 Phil Mickelson’s tip: “Avoid placing the ball in the middle—it’s too neutral for most chip shots.”
Example: Think of a basketball bounce pass—if you want a high arc, you push the ball forward. If you want it to roll, you pass it lower. The same logic applies to ball position in chipping.
Drill: Line up three balls in a row—one back, one center, one forward—and hit shots with each. This will help you feel how ball position affects trajectory.
4. Overusing the Lob Wedge
The Mistake: You reach for your lob wedge every time. You assume high loft = better chip.
What Happens? The shot becomes too unpredictable. High-lofted clubs require precise contact, which isn’t always realistic under pressure.
The Fix:
- Use the “bump-and-run” more often—an 8-iron or pitching wedge is often safer and more predictable.
- The simpler the shot, the better.
📌 Ged Walters’ tip: “Low-lofted clubs reduce risk and improve consistency.”
Example: Think of bowling—would you rather roll a ball along the ground or throw it into the air and hope for the best? The ground game is always safer.
Drill: Practice chipping with your 8-iron and land the ball just 1/3 of the way to the hole, letting it roll the rest of the way.
5. Breaking Down the Lead Arm
The Mistake: You flip your wrists or collapse your lead arm through impact.
What Happens? Your clubface becomes unstable, leading to fat and thin shots.
The Fix:
- Keep your lead arm firm.
- Let your shoulders do the work.
📌 Dustin Johnson’s tip: “Minimize wrist hinge and rotate around your lead leg.”
Example: Imagine tossing a Frisbee—you wouldn’t break your wrist right away. The motion stays smooth and controlled.
Drill: Hold a towel under your lead arm and chip without letting it drop. This keeps everything connected.
6. Ignoring the Lie and Using the Wrong Approach
The Mistake: You assume all chip shots are the same, no matter the grass or slope.
What Happens? Wrong technique = bad contact.
The Fix:
- In thick rough: Open the clubface slightly and let the club glide under.
- On a tight lie: Keep hands ahead and focus on ball-first contact.
📌 Pro tip: “The ground will tell you what shot to hit—pay attention.”
Example: If you were skipping a rock, you’d adjust your throw based on the water’s surface. Golf is the same—read the lie before swinging.
7. Practicing in Unrealistic Conditions
The Mistake: You only chip from perfect lies on the practice green.
What Happens? On the course, you panic when faced with thick rough, slopes, or tight lies.
The Fix:
- Mix up your practice. Try different lies, slopes, and clubs.
- Play a “worst-ball” drill—chip two balls, and always putt the one that finishes farther from the hole.
Drill: Play a 9-hole short-game challenge, where you give yourself only one attempt per chip—just like on the course.
Final Thoughts: The Fastest Way to Lower Your Scores
Chipping isn’t about talent—it’s about removing the simple mistakes that add strokes.
🔹 Weight forward, no leaning back.
🔹 Accelerate—don’t slow down.
🔹 Use the right club—less loft = more control.
🔹 Adjust to the lie.
🔹 Practice real conditions.
Do this, and you’ll scramble like a pro, save strokes, and turn double bogeys into pars.
And that’s how you make chipping your secret weapon. 🔥🏌️♂️
