How to Chip the Ball Close: Stopping Three-Putts

The chip shot is the most cost-effective shot to improve in all of golf. A 10% improvement in your chipping gets the ball inside 6 feet more often, which means more one-putts, fewer three-putts, and dramatically lower scores. The technique is simpler than most golfers realize — and the biggest gains come from fixing setup, not the swing.

The Chip vs. The Pitch

A chip shot has more run than air time — ball is in the air briefly, then rolls to the hole. A pitch shot has more air time than run. Around the green, default to the chip when you have green to work with. It's easier to control than a pitch because ground is more predictable than air. The general rule: use the least loft necessary to get the ball on the green and rolling toward the hole.

Pro Tip: From just off the green with a lot of green between you and the hole, a 7-iron chip often outperforms a wedge.

Setup for Consistent Chips

Stand with a narrow stance (feet 6-8 inches apart). Play the ball back in your stance (off your back heel). Press your hands forward toward your front thigh. Put 70-80% of your weight on your front foot at address and KEEP it there throughout the swing. This forward-leaning, weight-forward setup naturally creates the descending blow that produces crisp chip shots.

Pro Tip: Check your shaft lean at address — the grip end should be pointing at your lead hip, not straight up and down.

Swing Like a Putting Stroke

The best chippers use their putting stroke — rocking the shoulders, keeping the wrists quiet, and maintaining even acceleration through the ball. The arms and club move together as a unit. Avoid scooping: the handle should lead the clubhead through impact. If the back of your left wrist (for right-handers) stays flat or slightly bowed through impact, you're chipping correctly.

Pro Tip: Practice chipping with your right hand only to feel what a quiet, non-scooping wrist feels like.

Selecting the Landing Spot

Great chippers think like great putters — they read the green from the landing spot to the hole, not just from the ball to the hole. Pick a spot on the green where you want the ball to land, aim for that spot, then let the ball release to the hole. This makes chipping much more like a putting read, which most golfers are already comfortable with.

Pro Tip: Walk to the hole and read the green on the way back to your ball. Look at slope, grain direction, and break from multiple angles.

Key Takeaways

Use less loft than you think — chip with 7-iron or 8-iron when you have green to work with
Setup with weight forward (70-80% front foot) and keep it there throughout
Maintain a quiet, non-scooping wrist through impact — handle leads the clubhead
Read the green from your landing spot to the hole, just like a putt

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