Introduction The Stroke Itself Different Clubs Chiping On A Slope Chipping From The Edge Of The Green Introduction Chipping the ball from around the green is one of my most challenging aspects of golf. It requires a great deal of confidence in your shot because often times it feels as though you are going to send the ball sailing right over the green, but it doesn't normally happen! Like everything else, practice makes perfect! But in all seriousness, chipping the ball is one of the most basic parts of the game. It does not require anything special, just a little effort. The Stroke Itself The chipping stroke is different than the rest of the strokes that you hit. There is no major weight transfer because most of the power is generated in the arms. (Not the wrists!) So to start a chip, you set up like normal. Find your stance and place the ball on the ground. For a chip the ball should be about an inch behind your front foot. (Left foot for right handed hitters and right foot for left handed hitters.) Now this may seem odd, but the reason for this placement has to do with trying to get the club under the ball. As you make your stroke, your left arm (opposite for left handed hitters) should remain straight. And your arms should be what generates the power for the swing. The distance of the shot is dependant on how hard you swing the club, so you regulate the distance of the shot by how hard you swing at the ball. So as you swing the club backwards to the desired height, and forwards to impact the ball, your weight should remain on your front foot. Like always, make sure you follow through. Different Clubs Although the arms are what generate the power for the stroke, the club is an important factor in how you hit the ball. Each lie will need a different club. For instance, if you are in fluffy grass, you will want a club with more of an angle, you may choose a pitching wedge or a sand wedge whereas if you are in bare grass or shortly cut grass, you may wish a 9 iron. That is why many golfer carry two or three wedges. Chiping On A Slope Chipping on an upslope or chipping on a downslope are two different things. Why? Well, if you are chipping on an upslope the ground is already pitched upward, so you need less of an angle on the club! Seems simple right? The opposite is true for a downslope. As you chip on a downslope, you will need a club with more of an angle to compensate for the angle downward. Chipping From The Edge Of The Green From the edge of the green (the apron around the green) the grass is cut too low enough to chip and too high to putt, so a stroke has been designed to be the best of both worlds. It is neight a chip nor a putt, but combination of the two. In this stroke, you set up in your stance, like a putt. You use a chipping iron and use it like your were putting. What I mean is that you kind of push the club through the ball instead of swinging at the ball. If you do this, the ball should pop up quickly (a short hop) the roll like a putt! It is a neat try!