How to Chip a Golf Ball: 3 Simple Techniques to Get Up and Down

Chipping a Golf Ball: 3 Simple Techniques to Get Up-and-Down — Personalized Chipping Lessons in DFW

The short game decides more holes than most players realize. A clean, confident chip turns scrambling into scoring — and cuts strokes fast. In this guide we’ll walk you through three reliable chipping techniques that help you get up-and-down more often, plus explain how targeted, mobile lessons in the Dallas–Fort Worth area can speed your progress. You’ll find practical setup points, when to use each shot, and how coaching makes those changes stick.

The basics of chipping come from years of instruction and tradition — small details taught from coach to student across generations.

Golf Chipping Lessons: Mastering the Short Game

My earliest lessons started with UC Ferguson — he insisted we learn the game’s history and the fundamentals. He taught my brothers and me everything from stance and setup to the feel of a proper chip.

The Story of Golf in Oklahoma, 2001

Why chipping matters for lower scores

Chipping is the backbone of the short game and directly affects your scorecard. When you handle chips well you save putts, avoid three-putts, and turn bogeys into pars. Many players chase distance off the tee while leaving easy strokes on the green — clean chipping bridges that gap and makes golf more fun.

How improving your short game lowers your score

Better chipping leads to fewer putts and fewer scrambling failures. Studies show players who sharpen their chipping can shave roughly 2–3 strokes per round. If you consistently leave chips inside five feet, your putting average drops and scores follow.

Key fundamentals every chip should follow

Reliable chipping comes down to three basics: a solid grip, a balanced stance, and correct ball position. A neutral grip keeps the clubface predictable, a steady stance gives control, and a slightly back ball position often produces cleaner contact. Practice these consistently and common mistakes become less frequent.

Experienced coaches often recommend the chip over other short-game options because of its versatility and consistency.

LPGA Chipping Tips: Master Your Golf Chip Shot

A chip is often the safer choice compared with a pitch — it’s shorter, simpler, and easier to control. These tips focus on building confidence around the green and handling bunkers and tight lies with less fear.

LPGA's Guide to Every Shot, 2000

The 3 simple chipping techniques you should master

Each shot below has a job. Learn when to use them and practice the setup cues so you make smart, repeatable decisions on the course. The three go-to options are: Bump-and-Run, Hinge-and-Hold, and the Lob Shot.

Bump-and-Run — how to play a low, running chip

The bump-and-run is your go-to when the green is receptive and you want the ball to run out. Put the ball slightly back of center, adopt a narrow stance, and use a putting-like stroke with minimal wrist action. Keep weight forward and let the loft of a lower-lofted club do the work — practice this to develop dependable distance control and roll.

Hinge-and-Hold — control a medium-height chip

Use Hinge-and-Hold when you need a little carry and then a controlled roll. Place the ball near center, hinge the wrists on the backswing to build a small arc, and hold that angle through impact so the clubface stays stable. This produces a predictable landing and rollout — great for short grass or small obstacles.

Mastering the Lob Shot to clear hazards and stop it close

The lob shot gives you maximum height and a soft landing — ideal for bunkers, thick fringe, or tight pins. It takes practice to control distance and spin, but once dialed in it removes a lot of stress from tricky lies.

When to use the lob shot in your short game

Reach for the lob when you must clear an obstacle and land softly on the green — for example, when you’re just off the green with a bunker between you and the hole, or when the pin’s tucked near a slope. If the green is firm, consider a lower shot to avoid too much roll.

Setup points that make the lob shot work

Open the clubface, position the ball slightly forward, and take a full but controlled follow-through. Keep your lower body quiet and accelerate through the shot to create clean contact. Repetition of these cues builds confidence with higher-lofted clubs.

How personalized mobile chipping lessons in Dallas–Fort Worth speed improvement

Mobile, personalized chipping lessons give you drills and feedback tailored to your swing and the courses you play. In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Better than Bogey Golf brings coaching to your range or course — so adjustments translate directly into better on-course results.

Local teaching traditions and experienced instructors make hands-on coaching especially valuable in the DFW region.

Dallas-Fort Worth Golf Lessons & Instruction

After Hogan's death a longtime DFW sportswriter remembered many friendly phone conversations and recalled how occasional lessons with coaches like Ted Longworth shaped local players.

Grown at Glen Garden: Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, and the Little Texas Golf Course that Propelled Them to Stardom, 2012

Benefits of on-course, mobile instruction for chipping

On-course mobile coaching offers real-time, context-driven feedback where you actually play. That means fixes work where they matter — in varied lies, slopes, and winds. Mobile lessons are also flexible, so you can schedule sessions around your game and see faster transfer to real rounds.

How customized coaching improves your chipping consistency

Tailored coaching identifies your specific swing tendencies and gives focused drills to correct them. Instead of generic advice, you get a plan that matches your mechanics and practice time — which leads to quicker, more reliable improvements around the green.

Chipping drills and common mistakes to watch for

Practice with purpose: pick drills that reinforce the technique you want and be mindful of predictable errors. Below are simple drills and the common issues they fix.

Drills that build consistency and on-course confidence

1. Target practice: Place targets at several distances and chip to each one. Work on landing spots and rollout so you learn precise distance control.
2. One-handed chips: Chip with your lead hand only to develop feel and a cleaner release. This helps you sense the clubhead through impact.
3. Obstacle course: Set up objects to chip around and over. Simulating course challenges trains creativity and shot selection.

Identifying and fixing fat or thin chips

Fat shots (hitting turf before the ball) and thin shots (striking the ball high on the face) usually stem from setup or weight distribution errors. Check that your weight favors the front foot, the ball position fits the shot, and your head stays quiet. Slow, focused reps and video or coach feedback help you correct these habits.

Where to find expert short-game instruction and chipping coaching in DFW

If you want faster gains, work with a coach who knows the short game and the local courses. In Dallas–Fort Worth, Better than Bogey Golf offers tailored sessions designed to improve your chipping and overall short-game scoring.

Book personalized chipping lessons with Better than Bogey Golf and Rob Cacurak

To schedule a lesson, contact Better than Bogey Golf at 469-667-3019. They provide private lessons, on-course playing lessons, and corporate clinics — all built around your goals and availability.

Why choose local DFW chipping coaches?

Local coaches understand regional course conditions, grass types, and typical lies. That insight helps you practice what matters and prepares you for the shots you’ll face in DFW. Personal attention also speeds corrections and builds lasting confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment do I need for effective chipping practice?

Keep it simple: a wedge or two (pitching wedge and sand wedge), plenty of practice balls, and a short practice area or chipping green. Alignment sticks, a towel, or simple targets help train setup and landing zones.

How often should I practice my chipping skills?

Short, focused sessions two to three times a week beat long, unfocused practice. Aim for 30–60 minutes per session with clear goals — quality reps that reinforce a single technique will improve your consistency fastest.

Can I improve my chipping without professional lessons?

Yes — many players get better with self-study, videos, and deliberate drills. That said, a coach speeds progress by spotting small issues you can’t feel and giving corrective drills tailored to your swing.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when chipping?

Watch for a loose grip, wrong ball position, excessive wrist action, and moving your head. Those habits cause fat and thin shots. Record practice swings or get occasional coach feedback to spot and fix them early.

How can I build confidence in my chipping abilities?

Set small, achievable goals, practice specific drills, and track progress. Use on-course practice to apply skills under real pressure. Celebrate small wins — consistent 5–10 foot chips are a big step toward lower scores.

What role does mental focus play in chipping performance?

Mental focus matters a lot. A simple pre-shot routine, clear target visualization, and steady breathing calm nerves and improve execution. The more you repeat a confident routine, the more automatic and reliable your chips become.

Conclusion

A better short game starts with a few reliable chips and the right practice. Master the bump-and-run, hinge-and-hold, and the lob shot, and you’ll see lower scores and more enjoyable rounds. If you want faster, dependable improvement, book a personalized session with Better than Bogey Golf in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and turn practice into scoring.