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DRILL OVERVIEW
Three Keys to Improve Chipping
Your drill at a glance
This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.
Give your chipping practice three clear checkpoints. Use a simple fairway lie and a generous green. Follow Jason Baile’s setup and movement cues, then test your contact over an eighteen-chip practice round.
Watch Jason Baile’s three chipping keys
Watch the Titleist demonstration linked on Chipping card 38. The three technique cues come from Jason Baile; the two sets of nine and scoring out of 18 are our App practice format.
Step 1. Set your sternum ahead of the ball
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose your practice shot | Use a wedge from short fairway grass outside the green. Give yourself a generous landing area. |
| Turn, then bow | Turn slightly towards the target before bending into your address position. For a right-handed golfer, that turn is to the left. |
| Check your sternum | Set your breastbone ahead of the ball, towards the target. Check your chest position rather than relying only on forward hands or weight. |
Step 2. Keep the handle movement compact
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Keep the handle close | Make a small backswing with the grip moving in a compact area near your body. |
| Rehearse the size | Make a few easy rehearsals before adding a ball. Let your arms work with your body rather than reaching them away. |
Step 3. Gently rise and turn through the chip
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Rise and turn | Through impact, let your body gently rise as it turns towards the target. |
| Brush and finish | Allow the wedge to brush the turf and exit naturally. Finish in balance with the club low after this small chip. |
Quick practice checks
| Watch for | Try this |
|---|---|
| Hanging back at address | Reset the chest position before swinging. |
| A long, reaching backswing | Reduce the motion and keep the handle closer. |
| Trying to stay crouched through impact | Allow a gentle rise with the turn, following the demonstration. |
Score your round of 18
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | Clean contact and a balanced finish turned towards the target. |
| 0 points | A heavy or thin strike, or an unbalanced finish. |
George’s Conclusion
Start with an uncomplicated shot and use a few rehearsals to get familiar with the cues. Then give yourself eighteen chances to test them. Keep one useful note alongside the score so your next practice has a clear starting point.
For a different short-chip experiment, try the Grip-Down Chipping Drill.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
