In the game of golf, everyone loves a booming drive and a well-struck iron, but the real scoring happens around the green. Ask any low handicapper or tour professional—your short game can save a round, win a match, and lower your score faster than any driver ever will. And when it comes to the short game, chip shots are one of the most versatile and valuable tools a golfer can have.
At Legends Golf Course in Kingsland, TX, we’ve seen our share of great wedge play. With fast greens, signature rolling berms, and tightly mown run-off areas, our course demands creativity and control around the green. Mastering your chip shots isn’t just about technique—it’s about knowing the right shot for the situation, trusting your feel, and making smart choices.
If you're looking to sharpen your skills and dial in your game, here are some key fundamentals and pro-level tips for better chip shots around the green.
Understand the Difference: Chip vs. Pitch
Before diving into technique, it’s important to get clear on what a chip shot actually is. A chip typically flies low and rolls out more than it carries—ideal for tight lies or when there's a clear path to the pin. It's a controlled shot, often taken with a gap wedge, pitching wedge, 9-iron, or even 8-iron depending on the distance and green speed.
By contrast, a pitch shot has more loft, flies higher, and stops more quickly. Chipping is about getting the ball on the ground quickly and letting it release toward the hole—like a long putt with a wedge.
Set Up for Success
A proper setup is the foundation of any good chip. It’s not a full swing—so you don’t need a full-swing stance.
- Feet close together – This helps control the motion and keeps your body quiet.
- Weight slightly forward – Keep about 60–70% of your weight on your lead side (left side for right-handed players). This helps you hit down on the ball and make solid contact.
- Ball back in stance – Position the ball just behind center. This encourages a descending blow and clean strike.
- Hands ahead of the ball – Keep your hands slightly in front of the ball at address to create forward shaft lean.
This setup promotes a crisp, consistent strike, helping you avoid chunked chips or thin shots that race across the green.
Keep the Motion Simple
Chipping is about control, not power. Keep your motion short and compact.
- No wristy action – Use a “rocking” motion with your shoulders, almost like a putting stroke.
- Quiet hands – Let the loft of the club do the work; don’t try to lift the ball into the air.
- Control the distance with your backswing – Take a shorter or longer backswing based on how far you want the ball to go, but always maintain a smooth, even tempo.
A steady rhythm and clean contact will do more for your chipping than any aggressive move or fancy technique.
Choose the Right Club
Too often, amateur players default to their 60-degree wedge around the green, even when it’s not necessary. At Legends, the variety of green surrounds means you’ll benefit from learning to chip with multiple clubs.
- Use more loft (sand or lob wedge) when you need to carry over rough, a bunker, or land the ball softly.
- Use less loft (pitching wedge or 9-iron) when you have more green to work with and can let the ball roll out.
- Even an 8-iron or 7-iron can be great for bump-and-run shots when you're close to the green with a lot of roll ahead.
Remember: visualize the shot, then pick the club that matches the trajectory and rollout you want.
Practice With a Purpose
Great chippers aren’t just lucky—they practice smart. On the short game area at Legends Golf Course, try these drills to improve your touch and consistency:
1. Landing Spot Drill
Pick a spot where you want the ball to land, then focus on hitting that spot over and over. Use tees, alignment sticks, or towels as targets. Dialing in your landing zone helps you control rollout.
2. One-Club Challenge
Use one wedge and hit chip shots to five different pin locations. This helps you learn how to vary your setup, swing length, and landing spots without switching clubs.
3. Par-18 Chipping Game
Pick six spots around the green, and “play” three-hole mini rounds where you try to get up-and-down each time. Keep score. It’s a great way to simulate pressure.
Read the Green Like a Putt
Too many golfers focus only on the swing and ignore the green. The truth is, once the ball lands, it behaves like a putt—following the slope, speed, and grain.
Take the time to read the green before you chip:
- Which way is the slope breaking?
- Is the landing area uphill or downhill?
- How fast is the green today?
- Can I putt instead of chipping or pitching?
Reading the green helps you choose the right club, landing spot, and trajectory to give yourself a makeable putt—or better yet, a chip-in. Never forget that long putts can be option as well! Many holes at Legends have flat fairways allowing for an easy putt rather than a difficult chip or pitch!
Play More, Practice Smart
There’s no shortcut to mastering chip shots. But with solid fundamentals, smart club selection, and consistent practice, your short game can become your biggest strength. And at Legends, we give you everything you need—tight fairways, championship greens, and a laid-back atmosphere that lets you focus on your game.
Looking for more course-specific tips? Check out our Hole-by-Hole Course Guide to learn how to attack each green and save strokes with smart short game play. And the best way to work on your wedge game this season is to take advantage of our Stay and Play Golf Packages in Texas. Each stay comes with 4 rounds of golf per day and a golf cart parked right outside your door so you can drive right to the course. Bring your friends, your family, or your scramble squad and test your touch around some of the most scenic greens in the Hill Country.
The short game is where good rounds become great—and mastering your chip shots is a big part of that. Whether you're aiming to break 90 or chasing a personal best, focusing on your chipping can unlock a whole new level of confidence and consistency. Next time you’re out at Legends, spend a little extra time around the practice green. The results will speak for themselves.