Try this foolproof way to chip it close

There was a time when I went down a rabbit hole trying to learn a more advanced way of chipping. It wasn’t long before I returned to what I think is the simplest method of hitting greenside shots. Why make things more complicated to get the job done, right? Obviously, using a putter from just off the green is always a great option when there are no obstacles between you and the flag. But when you have to get the ball up, there’s a way to hit many different short-game shots without changing a whole lot in your swing. That makes this technique super-simple and reliable for golfers who don’t have a lot of time to practice. You’d rather be pounding range balls, anyway. Let’s look at a low-trajectory chip that gets on the ground quickly and rolls out to the cup. This shot is very easy to hit so use it whenever you just need the ball to clear a short and immediate obstacle before rolling like a putt.

The first step is club selection. Rather than trying to deloft a shot with your setup or swing, you can keep the ball low simply by grabbing your 8- or 9-iron instead of your sand or lob wedge. For the setup, center the ball between your heels in a very narrow stance. The real key here is positioning your sternum in front of the ball (above). When you practice, set the logo on your ball on the target side and make sure you can see it directly under your head when you get into your stance.

Now comes the easy part: Don’t worry so much about the backswing, just focus on the through-swing. You want your body rotating toward the target smoothly and the club striking the ball before it hits the turf (below). You will instinctively make a shorter backswing and follow-through with this shot because the club does much of the work.

If it helps you get your body moving toward the target, you can even take a mini step toward it as you finish the backswing, like I’m demonstrating below (watch my left foot). You can do this as a drill or even on the course. The low, running chip is going to become one of your best friends.

Jason Baile, the 2025 PGA National Teacher & Coach of the Year, is director of instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Fla. He is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com