Learning how to hit the ball consistently is the first thing most golfers try to learn. The ability to hit the ball down the middle keeps golfers coming back for more. However, when it comes to scoring and bringing in a low total, the key is the short game. Learning how to pitch, chip and putt will help a medium-handicap golfer get more bogeys and pars on the scorecard.
Step 1
Read the green before you hit your chip shot. A chip shot is like an elongated putt. The ball will bounce and roll on the green and really will not fly more than a few feet in the air. You need to read the green to see the breaks and bounces and then plan your shot accordingly.
Step 2
Grip the club firmly when you chip. Since the shot requires great feel, the tendency for most golfers is to relax the grip. That can cause the club to shake and wobble in your hands on contact, which will send the shot off course. Grip the club at a "6" on a scale of 1 to 10, which is the equivalent of a firm handshake with a new business associate.
Step 3
Hit down on the ball to get it to pop in the air. Golfers learn early in their career that hitting down on the ball will get it to fly. With a chip shot, you want it to go about halfway to the flagstick in the air and then roll the rest of the way.
Step 4
Stop your swing about 8 to 12 inches after you make contact. Hold your position after you finish your swing. This will allow you to check your aim. Your club should be pointed right at the flagstick after you finish your stroke.
Step 5
Practice your chip shots at the driving range. This is a stroke that requires great feel, and the more you work at it, the better you will get. Work on staying down and not lifting up during the middle of the stroke.
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