WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO GOOD CHIPPING IN GOLF? 

Hitting short chip shots from just off the green can be one of the toughest shots in golf because you need to both fly the ball and also putt the ball in the same shot. While it would be nice if you could simply putt every shot that was close to the green, that's typically not the case, because often times the grass is not tightly mowed or there are obstacles or irregularities that demand you fly the ball over them.

Keep Chipping Simple

While there can be a lot to think about in chipping the golf ball, the key to success is keeping it simple. LPGA player Natalie Gulbis and golf coach Jimmy Hanlin share a great lesson on how she approaches this shot by simplifying. After analyzing her lie, she picks a spot on the green which will often coincide with about 1/3 of the distance to travel. With a narrow but comfortable stance and the ball in the middle to back just a little, the key is achieving a square club face at impact. For a very short chip shot the backswing will be highly abbreviated - just a little bit longer than you might take back a putter for a long lag shot. The swing needs to have a smooth rhythm and just sweep the ground. Let the loft of the club lift the ball, with the similar feeling you would want if you were simply tossing the ball. You'll want to read the shot like a long lag putt and look to get it close into the circle of friendship (3-to-4-foot imaginary circle around the hole).

The Leapfrog Chipping Distance Control Drill is one of the best and most fun drills to perform to help you radically improve your chipping.