How to Control Distance on Your Chip Shots: A Beginner’s Guide
Why Distance Control Matters More Than You Think
Ever hit a chip shot that looked perfect—only to watch it roll ten feet past the hole? Or leave one embarrassingly short, forcing another chip just to get on the green? If so, you’re not alone.
For beginner and high-handicap golfers, distance control is the make-or-break skill around the greens. It’s not enough to just make clean contact. If you can’t control how far your chip shots travel, you’ll struggle to get up and down, waste strokes, and leave yourself long, frustrating putts.
The good news? You don’t need elite touch or years of experience to improve your distance control. You just need to understand how it works—and practice the right way.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the five keys to controlling your chip shot distance, including:
- The simple swing mechanics that affect carry and rollout
- How to use different clubs to your advantage
- The drills that actually build feel (instead of wasting time)
- And the mental habits that help you stay calm and confident
🎯 By the way—don’t forget to grab your free copy of my “10 Short Game Drills” PDF at the end of this article. It’s loaded with practical ways to practice what you’re about to learn.
Let’s dive in and take control of your short game.
1. Understand the Basics of Chip Shot Distance
If you’ve ever chipped a ball 10 feet past the hole—or left it embarrassingly short—you’re not alone. One of the biggest challenges beginners and high-handicap players face is learning how to control the distance of their chip shots consistently. You may strike the ball cleanly, but without controlling how far it goes, you’re still leaving yourself tough putts and missed opportunities to save par.
To improve your distance control, you first need to understand what determines how far a chip shot travels. It’s not just about how “hard” you hit the ball. In fact, force is a poor way to think about chipping. Instead, distance is influenced by a combination of three key factors: swing length, tempo, and club selection.
Let’s break these down:
- Swing Length
The size of your backswing largely determines how far the ball carries. A short swing with a pitching wedge will carry the ball a few feet, while a longer swing sends it farther. Consistent distances come from consistent swing lengths. Think of it like a pendulum—repeatable and smooth. - Tempo
Tempo is often overlooked, but it’s crucial. A rushed or jabby motion adds unpredictable speed. A smooth, steady pace allows the ball to come off the face with consistent energy. Good chippers often have a calm, rhythmic tempo—even on shorter shots. - Club Selection
Different clubs produce different carry and roll distances. A 9-iron chip will fly lower and roll more, while a sand wedge carries higher with less rollout. Knowing how each club reacts helps you control not just the total distance, but where the ball lands and how much it runs out.
Another key concept is understanding the carry-to-roll ratio. Beginners often focus only on the total distance to the hole. But great chippers think in two parts:
- Where the ball lands (carry)
- How far it rolls after landing (rollout)
The best way to manage chip shot distance is to pick a landing spot first, then choose the club and swing that will get the ball to land there and release naturally toward the hole.
⛳️ Pro Tip: Use your eyes like a tape measure. Walk off or visually estimate how far you want the ball to fly vs. how much green you have left to work with.
Once you understand these basic mechanics, the rest of your short game becomes easier to manage—and easier to practice.
Resource: Get the All Access Pass. Learn about our training programs with step by step practice drills, weekly schedules and routines to follow so you can break 90, break 80 or scratch golf. Plus access our video lesson library in addition to following the practice plans.
2. Develop a Consistent Chipping Technique
Controlling distance starts with having a repeatable motion. If your technique changes from shot to shot—different stances, inconsistent tempo, flipping the wrists—then it’s impossible to develop feel or predict how far the ball will go. That’s why the first thing we work on with newer golfers at Foy Golf Academy is building a consistent chipping setup and motion.
Start with a Solid Setup
A reliable chip shot begins before you ever move the club. Your setup plays a major role in how well you control distance:
- Feet close together (about a clubhead width apart) to reduce lower body movement.
- Weight favoring the lead foot (about 60–70%) to promote downward contact.
- Ball positioned back of center to ensure a clean, ball-first strike.
- Hands slightly ahead of the ball, which delofts the club and keeps the face square.
This setup encourages a simple, repeatable motion that doesn’t rely on your hands trying to lift or guide the ball.
Keep the Motion Simple and Smooth
Distance control is all about controlling the length of your backswing and follow-through while maintaining a smooth tempo. One of the best analogies for beginners is to think of your chipping stroke like a pendulum—small swings for short chips, larger swings for longer chips.
Avoid common mistakes like decelerating into the ball or flipping your wrists at impact. Instead, let your shoulders and upper body do most of the work. Your arms and hands should stay quiet, moving with your torso in a connected motion.
Try to keep your backswing and follow-through roughly the same length. If you swing back 8 inches, follow through 8 inches. This symmetry helps with rhythm and control—and eliminates last-second adjustments that cause inconsistent distances.
Use Tempo to Your Advantage
Finally, focus on keeping a steady, calm tempo. Even on short chips, rushing the swing creates uneven distances. Watch great chippers and you’ll see a relaxed rhythm that doesn’t vary from shot to shot.
A useful practice technique is to count in your head—“one” on the backswing, “two” on the follow-through. This helps you avoid rushing and keeps your tempo consistent.
🎯 Drill Idea: Place three balls at increasing distances (5 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards). Use the same setup and tempo for each shot, adjusting only your swing length. This builds trust in your feel without overthinking.
With a consistent setup and motion, distance control becomes less about guesswork—and more about feel, finesse, and focus.
3. Practice with Purpose
Knowing how to control distance is one thing—developing the touch to do it under pressure is another. That’s where deliberate, focused practice comes in. It’s not enough to casually chip a few balls during warm-up. If you want to save strokes around the green, you need to train your feel for distance through targeted drills.
The most effective practice sessions simulate real course conditions. Instead of hitting to the same target over and over, vary your landing zones, use different clubs, and track your proximity to the hole. This variety builds adaptability and strengthens your distance control in real-time decisions.
Drill #1: Landing Zone Control
Pick a target pin and set down a small towel or alignment stick on the green 3–5 yards in front of you. Your goal is to land the ball on that specific spot—not the hole.
- Hit 5–10 balls with the same club, landing each on the towel.
- Observe how far each shot rolls past the landing zone.
- Repeat with different clubs to understand their carry/roll dynamics.
Drill #2: The 3-Ball Ladder
Choose a chipping location and hit three balls to three different distances (short, medium, long) using the same club and same technique. Focus on adjusting only your swing length and keeping your tempo consistent.
Then switch clubs and repeat the drill. You’ll quickly build feel for what a 7-yard, 12-yard, or 20-yard chip feels like with each club.
Track Your Results
One of the most overlooked parts of short game practice is tracking your performance. Keep a small notebook or use a notes app on your phone to record:
- Which clubs you used
- Landing spot vs. final resting spot
- Proximity to the hole
- Miss tendencies (short, long, left, right)
Over time, this data becomes your personal “chipping blueprint.” You’ll learn which clubs and swing lengths produce your best results—and which ones need work.
⛳️ Tip: During your round, recall your practice feels. If you’re 12 yards from the hole, remember which club and motion you used to consistently land the ball 9 yards and roll it 3.
Consistent, purposeful practice like this doesn’t just improve your mechanics—it builds trust. And trust is what lets you commit to shots under pressure and control distance with confidence.
Resource: How to Score in the 70’s Golf Training Plan
4. Club Selection and Its Impact on Distance
If you’re using the same club for every chip shot, you’re making distance control harder than it needs to be.
Different clubs produce different launch angles, spin rates, and rollouts. Once you learn how to match the right club to the shot, you’ll find yourself hitting chips that consistently finish closer to the hole—with less effort and more margin for error.
Understanding Loft and Roll
Each club in your bag has a loft that affects how high the ball flies and how much it rolls once it lands:
- 7-iron or 8-iron: Low launch, minimal carry, lots of roll
- 9-iron or pitching wedge: Medium height, balanced carry and rollout
- Gap, sand, or lob wedge: Higher trajectory, shorter carry, minimal roll
Let’s say you have 30 feet to the hole and only need the ball to carry 5–6 feet onto the green. A 9-iron might be perfect—it will land softly and roll out like a putt. But if the pin is tucked close and you’re in the rough, a sand wedge may be the better choice to carry it higher and stop it sooner.
Choosing the Right Tool for the Job
Rather than defaulting to your lob wedge, ask yourself:
- How much green do I have to work with?
- Do I need the ball to carry a long way or roll a long way?
- Is the green firm or soft?
- Is the lie clean, fluffy, or buried?
The answer to these questions will help guide your club selection—and directly impact your ability to control distance.
🎯 Rule of Thumb: Use the lowest-lofted club that allows you to land the ball safely and get it rolling like a putt. It’s more predictable and easier to control under pressure.
Build Your Own Carry-and-Roll Chart
As you practice, start building a mental chart of how each club performs with your standard chipping stroke. For example:
- 9-iron: Carry 5 yards, roll 15
- PW: Carry 7 yards, roll 10
- SW: Carry 10 yards, roll 5
By developing this internal feel, you’ll be able to choose the right club and swing combo instantly—no guesswork required.
Remember: distance control is as much about decision-making as it is about technique. The more tools you have, the better you’ll manage different lies, slopes, and pin positions.
5. Mental Strategies for Better Distance Control
Distance control in chipping isn’t just a physical skill—it’s a mental one too. You can have great technique, know your clubs inside and out, and still struggle if your focus and process break down under pressure. That’s why developing a strong mental routine is just as important as developing feel with your hands.
Visualize Your Landing Spot
One of the biggest shifts that helps golfers improve their distance control is this:
Stop aiming at the hole—start aiming at your landing spot.
Pick a spot on the green where you want the ball to land, and commit to it. This allows you to visualize the carry portion of the shot, judge how the ball will roll, and choose the right club accordingly.
Great chippers see the shot before they hit it. They picture the arc, the first bounce, and the pace of the rollout. They’ve already hit the shot in their mind before they even take the club back.
You can do the same. Stand behind the ball, trace the path with your eyes, and lock in the landing zone. Let that guide your setup and swing—not the hole itself.
Use a Pre-Shot Routine
Consistency under pressure comes from repetition—and repetition starts with a solid pre-shot routine.
Here’s a simple one to follow:
- Assess the lie and green conditions
- Pick your landing spot
- Choose your club
- Take one rehearsal swing with your focus on tempo and length
- Step in and go
This process helps eliminate second-guessing and distractions. The more automatic your routine, the easier it is to focus on execution.
Stay Committed and Confident
A big reason many chip shots come up short—or fly too far—is lack of commitment. You doubt your club selection. You second-guess your tempo. You try to “help” the ball in the air or slow down at impact.
These mental mistakes create physical tension, and that kills distance control.
Instead, once you’ve done the work—evaluated the shot, visualized the landing, and picked the right club—trust your motion. Take a breath, focus on your spot, and execute without fear of missing.
🧠 Confidence doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes. It comes from having a process that works and sticking to it.
Over time, this mental discipline becomes a major advantage. You’ll hit more consistent chips not because your hands are more talented—but because your mind is calmer and your plan is clearer.
Conclusion: Distance Control Is the Secret to a Better Short Game
If you’re serious about lowering your golf scores—especially if you’re trying to break 100 or 90—distance control is the skill that will get you there the fastest.
Think about it. Every time you miss a green, you’re faced with a chip. If you can consistently land the ball where you want, with the right amount of rollout, you’ll start leaving yourself tap-in pars and bogeys instead of scrambling with long putts or worse—three shots just to get it in the hole.
Mastering distance control isn’t about making perfect swings. It’s about building a repeatable motion, practicing with purpose, choosing the right club, and trusting your routine. You don’t need to be a scratch golfer to chip it close—you just need the right habits.
🏱 Want to Take the Guesswork Out of Your Chipping Practice?
Download my FREE 10 Short Game Drills PDF and get access to the exact practice routines I use with my students to build feel, accuracy, and consistency around the green.
Whether you’re practicing in your backyard, at the range, or during a quick evening session at your course—these drills are designed to fit into your schedule and start lowering your scores fast.
📅 Click here to grab your free copy and start building a short game you can trust.
Resource: Get the All Access Pass. Learn about our training programs with step by step practice drills, weekly schedules and routines to follow so you can break 90, break 80 or scratch golf. Plus access our video lesson library in addition to following the practice plans.