The 3 Basic Chipping Techniques Every Golfer Should Know
If you’re stuck using the same chipping motion for every shot around the green, you’re leaving strokes behind—guaranteed.
One of the biggest turning points for golfers trying to break 90 or 100 is learning that chipping is not a one-size-fits-all skill. Different situations call for different shot shapes, trajectories, and rollouts. Yet many players reach for their sand wedge by default, hoping for the best, only to watch the ball come up short, fly past the hole, or—worse—never get airborne.
Think about how many lies you encounter during a typical round: tight fairway grass, thick rough, uphill chips, downhill chips, pins tucked near the fringe, or sitting deep on a downslope. Using the same technique for all of them is like trying to fix every problem in your house with just a hammer.
In this article, we’ll break down the three core chipping techniques every golfer should know:
- The bump and run
- The standard chip
- The lofted chip
Each one serves a different purpose and gives you more tools to handle whatever challenge the course throws your way.
⛳ By the way—if you want a step-by-step guide to practicing these shots, don’t forget to download my free “10 Short Game Drills” PDF at the bottom of this article.
Let’s dive into technique #1: the bump and run.
Technique #1: The Bump and Run
The bump and run is the most underrated shot in amateur golf—and one of the most reliable. It’s a low-trajectory chip shot that gets the ball rolling quickly after a short carry, much like a putt. The goal is simple: land the ball on the front of the green and let it roll the rest of the way to the hole.
When to Use It
This technique works best when you have plenty of green to work with between your ball and the pin. It’s especially effective on flat or uphill lies where you don’t need to carry over rough, fringe, or hazards. Think of this shot as your high-percentage play—there’s less that can go wrong compared to a high-lofted chip.
It’s also a great choice when the greens are fast or firm, since it produces minimal spin and utilizes the ground to do most of the work.
Club Selection
For a bump and run, you’ll want to use a lower-lofted club—typically a 7-iron, 8-iron, or 9-iron. These clubs allow the ball to pop up slightly and then start rolling like a putt.
A good rule of thumb: the lower the loft, the more rollout. If you need the ball to travel farther across the green, use a 7-iron. If the pin is closer, try a 9-iron.
Setup and Technique
The bump and run requires a simple, repeatable setup:
- Stand with your feet close together—just a few inches apart.
- Play the ball toward the back foot, which helps create a descending strike.
- Shift your weight forward onto your lead foot and keep it there throughout the shot.
- Lean the shaft forward, placing your hands ahead of the ball at address.
- Use a short, controlled swing with minimal wrist hinge. Think of it like a long putt: your shoulders rock back and through, and the club brushes the grass.
There’s no need to get fancy. The beauty of the bump and run is its simplicity—less loft, less air time, more control.
🎯 Quick Tip: Pretend you’re putting with an iron. This mindset helps eliminate excess wrist action and promotes a smoother motion.
Technique #2: The Standard Chip Shot
The standard chip shot is your go-to, all-purpose option when you’re a little farther from the hole and need the ball to carry in the air for a short distance before rolling out. It sits right between the bump and run and the lofted chip in terms of trajectory and rollout.
If you only had time to master one chipping technique, this would be it.
When to Use It
This shot is ideal when the pin is placed in the middle of the green and you need the ball to carry a few feet before it starts rolling. You might not have enough space for a bump and run, but you don’t need to fly it high either.
It’s especially useful from tight lies or fairway cut grass, where you want a clean strike without taking a deep divot. It also performs well from light rough where the ball sits up slightly.
Think of this as your default chip—you’ll use it on a wide variety of shots from around the green.
Club Selection
The best clubs for this shot are your pitching wedge or gap wedge (typically 46°–52°). These clubs produce a medium trajectory with a moderate amount of rollout.
You’ll notice the ball carries about one-third of the way to the hole and rolls the rest of the distance. This makes it easier to predict rollout and control distance once the ball hits the green.
Setup and Technique
Start with your feet narrow and slightly open to the target. Your weight should favor your lead foot, around 60–70%, to encourage a downward strike. Unlike the bump and run, the ball position for this shot is just back of center—not quite as far back, but enough to keep contact crisp.
Lean the shaft slightly forward at address and keep your hands ahead of the ball, but not overly exaggerated. The clubface should remain square to slightly open, depending on the lie.
As for the motion, keep it simple and shoulder-driven. Your wrists should stay quiet, with minimal hinge during the backswing and follow-through. The goal is to brush the grass with the bottom edge of the club and let the loft create a soft landing.
⛳ Pro Tip: After contact, your chest should continue turning through the shot. If you stop your body, your hands will flip—leading to fat or thin shots.
The standard chip shot is reliable, controlled, and repeatable—perfect for players looking to tighten up their short game without taking on unnecessary risk.
Technique #3: The Soft-Landing Lob Chip
The soft-landing lob chip is the most delicate—and most advanced—of the three core techniques. It produces a high, soft trajectory with minimal rollout, making it ideal for tricky short-sided situations. But because this shot requires a blend of touch, commitment, and proper technique, it should be used only when necessary.
Think of it as your “escape hatch” when no other option will work.
When to Use It
This is the shot to pull out when you’re short-sided with little green to work with, the pin is tucked near the fringe, or you’re facing a downhill slope where rollout would cause the ball to run too far. It’s also useful when you need to carry over a bunker, thick rough, or a steep rise between you and the hole.
That said, this shot has a lower margin for error. A slight mishit can lead to a bladed ball shooting across the green—or a chunked wedge that barely moves. That’s why the lob chip should be practiced regularly but used sparingly in real rounds.
Club Selection
You’ll need a sand wedge (54°–56°) or lob wedge (58°–60°) to execute this shot. These high-lofted clubs allow the ball to pop up quickly and land softly, especially helpful on firmer greens or fast pin placements.
When in doubt, go with the most lofted club you’re confident with.
Setup and Technique
To hit a lob chip, open your stance slightly and open the clubface so the face points to the sky. This increases loft and bounce, helping the club glide under the ball rather than dig.
The ball should be positioned forward in your stance, closer to your lead foot. Your weight still favors the lead side, but not quite as much as in the bump-and-run or standard chip. You want to feel balanced—not overly forward—so the club can slide under the ball cleanly.
Make a longer, smoother swing than the other two techniques. There should be more wrist hinge going back and a soft, flowing motion through impact. The follow-through should match or slightly exceed your backswing—don’t decelerate.
🎯 Mental Cue: Commit to the loft. Trust the club to do the work. The moment you try to help the ball into the air, you risk blading or chunking the shot.
Practice is key with this one. You’ll need to develop feel for landing zone and carry distance since the ball won’t roll much after it hits the green.
When mastered, the soft-landing chip becomes a valuable tool that can save par in pressure-packed moments.
Choosing the Right Technique for the Situation
Now that you’ve learned the three core chipping techniques—bump and run, standard chip, and lob chip—the next step is knowing when to use each one. Course conditions, pin location, green speed, and lie of the ball all factor into the decision. The best short game players aren’t just good at hitting each shot—they’re good at choosing the right one at the right time.
Step 1: Start by Evaluating the Lie
The first thing to assess is how the ball is sitting:
- Tight lie or fringe? Favor a bump and run or standard chip.
- Light rough with a clean lie? Standard chip works great.
- Fluffy lie or buried in rough? You’ll need more loft and bounce—go with a lob shot and open the face.
Trying to hit a lob shot from a tight lie is a common mistake—it requires perfect contact and carries more risk. Always choose the shot your lie allows, not the one you want to hit.
Step 2: Check Your Green Real Estate
Next, take a look at how much green you have to work with between your landing spot and the pin.
- Lots of green to work with? Use the bump and run and let the ball roll.
- Mid-range distance with a center pin? The standard chip is perfect.
- Pin close to the fringe with little rollout room? You’ll need the soft-landing lob chip.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: play the lowest-trajectory shot that still gets the job done. Lower shots are easier to control, have less risk, and are more repeatable under pressure.
Step 3: Factor in Slope and Speed
Fast greens or downhill slopes often call for higher trajectory and softer landings to control rollout. Conversely, uphill chips or slow greens may benefit from lower shots that release more after landing.
Also, if you’re playing on firm turf, expect more bounce and rollout—so adjust your landing spot and club accordingly.
Step 4: Build a Pre-Shot Routine
To simplify decisions and avoid second-guessing, create a consistent pre-shot process:
- Assess the lie (tight, rough, uphill/downhill)
- Pick your landing zone (safe, flat area of green)
- Decide how much rollout you need
- Select the technique and club that match
Over time, this becomes instinctive—and your confidence in choosing and executing shots will grow.
🧠 Bonus Tip: On your next practice day, pick one green and intentionally practice each technique from a variety of lies and pin positions. Simulate real conditions to reinforce shot selection skills.
Practice Plan to Train All 3 Shots
Learning the three core chipping techniques is great—but developing consistency with them requires deliberate, focused practice. The goal isn’t just to “try them out” at the range. It’s to build confidence in when and how to use each shot during a round.
Here’s a simple yet powerful short game practice plan that helps you internalize the feel, trajectory, and rollout of each technique.
🟩 Step 1: Set Up Your Practice Station
Find a short game area with a green and plenty of space to chip from a flat lie. Choose a target pin that gives you a mix of green to work with—some near pins and some far.
Use 3 clubs: a 9-iron, pitching wedge, and sand or lob wedge.
- Drop 9 balls in the same spot, about 10–15 feet off the green.
- Create a visual landing zone on the green with a towel or tee markers.
🟨 Step 2: Execute the 3-Club Drill
Hit:
- 3 chips using your bump-and-run technique (9-iron)
- 3 chips using your standard chip technique (pitching or gap wedge)
- 3 chips using your lob chip technique (sand or lob wedge)
Focus on:
- Landing the ball in the same spot for all 3 shots
- Observing how much each ball rolls after landing
- Tracking which shots consistently get inside a 6-foot circle around the hole
📝 Pro Tip: Keep a short notebook or notes app with rollout distances and results. This builds awareness and helps you make smarter shot decisions on the course.
🟥 Step 3: Rotate Through Different Lies
Once you’ve practiced from a flat lie, repeat the drill:
- From an uphill lie
- From a downhill lie
- From the rough
- From a tight lie
This teaches you how each technique performs under different conditions—and when to adjust your setup or club choice.
🧠 Bonus Add-On: Scoring Game
Turn practice into a competitive challenge. Award:
- 3 points for chips inside 3 feet
- 2 points for chips inside 6 feet
- 1 point for chips inside 10 feet
Set a goal score (e.g., 20 points from 9 balls) and track your progress over time. Not only does this make practice more fun, but it also builds pressure tolerance, just like a real round.
Conclusion: Master These 3 Shots and Take Control Around the Green
The short game is where good rounds are saved—and where average rounds spiral into frustration. By learning and practicing these three essential chipping techniques—the bump and run, the standard chip, and the soft-landing lob—you give yourself options for every situation you’ll face around the green.
More importantly, you gain confidence. Instead of guessing which shot to hit or hoping for a lucky bounce, you’ll approach each chip with a plan and a purpose. That’s what separates golfers who consistently shoot in the 80s from those stuck in the 90s and 100s.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start playing smarter golf, I encourage you to continue your short game journey with two resources I’ve created just for golfers like you:
✅ Free Download – 10 Short Game Drills PDF
Get access to 10 proven chipping and pitching drills that you can practice at home, at the range, or on the course. These drills will help you reinforce the techniques you learned in this article and build consistency faster.
📥 Click here to grab the free download.
🏌️ Short Game Practice Program
Ready to take it a step further? My full short game practice program is designed for beginner and intermediate golfers who want to break 90 and lower their scores fast. You’ll get a complete weekly training plan, instructional videos, skill tests, and coaching advice.
You don’t need to be perfect—you just need a plan and the right fundamentals. Let’s get to work.