The Chip and Run: Your Most Reliable Shot Around the Green

Not every shot around the green needs to be a high, majestic wedge that flies right to the pin and stops on a dime. While that shot is great to have, it's also a high-risk play.

Think of it as a putt from off the green. It's a low-risk, high-percentage shot that gets the ball on the ground and rolling like a putt as quickly as possible. The less time the ball spends in the air, the less chance there is for something to go wrong. It's the shot the old Scottish masters built their game on, and it's just as relevant today.

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When Should You Play the Chip and Run?

The chip and run should be your default, go-to shot when the situation allows. Look for these conditions:

• You have a good lie in the fringe or fairway.
• You don't have to carry any major obstacles like a bunker or a steep slope.
• You have a fair amount of green between your ball and the hole.

The simple philosophy is: get the ball rolling as soon as you can.

How do you pick the right club for a chip-and-run?

The beauty of the chip and run is its versatility. You can use almost any club from a 7-iron to a pitching wedge, depending on how far you need the ball to fly and how far you need it to roll.

• Pitching Wedge / 9-Iron: These are your go-to clubs for most chip and run situations. They will give you a flight-to-roll ratio of around 1:1 or 1:2 (it carries one part of the way and rolls two parts).
• 8-Iron / 7-Iron: Use these when you are further from the pin and need the ball to roll a long way. The ball will come out lower and hotter, with a flight-to-roll ratio closer to 1:3 or 1:4.

The key is to use the least amount of loft that the situation allows.

Why does the chip-and-run feel like a putting stroke?

The motion for a chip and run is incredibly simple because it's based on your putting stroke.

• The Setup:
  1. Grip: Grip down on the handle for maximum control.
  2. Stance: Take a narrow stance, with your feet quite close together.
  3. Ball Position: Play the ball further back in your stance, generally in line with the inside of your trail foot.
  4. Weight: Place about 60-70% of your weight on your lead foot and keep it there throughout the stroke.
  5. Hands: Press your hands slightly forward, so the handle of the club is ahead of the clubhead. This pre-sets a descending strike.
• The Stroke:
  1. No Wrists: This is not a wristy, flicky motion. The stroke is controlled by a simple rocking of your shoulders and arms.
  2. The "Triangle": Imagine a triangle formed by your arms and shoulders. Your only job is to rock that triangle back and through, keeping it intact.
  3. The Strike: Make a crisp, descending blow on the back of the ball. You should feel like you're "popping" the ball forward, not lifting it.
  4. The Finish: The follow-through should be short, low, and controlled.

How to Practice

The best way to develop a feel for this shot is to practice hitting a specific landing spot. Go to the chipping green and place a towel or a headcover about two or three paces onto the green.

Your only goal is to land the ball on that towel. Hit ten shots with your pitching wedge and watch how far they roll. Then, hit ten shots with your 8-iron to the same landing spot and watch how much further they roll. This simple drill will quickly teach you how to judge which club to use to get the ball close to the hole.

Next time you're just off the green, resist the urge to automatically reach for your lob wedge. See if the chip and run is an option. It's a simpler, safer shot that will leave you with more tap-ins and save you a huge number of strokes.

What are the quick questions golfers keep asking?

Q: When should you default to the chip-and-run instead of a flop?
A: Anytime you have green to work with and a clean lie. Let the ball hug the ground-it's repeatable under pressure.

Q: How do you choose the club for a chip-and-run?
A: Pick the landing spot first, then choose the club that releases to the hole. More rollout? Use 8-iron. Need it to check? Go PW.