As we’ve said, you often won’t want to take a full swing when chipping.  Gauge the distance you are away from the hole and then estimate how hard you’ll have to hit the ball to get it to the hole – or at least close to the hole!

Here are some general tips on chipping that can really help:
 

• Keep your hands ahead of, or even with, the club head on the follow-through.
  
  
• Grip the club firmly so that the rough doesn't twist the club on the swing.
  
  
• Get the ball rolling on the green as soon as possible; this will make it easier to control the shot
  
  
• In deep rough, angle the club so the toe is the only part touching the ground.
  
  
• In windy or downhill conditions, or on fast greens, always chip the ball instead of pitching it.
  
  
• Repair all divots taken.
  
  
• Be careful not to hit the ball too hard; otherwise it might roll off the other side of the green.
  
  

Chipping should not be confused with pitching.  When you chip a ball, you are going to be just off the green and you want the ball to easily roll across the green and toward your target.  A pitch shot is a lofted shot that flies more than it rolls.  A pitch is usually used when you are a little further off the green but you still are close enough that you won’t want to take a full golf swing.

A pitch shot is usually from 30-70 yards away from the green.  You can also use a pitch shot if you need to hit above trees, hazards, or sand traps.

Use a lofted wedge club like a sand wedge, a pitching wedge, or a lob wedge.  These clubs have faces that allow you to get underneath the ball and put it in the air.