Mastering one-handed chipping might seem unconventional, but top instructors like Danny Maude, AlexElliottGolf, and The Logical Golfer recognize it as a game-changing practice technique that can transform your short game virtually overnight. This deceptively simple drill forces you to develop the proper body-arm coordination that many golfers struggle with around the greens, while eliminating common faults like pulling the trail arm too deep—what AlexElliottGolf describes as the "lawnmower pull"
How to practise it
Set up with trail hand only, normal chipping stance Hold your wedge with just your trail hand, maintaining proper posture and ball position. Feel the weight of the club naturally.
Make slow-motion swings focusing on body rotation Turn your body through the swing while keeping the trail arm passive. Let your core drive the motion, not your arm.
Hit chips with trail hand only, small targets Make actual contact with balls, focusing on clean strikes. Your body must lead since your arm can't overpower the motion.
Switch to lead hand only for comparison Repeat the same process with your lead hand to feel how both sides contribute to proper sequencing.
Return to two-handed chips maintaining the feel Use both hands while preserving the body-led motion you discovered. The arms should feel passive and connected.
What is one-handed chipping and why do PGA Tour pros practice it during warmup?
One-handed chipping is a practice drill where golfers chip using only one hand to improve feel and technique. As shown in The Logical Golfer's analysis, tour pros like John Ram use this warmup technique not because they'll chip one-handed on the course, but because it helps develop better hand coord
How can one-handed chipping drills help me stop duffing and thinning my chips around the green?
One-handed chipping forces you to develop better tempo and contact because you can't rely on overpowering the shot with both hands. Danny Maude emphasizes that distance control issues like duffing and thinning often come from poor technique, and one-handed practice helps you focus on clean contact a
Should I practice one-handed chipping with my dominant hand or non-dominant hand?
Most instructors recommend practicing with your dominant hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) as it's your power hand and controls much of the clubface through impact. Athletic Motion Golf demonstrates how single-handed drills help sync up your swing by forcing proper coordination that you can
How each of them teaches it
Coaches who demonstrate the one handed chipping drill, each linked at the second they start.