You will always be bad at chipping, Until you learn this.
Golf instructor James Ridyard explains why the secret to elite chipping is decreasing loft from address to impact. He demonstrates how to use a combination of lateral body shift and rotation to achieve forward shaft lean, ensuring a crisp strike and consistent low-point control. By avoiding 'helping' the ball into the air with the hands, golfers can eliminate fat and thin shots around the green.
Quality chippers always deliver less loft at impact than they have at address.
Trying to 'lift' the ball adds loft, widens the swing arc too early, and typically results in hitting the ground far behind the ball.
The best way to create forward shaft lean is through a combination of shifting the chest toward the target and rotating the body open.
Rotation helps the lead shoulder move upward, which naturally pulls the club handle up and prevents the leading edge from digging too deep into the turf.
This technique applies to all short game clubs, from 60-degree wedges to 8-iron bump-and-runs.
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