Major champion Padraig Harrington shares his strategic guide to chipping, focusing on club selection, carry-to-run ratios, and risk assessment. He details how to pick landing spots, read grass grain, practice putting through fringes, and optimize short-game decision-making around the green.
Master club carry-to-run ratios: Pitching Wedge carries 1/3 and runs 2/3, Sand Wedge carries 1/2 and runs 1/2, Lob Wedge carries 2/3 and runs 1/3.
Target flat landing spots at the base of slopes to minimize bounce unpredictability.
Evaluate lie risk: prefer safe, low-lofted or putter shots on tight/fast banks where leaving a chip short brings it back to your feet.
Practice putting through the fringe from 2 to 15 yards off the green when visiting a new course.
Read grass grain: pale grass growing with the shot comes out fast, while dark green grass growing against the shot comes out slow.