Chipping Drills to Improve Height Control: Mastering Your Short Game

Chipping Drills to Improve Height Control: Mastering Your Short Game

Mastering the height of your chip shots can significantly enhance your control and performance around the greens. Whether you need a low, running shot or a high, soft chip to stop quickly, being able to control the trajectory is essential. In this guide, we’ll explore effective chipping drills to improve height control using adjustments in wrist angles, setup, swing mechanics, and club selection. These drills will help you hit chip shots at various heights and refine your short game.

Understanding the Impact of Wrist Angles on Contact

Before diving into specific drills, it’s important to understand how wrist angles affect your chipping height and contact. When you manipulate your wrist angles, it changes the radius of your swing, which can make consistent contact more difficult. Here’s how to maintain good contact while adjusting the wrist motion for height control:

• Forward Hands: Moving your hands further forward can shorten the radius and de-loft the club, sending the ball lower. However, this may require you to adjust your body position to stay down in the swing and avoid hitting the ball thin.
• Extended Wrist: Conversely, adding extension to your lead wrist (bending it back) in the follow-through makes the radius longer, sending the ball higher. To compensate, you may need to stand taller or make subtle adjustments in your stance.

Key Tip: The motion of your body needs to match your wrist angles to keep the contact solid. This coordination may take time, but with practice, it will become more natural.

Using Setup, Swing Mechanics, and Club Selection

Think of setup adjustments, swing mechanics, and club selection as different “buttons” that you can tweak depending on the shot. Every golfer is different—some may prefer to control height by only adjusting their setup, while others may prefer to focus on swing mechanics or use a combination of both. Here are the key aspects to focus on:

• Setup Adjustments: For higher shots, you may open the clubface and lower your hands, while for lower shots, moving the ball back in the stance and positioning the hands forward can bring the ball down.
• Swing Mechanics: Open the clubface during the backswing to send the ball higher, or keep the face more closed for a lower trajectory.
• Club Selection: Using different clubs—such as a higher-lofted wedge for high shots or a 9-iron for lower shots—can simplify the process of controlling height.

Tip: Think of these factors as buttons you can adjust based on the lie of the ball and the shot you need. For challenging lies, you may need to combine setup and swing adjustments to achieve the desired height.

Drill: The 5-Ball Height Control Practice

One of the best ways to improve your chipping height control is through a structured drill. Here’s a highly effective practice method to refine your ability to hit different trajectories:

A. The 5-Ball Drill

This drill involves placing five balls in a line, with each ball representing a different height shot. Each shot will require a slight variation in either club selection, setup, or swing mechanics.

• Middle Ball (Standard Height): Start with a basic chip shot that represents your typical, mid-trajectory chip. This will be your reference point.
• Middle-Low Flight (Right of Middle): Use either a lower-lofted club, such as a gap wedge, or slightly adjust your technique to hit a lower shot. This shot should come off with a lower trajectory and more roll.
• Super-Low Running Shot: Switch to an even lower lofted club, such as a 9-iron. With the same basic setup and movement, this shot should fly very low and roll significantly more.
• Middle-High Flight (Left of Middle): Use your lob wedge and slightly open the clubface. Make minor adjustments to your stance by lowering your hands and slightly increasing wrist extension during the follow-through to generate a higher shot.
• Super-High Shot: Open the clubface even more, lower your hands, and use more wrist extension. This will result in a very high, soft landing shot.

Key Tip: Practice each trajectory until you can hit each of the five heights consistently. By mastering this drill, you’ll be prepared for any situation on the course, whether you need a low running shot or a high, soft chip.

Final Thoughts: Mastering Height Control for Chipping

Controlling the height of your chip shots is essential for mastering your short game. By understanding how wrist angles, setup adjustments, and swing mechanics affect the trajectory, you can confidently adapt to different course conditions and lies. Whether you prefer adjusting your setup, changing your swing mechanics, or selecting the right club, this guide will help you practice the height control techniques needed to improve your chipping performance.

By incorporating these chipping drills to improve height control into your practice routine, you’ll gain versatility in your short game and see a significant improvement in your overall consistency.