Add this 'stock' chip shot to your bag

Many average golfers avoid chipping unless they have no other choice. I get it; I have no problem with you putting from off the green when there are no obstacles in front of you, or hitting a low, running chip with a lower-lofted club such as an 8-iron when you need to clear a small obstacle like a sprinkler head. Those options are safe and reliable and require minimal practice.

However, what do you do when there’s something in front of you that would prohibit you from those two options? Maybe you have to carry five yards of deep grass or the corner of a bunker. That’s when a medium-trajectory chip shot is going to help you, a lot. Think of the ball as flying about halfway between you and the hole and then landing with enough backspin to halt its momentum before it runs way past the cup. That might sound like a specialty shot that requires great hands, but it’s actually more of a stock play that is easy to execute and useful in a variety of situations. It looks like this (below).

I call this a “stock” play, because the majority of the time you are forced to fly the ball onto the green, this is the shot I'd use (and you will likely have the most success with). If you have some room between you and the flag and the carry obstacle isn’t super long, this is your go-to play.

Executing it starts at setup. First, use a club with some loft like a sand wedge to make sure you can get the ball up and over whatever obstacle is in front of you. Next, set the club down so it’s slightly open (facing a little skyward and right of your target if you’re right-handed) and then take your grip. The ball should be aligned between your heels in a narrower stance than a full shot, with your sternum slightly ahead of the ball. You’ll feel a little more weight in your front foot (below).

The swing should be simple. Don’t worry about how far to take the club back. It will be intuitive to how far you want the ball to fly. The through-swing is the focus. Keeping your sternum ahead of the ball the whole time, turn through with your body until you’re facing the target and the clubshaft is pointing toward the landing area. This should be a smooth, unrushed rotation with minimal hand or wrist action. Note how I’m finishing (below). If you focus on steady body rotation in the through-swing, this shot is going to help you in a lot of situations.

Jason Baile, the 2025 PGA National Teacher & Coach of the Year, is director of instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Fla. He is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America.