Mr. Short Game

Three Smart Chipping Options

Short game success often comes down to choosing the right club and the right amount of bounce. In this lesson, Mr. Short Game breaks down how to simplify chip-and-run shots so you can get up and down more often — even from tricky lies.

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The Main Idea

Instead of always grabbing your highest-lofted wedge, the goal is to maximize forgiveness and use bounce correctly. That means adjusting club choice and setup so you reduce chunked shots and improve consistency.

Club Selection Options Around the Green

Option 1: Lob Wedge — 60°

  • High loft provides a soft landing.
  • Least forgiving on slight mishits.
  • Can dig too much turf from firm or tight lies.

Option 2: Sand Wedge — 54°

  • Best balance of control and forgiveness.
  • Open the face slightly to increase bounce.
  • Turns roughly 12° of bounce into 14°+ for smoother contact.
  • Ideal baseline choice for most chip-and-run situations.

Option 3: Gap Wedge — 50°

  • Lower loft, but very stable through impact.
  • Open the face to increase bounce and forgiveness.
  • Excellent from tight or firm lies.
  • More forgiving than a lob wedge on small mishits.

Option 4: 7-Iron

  • Great emergency option for bump-and-run shots.
  • Minimizes the risk of digging.
  • Less loft means more rollout.

Key Technique: Use the Bounce

  • Open the clubface slightly before the shot.
  • Let the sole of the club interact with the turf.
  • Avoid driving the leading edge into the ground.
  • Think “glide the club through the grass” instead of “dig.”

How to Execute the Shot

  • Set up with a slightly open stance.
  • Keep your weight slightly forward.
  • Start with a 54° wedge as your most versatile option.
  • Open the face to add bounce and forgiveness.
  • Make a smooth, controlled swing.
  • Let the club brush the turf instead of digging into it.

Why This Works

The goal around the greens is not perfection — it’s consistency and predictability. By increasing bounce and choosing more forgiving clubs, you reduce the chance of chunked shots and give yourself more reliable outcomes, even on imperfect contact.

Final Thought

For most golfers, the 54° wedge with an open face is the best all-around option. It gives you enough loft to control trajectory while still providing forgiveness through bounce interaction with the turf.

Practice these setups and club choices, and you should start seeing fewer mishits and more confident short game shots.