Whether you’re facing a tricky up–and–down or trying to get up–and–down for par, being able to control your chip shots is crucial for scoring well.
Unfortunately, one of the most common technical flaws we see with beginner and high–handicap golfers is a tendency to “stay down” through the chipping motion.
Many players have a habit of keeping their upper body and head overly still as the club approaches the ball, resulting in a stalled, collapsed swing.
This is a major mistake that severely limits your ability to produce clean, consistent contact and distance control.
Instead, what you want to feel is an active, rotating upper body that drives the club through the shot.
Let’s take a closer look at why upper body rotation is so important for chipping and how you can incorporate it into your short game technique.
The Drawbacks of Staying Down
When you keep your head, upper body and core overly fixed and stagnant through the chip shot, it creates a number of issues:
- Lack of club head release – Without rotation, your arms and hands struggle to freely release the club head through impact. This leads to deceleration, thin or fat shots.
- Inconsistent contact – A stalled, “trapped” swing makes it very difficult to consistently strike the ball first before the turf. You’re more likely to either skull or chunk the shot.
- Loss of distance control – Without the proper sequencing of your body rotation, it’s hard to produce consistently repeatable distances. Your chips will come up short or fly long.
- Reduced accuracy – A static, immobile upper body makes it tough to control the club face angle and path through impact. This negatively impacts your target accuracy.
Embracing Upper Body Rotation
The key to elevating your chipping game is to focus on allowing your upper body to actively turn and rotate through the shot.
This unleashes the full power and release of the club head, resulting in more solid, precise contact.
As you swing back, feel your shoulders turning away from the target.
Then, on the downswing, initiate your motion by allowing your chest and upper body to rotate back toward the ball.
Keep your head still, but let the rest of your torso turn through impact.
This rotating, unwinding action has a few key benefits:
- It encourages a free, unhindered club head release for better contact and distance control.
- It promotes a more centered, descending strike on the ball for consistent, crisp shots.
- It helps square up the club face at impact for improved accuracy and shot shape.
- It engages your core and larger muscle groups, taking pressure off your hands and arms.
In essence, upper body rotation is the engine that powers your short game technique.
When you allow your chest, shoulders and torso to fully turn through the shot, it unlocks a world of chipping consistency and control.
Drill Work for Cultivating Rotation
To help ingrain this upper body rotation feel, try some of these targeted chipping drills:
- Tee Drill – Set up a tee just behind the ball, forcing you to turn your chest to avoid hitting it.
- “No Arms” Chipping – Practice chipping with your arms hanging passively, focusing solely on torso rotation.
- Alignment Stick Drill – Place a stick across your chest and swing back and through while keeping it level.
- Mirror Work – Chip in front of a mirror to monitor your upper body motion and keep your head still.
The key is to reinforce that feeling of your chest and shoulders actively turning through the shot.
Avoid the temptation to power the chip with your arms and hands alone.
With consistent practice of this upper body rotation technique, you’ll start hitting crisper, more consistent chip shots that get the ball rolling smoothly on your target line.
No more skulled or chunked chips – just solid, reliable short game execution.
So, the next time you’re faced with a tricky up–and–down, remember to turn, not hang back.