Wrist Action in Chipping – Actionable Tips & Drills for Perfecting Your Short Game

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If you walked up to every chip shot and truly thought you had a chance of putting the ball in the hole, wouldn’t it change your game?

We all know that most golfers walk up to a simple chip and think, “don’t screw this up.” They don’t look at the chip and assume they will make it.

If you start understanding what to do in a chip shot, you may be able to change your mindset and start making more chips.

The key is to know what both the lead wrist and the trail wrist should be doing.

Wrist Action in Chipping (Key Takeaways)

If you don’t have time to head to the range right now and hit some chip shots, here are a few of the key things to take with you for now:

• The lead wrist must be flat or slightly flexed at impact when chipping; the trail hand will be the opposite, with more extension in the wrist position.
• Early hinging on chip shots is unnecessary and can cause inconsistencies in the ball strike.
• Practicing drills that focus on minimal movement, recreating a consistent stroke, and understanding the relationship between the clubface and the wrist angle will help you improve your short game.
• Wear the HackMotion when practicing chipping. Save each practice session and go back and check on your progress before and after doing these drills.

Lead Wrist in the Chip Shot

The lead wrist is really the star of the show in the chip shot. For a right-handed golfer, this is the left wrist. The goal in the chip shot is to keep things controlled and stable, and to do that, you’ll need a flat to slightly flexed lead wrist.

When the lead wrist gets into a cupped position (typically because golfers try to flip or scoop the ball), the chance of skulling, thinning, or chunking your chip shot increases significantly.

Keep the lead wrist flat throughout the chip; you’ll see more consistent contact.

Drill to Practice

A great way to keep the lead wrist firm through impact is to put a small ruler (6 inch) or even a golf tee in the back of your golf glove. When you practice chip shots, you’ll want to make sure that the top of the ruler does not dig into your forearm.

If it does, you’re extending your wrist or making more of that scooping motion through the ball.

Practice this drill until you can feel yourself maintaining that firm or slightly bowed feeling of the lead wrist through impact.

Trail Wrist in the Chip Shot

The trail hand, or the right hand for the right-handed player, is typically not the wrist that golfers think about when they practice these motions.

The trail wrist is supposed to do almost the opposite of what the lead wrist does.

You’ll want to keep the trail wrist more extended. Additionally, make sure that it is more along for the ride rather than the dominant hand in the swing. The lead wrist should be controlling these golf shots.

You can hit some practice shots with just the lead wrist on the club to ensure your trail wrist is not guiding or attempting to direct the clubface in any way.

Are the Hands and Wrists Active in a Chip Shot?

The less movement you have in the chip shot, the easier it is to repeat it. There is very little bending or hinging of the hands and wrists. Instead, you’ll want to remain more passive with minimal wrist action.

Focusing on maintaining the flexion in the lead wrist throughout the stroke is the best method.

Wearing your HackMotion on the lead wrist while practicing chipping will not only ensure that you have the proper angles but also that you are making a consistent motion from one swing to the next.

Drills to Improve Wrist Action in Chipping

Now that you know what it takes to be good at chipping, here are some of the best drills to try.

One Handed Chipping

With one handed chipping drills you can focus on exactly what it is your wrist is doing throughout the swing.

The drill helps you understand the importance of a firm lead wrist and helps maintain the proper technique throughout the stroke. Try the one handed chipping drill with both hands.

The Coin Drill

Place a coin just behind the ball and focus on striking the coin before hitting the ball.

This drill encourages a proper downward strike and prevents flipping or scooping. If you hit a lot of thin shots, you’ll like what the coin drill can do to your game.

Flat Hand Chipping Drill

The right hand or trail hand will hold itself against the side of the club for this drill. You’ll have an easier time using your body and getting a little less wristy in the swing.

Many golfers use this as a warmup before a round when they are working on their chipping. You’ll feel more control over the clubhead speed if you can adopt this in your game.

Final Thoughts

At this point, you should be more confident in your wrist action when chipping. The bottom line is to stop the flipping and scooping and trust that flatter lead wrist position.

Wear your HackMotion when you practice chipping to see more consistent results. Check in on your progress as your game improves, and look for ways to add more consistency.