If you’ve been flirting with a sub-90 round but keep coming up short, there’s a chance that your short game could be hampering your ability to do so. Think back to your last round. How many double chips did you have? How many times did you need to get it close to save par, only to leave your chip well short of a sure thing? Was there a bladed green side chip in the mix?
All of these mistakes can prove to be very costly when trying to shoot in the 80s for the first time. Use these chipping tips for breaking 90 the next time you hit the course. It just might be the key to unlocking your scoring.
Simplify your setup
The first of our chipping tips for breaking 90 focuses on proper setup. If we are inconsistent in how we address the ball, we can expect to see inconsistent results with the swing. Focus on the following:
- Narrow stance
- Weight forward
- Ball back of center
- Hands start ahead of the ball
The focus points above will help to encourage clean contact and reduce both fat and thin strikes. The swing and strike also become more predictable with a consistent setup, leading to more consistent success and eliminating double chips that lead to doubles or worse. It is also important to remember to let the club do it’s job. Trust your swing and let the loft of the club get the ball into the air. This leads directly into the next of our chipping tips for breaking 90.
Simplify the motion
When a golfer tends to struggle around the green, they are often guilty of trying to help the ball get up in the air. This typically stems from too much wrist action in the swing. Instead of trying to dictate the swing and strike with your wrists, let your shoulders carry the load. Allowing the shoulders to control the swing helps to quiet the wrists, and in turn lead to consistent contact. Consistent contact leads to more predicable numbers…which helps us get closer to the pin and take strokes off the card.
Remember these keys when practicing your stroke:
- Think “small putting stroke”
- Let shoulders rock the club
- Minimal wrist action
- Same tempo back and through
Take the easy shot
While this may be one of the more obvious chipping tips for breaking 90, it is still worth mentioning. It isn’t hard to become enamored with trying to hit a high flop shot or hitting a low spinner like the pros do on Sundays. And while these shots are quite impressive, they aren’t the high percentage success rate shot for amateurs. Instead of trying to throw it high or fly it close to the flag from the far side of the green, keep it low and let roll be your friend. By getting the ball back on the ground quickly, you increase your margin for error.
- Favor low, running chip shots
- Use more loft only when required
- Pick a landing spot, not the hole
Choose the right club for the job
Just because you’re close to the green doesn’t mean you need to reach for your highest lofted wedge. Remember, we can increase our margin for error by getting the ball rolling as quickly as possible. A lower lofted wedge, like your 8 or 9 iron, is a great option for bump and run chip shots.
- Use less loft when you have green to work with
- Experiment with 8-iron, 9-iron, or pitching wedge
- Same swing, different clubs = different roll-out
Chipping Tips for Breaking 90
You don’t need to become an elite ball striker to break 90. All it takes is some focus on eliminating mistakes that turn a manageable situation into a scramble to prevent big numbers. By simplifying your setup, quieting your motion, choosing the safest shot, and selecting the right club, you give yourself a repeatable plan around the greens. Apply these chipping tips for breaking 90 the next time you head to the course, and see your confidence increase as you push towards scores in the 80s.