Top 50 Coach Ged Walters Fixes 3 Common Chipping Errors

Top 50 coach Ged Walters says three recurring mistakes account for most amateur struggles around the green, and each has a straightforward fix.

Mistake one: swinging a chip like a full shot

Many golfers chip with the same body rotation and swing speed they use on full shots. That causes the club to bottom out too early, leading to a chunked shot or a panicked flick at the ball.

The fix: Walters says to stand a bit closer to the ball with a more upright posture, thumbs pointing toward the ground and the handle raised slightly. The club should travel straight back rather than around the body.

Mistake two: not adjusting for a bad lie in the rough

When the ball sits down in thick grass, Walters says the clubhead needs to travel outside the hands on the takeaway to steepen the angle of attack.

The fix: That steeper path creates a bit more wrist hinge, which lets the club unload more sharply through the rough and pop the ball out cleanly.

Mistake three: standing neutral on a slope

On full swings, players are often taught to mirror the slope with their body. Around the green, Walters says the opposite applies on upslopes.

The fix: Lean into the slope rather than away from it. Leaning away causes the club to deaden through the divot, which Walters says is a common cause of fat and thin contact near the green.