Chip In
A chip in is a holed chip from off the green.
With a chip in you sink the ball directly in the hole with a short approach shot, without a putt being needed. The starting point is a chip from the edge of the green, from the semi-rough or from short distance around the green, usually with a wedge. The ball flies only a short stretch, lands on the green and rolls into the hole. On the scorecard it looks unspectacular — two strokes instead of three — but in feel it is one of the most beautiful moments of a round. When a shot like this goes in, it often saves par or even gifts you a birdie.
In practice, the chip in rarely happens on purpose but often through good technique. An example: your ball lies twelve meters left of the flag in clean grass in front of the green. You play a chip with the sand wedge, letting the ball touch down two meters in front of the green edge and roll — the line is right, the tempo is right, the ball drops in the middle. The recipe behind it: consciously choose the landing spot and leave the rest to the roll. Anyone who stares only at the flag rarely chips well; anyone who aims at the landing spot gives the ball a real chance.
Typical misconception is the hunt for the hole. The chip in is a bonus, not a plan. The real goal of every chip is a ball that comes so close to the hole that the putt becomes a formality — the classic up and down. Anyone who tries to force every chip into the hole plays too aggressively and finds the ball on the other side of the green. For the percentage of saved pars what counts is scrambling, not the show.
FAQ
How do I increase my chance of a chip in?
Do not aim at the hole but at a concrete landing spot on the green from which the ball can roll towards the flag. If landing spot and tempo are right, the ball has a real chance of dropping. Anyone who stares only at the flag rarely chips precisely enough for an up and down or better.
Does a chip in count for anything special in the statistics?
No, on the scorecard it is simply one stroke fewer — two instead of three around the green. In the statistics it appears indirectly: anyone who frequently chips close to the hole or holes out directly improves their percentage in scrambling, that is, the par-saving shot after a missed green.
Should I always aim directly at the hole when chipping?
No, the chip in is a bonus, not a plan. The real goal of every chip is a ball that stays so close to the hole that the following putt becomes a formality. Anyone who tries to force every chip in plays too aggressively and often finds the ball on the other side of the green.