What is the BEST Short Game Chipping Method? 

Gotta say, your content has gotten so much better over the years. When Mr Shortgame was filmed into a hitting net in the backyard, I skipped it every time it showed up. You’ve stepped it up quite a bit over the years and now your channel is one of the best.

I actually use both methods based on the club and shot I am trying to play. I practice these a lot at home. The biggest problem I get too many thoughts at one time then I don't commit to the shot making a mess of something simple.

Best video I’ve seen explaining how to approach the short game!! WELL DONE!!

the Tiger method is what I use...I am MUCH more consistent. Hands forward I tend to dig to much. No doubt Phil was REALLY creative but I think Tiger was more consistent and overall was better.

Absolutely fantastic video. Super informative and its crazy to see how different their approaches are around the short grass.

I'm a new golfer but having experimented with all the chipping methods I've settled on using the bounce and swinging low and through. Just like you showed me @mrshortgame! We are having what is most likely a false spring and my golf fever is returning bad. I have a 10 ft mat and a chipping basket inside. It's been great for dialing in 10 yard chips and shaping shots. So much can be done in a little swing to produce totally different results. Chipping is what makes me addicted to this game I can't get enough of it. At 7 my son got me into golf 2 summers ago. We have a chipping area with 2 holes on one "green". We usually play it at 60 yards but it can be played up to 120. Thanks for doing what you do Matt. Have you ever thought about visiting Cape Breton NS? I think you would really enjoy its Cabot cliffs, Cabot lynx and the Stanley Thompson course in Ingonish.

I just switched to the Phil technique this winter. Practice shows my results are way more consistent with less margin of error. Distance and flight height are easily changed with being able to use multiple wedges for the shot at hand

This video was simple, informative, and helpful. I enjoyed this video.

thank you for this video. my friends and i were debating this yesterday! they’re always telling me to use more bounce… but for the life of me, i can’t. but my chipping game is much more consistent than theirs

Great video! Love the fact that you say people should not pick one method just because one pro do like this or that.

I believe you need both methods. Phil's way for longer chip and runs, Tigers method for shorter softer chips

For chipping I like to SLIDE the bounce along the ground which is very forgiving. So therefore Tiger's action is closer to my preference.

Cool to see a short game video again! I can’t get used to the mic on the hat- on any channel 😅

I think Phil's method has a larger chance of disater if its not executed perfectly. Bounce is built into wedges to prevent this. So I use Tigers method, although, it really depends on the situation. I have a fairly decent around the greens short game and trust me. When I need a flop shot. I'm thinking Phil, all day!!😂

Like you say, MrShortGame, what's best for a person probably depends on his or her overall swing approach. Thanks for giving a really good comparison.

I caught the yips and no matter how many people I went to it never helped! I stood over the ball like I was trying to diffuse a time bomb! Then I went left hand low and BOOM, game changer! Daddy’s back! Confidence through the roof!

Thank you for the permission to share this video. As for whose is better, I just wish I could do either lol. A question on the bounce... Is a bigger bounce easier for a high handicapper? I find the performance clubs with the bigger bounce harder to get spin with.

Chipping is the main reason I'm a high handicapper ! I've tried both methods and ended up with (what feels like) a hybrid of both that seems to be working out right now (I like the Phil hinge, but not the forward shaft lean or shortened follow through). Part of the problem is most mortals don't play on courses with reliable lies, particularly if you're wayward - you can end up with bare lies, scrubby semi rough, etc; so all the "use the bounce" talk almost makes it harder because that turf interaction is so unreliable - you never see a RU-vid chipping video filmed on a Welsh mountainside in November 😱 That's one big pro of setting the wrist hinge for me - I'm finding it gives me the confidence to hit through contact with a positive stroke - without that I'm far more prone to stabbing it into the ground, of thinning the chip 50yrds over the green at 100mph 😅 Great video - really good to see someone actually discuss different techniques rather than "this is how you must chip" - just considering the differences between Tiger and Phil proves that golf is never a "one size fits all" game 👍

The Phil method gets a lot easier if you are on some fringe or sitting up in the rough a bit (a little air under the ball helps with slight mis hits). For every other situation, the bounce is your friend.

Both but it depends on the lie and the shot (carry and roll out) Hands forward works better from less than optimal lies because you are minimizing the grass between ball and club or from tight lies on firm ground you minimize turf interaction. You're always going to get less flight and more roll. Practice will of course help you to eliminate the bad shots. Hands neutral utilizes the bounce more and is great from lies that you can do that. It works well for chips where you want to flight the ball farther and stop quicker with higher lofted clubs like when there is a feature that you want to clear like a greenside hump for example. Of course the 3rd chip is the flop shot which takes a lot of touch and practice for when you're short sided and from tight lies on firm ground, it's a challenge.

i do both just depends on green conditions and pin placements

I kind of use both methods depending on the lie I have and may not use a wedge at all and go with my 6 hybrid and use the Tiger method , I use my PW-6hybrid more around the greens nowadays as I don't practice my wedge game much anymore and I have found keeping the wedges in the bag I am getting up and down more easily at my 62 years of age !! The wedges just add more strokes to my scores than just getting the ball on the green as fast as possible and running it to the hole and many are now falling in the hole. My old golf coach said to play the kiss game of golf.... Keep It Simple Stupid !!! I just wish he was still alive today as I sure need some of his coaching even at my ripe age ....LOL

I found a big factor is the specific club used. I started out with a set of Callaway Big Berthas PM Grind - that’s a Phil Mickelson grind - one with a 13 degree(!!) bounce. I struggled for 2 years to make that work for me. At one point I adopted a hands forward technique and had some success but it was never right. However I must admit that it reliably got me out of the sand from day 1. Tiring of the struggle, I picked up a Cleveland 52 and a Vokey 56 and suddenly found chipping easy. Comparing them with the PM grind Callaways the difference became obvious; you had to lean the PM grind forward for the bounce to engage. Otherwise you tended to blade chips. The 52 Cleveland in particular worked easily with what you call Tiger’s technique. I decided to use only that club for all pitches and chips from 100 yards in. I opened it up to vary trajectory and matched the back stroke length to the distance. Lots of success doing that. I used the 56 for all sand. While it’s not as easy to get out of bunkers with it compared to the PM grind 60 or 56, I’ve learned to make work. At some point I’ll include in my chipping. The type of club makes a difference when comparing these 2 approaches.

I have an odd way of chipping. First, if I'm as close as you were showing here, I'd just putt it. But when I'm a bit farther, with some rough in the way, I bring my club down and hit into the ground, like I'm trying to hammer the ball into the ground. The club stops in the ground. You'll never hit it thin or fat. The only thing you have to worry about is club speed. But that doesn't even cause a problem. If I hit it to hard, there's a ton of backspin, and it checks up. If I hit it too soft, there's no backspin, and it rolls out.

I sent you that video on Twitter!! Just never heard back

I don't know which method I use, something in between I think. But the best thing I have done for my chipping in recent years is creating a set routine, this way I don't think I just do.

I use Tigers style because it works better on tight Bermuda. Does anybody else have a preference for the different types of grass they play on?

Seve, followed by Phil closely by Tiger but really close. The reason I say that is Phil never had a problem around the greens but Tiger, for a while, had the yips. Seve had an amazing imagination and could pull off shots nobody ever thought were possible. Same could be said for Phil and Tiger but they both revered Seve.

Thank you so much for this video. So many times golf instruction is put on RU-vid without any context regarding or identifying differing techniques. This leads to a lot of confusion as to what is the proper technique. I've found that Phil's way (old school) works great with into the grain sticky lies and Tiger's (new school) works great with neutral or down grain lies. Is that just me or have you seen the same? 2

For me Phil just had the most awesome short game. In his prime he was simply a magician around the greens

I will take the DAVID way which is how I play. I have a killer short game. Thanks, here is where I drop my golf club instead of a mic drop!!!!

I am a huge Phil fan, but if we are taking ALL of their short game into consideration I would definitely give the nod to Tiger because of his putting. If we are just talking around the greens...I would honestly call it a tie. They are both so good around the greens and have perfected their styles.

Great information as usual, but (always a but, right?) you didn't mention which method has the most backspin, which really makes a difference on how the ball would roll out across the green.

I tried the hinge and hold……style dig the leading edge way to often

I think that Phil has a better short game and his old school method is better, but it takes a lot more practice to get good at it than Tiger’s. I use both depending on the lie and the course condition. Great video!

I get better more consistent results using the Tiger method. But for each of them, Phil is just ridiculously great!

For me, if I am putting the club on the ball well, the Tiger method runs out more and the Phil method delivers more check and less run out. I tend to hing and hold more often but if I want more run out I use a less lofted club.

I loved this video

I don't use either of these methods. I do what Bobby Jones taught, namely to stand upright, totally relaxed, ball toward back of stance, and use the least amount of loft to get the ball onto the green and rolling to the hole. Move the ball up toward your forward foot if you need to get over something or stop the ball from running too much. I wouldn't use a sand wedge on the shots you show here, and may I suggest a lot of amateurs shouldn't either.

MrShort could you make a video on the "Garden City Golf Club", please?

Wedges take a lot of practice. I seem to always lean in favor of the good ole bump and run and get closer than I ever can with wedges.

Philly! What the heck are those white brick like marks on the edge of the putting green?

Phil is closest to the master (Seve) so it must be him. Learning all the various techniques Seve used is half the fun.

Phils dominant hand ie control, touch etc is his lead hand,Tigers, like most golfers dominant hand is his trail hand.

Not a comment, but a question…. How often do you use a putting stroke with a 6, 8 or pitching wedge? This seems to work well for me when the lie is good. BTW, I’ve always been more of a Phil fan…

I just marvel at any golfer who constantly chips onto the green. I'm a lefty so I'm sticking with Phil. By the way your short game isn't bad either Matt!

If you include putting in the “short game” tiger for sure. Just chipping and pitching maybe Phil but it’s a hard one

I’m not sure which is best but Phil’s method has improved my game significantly.

Jason day method. Dead hand technique.

Tiger

I use hinge and hold mostly because I play out of a lot of loose dirt lies. But Tigers method is a little easier.

question…. do you grip the club all the way down?

I often play on wet, tight lies during the wet season here… and Phil’s method seems to work best… but I prefer the Tiger method whenever I feel like I can use it.

Tried both methods.....Phil's method needs extremely good hand to eye coordination which most amateur golfers don't have. Bigger margin for error on the Tiger method. Easier to get right most of the time.

I'm trying to shift from the Phil style to the Tiger style and are stuck in between. My short game is a total mess. Still thinks the Tiger style is the way to go and will limit the amount of really bad shots.

You need hands forward in the deep rough and nasty conditions. Hands neutral is easier, safer, and slightly more predictable. I'm trying to master both.

How about a Steve Stricker analysis!!!!!

Short game is all feel

Phil is my choice. I've seen some awesome shots from him.

Phil is/was so good around the green..Tiger knows how a club works

Both players have world class short games. With Phil, ball needs to off back or front foot, never in the middle. Tiger is usually centered, but not all the time. I'll use both - mostly Phils method. Will never be anywhere close to how good they are. These guys can spin it at will, Tiger loves to put a little draw on his chips etc.....

You can hit it as high as you want with hinge and hold, you just move ball position and open the face. Phil explains it in his instructional videos and it's pretty easy.

Tiger for sure - best short game of all time!

My method.....always put the ball from there LOL!

Best short game player of all time Sam Snead

For me a mid 80's player Tiger method is more comfortable for me.

You gotta have both methods. Neither of the 2 of them stuck to those 2 methods. They both use each method extensively

Yeah, I've been through this and I've played with both. The only thing I'd disagree with here is about the bounce. Phil uses the bounce all the time. Watch Phil teach "Hinge and Hold" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dpFd1xocxrE.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VBv_OA8ZE3A.html. I don't use Hinge and hold much anymore, but it's very versatile.

I vote for Tiger!😀🇨🇦

I see what you did there. Pitting PGA against LIV. Obviously adherence to one method conveys one's predilection. Best to learn both so as not to offend. (sarc).

Are you at Braelinn? One day imma run into you👀👀😂😂😂

Phil is more old school. Eldrick is more modern and interchangeable. Seve was a ball first guy, like Phil. Seve was the greatest.

Phil

Never seen Phil with the yips , I have seen Tiger yip quite a few

Obviously Tiger's short game was better. The short game, including putting, is what wins tournaments. He won the most tournaments and the most majors. Case Closed.

Tiger all day

Jack was the best ever

Unless you are a mid single digit or better, putt or bump a hybrid whenever it's reasonable to do so. Next choice, get close with 7-9i, raise the heel slightly and use a putting stroke. If the lie or carry requirements don't allow those, tigers method uses the sole/bounce as it was designed to be used and offers the most forgiveness. Read James sieckmann's book. There's more to it than saying play the ball in the center and use the bounce. When paired with the proper grip and sequencing it's far more reliable for non professionals.

See, I feel like Phil's method is a lot harder to reproduce and really handsy. Tigers method is less handsy and easier to reproduce. Which means his good shots were super good and bad shots really bad. Tigers method is easier. And let's look at the results, well, they speak for themselves. Mickelson has highlights but Tiger has short game shots that determines majors and huge wins. Phil, a lot less.

Phil was a better chipper/ pitcher than tigger😉 Tiger was just a better putter

Phil's hinge and hold avoids flipping the wrists and 'blading' it; I use it for a pitch and Tigers method for a chip.

Bounce is your friend

Tiger is or was a better putter...so whilst Phil's chipping might be better, Tiger wins as per his stats..

Love your passion and vids, but i think you're over exaggerating Phil's H&H method. I have his short game DVD set and i've watched it several times. At address his hands aren't very forward, they are more neutral. He breaks his wrists immediately and holds that angle through impact and beyond impact. The bounce of the club is working the shot, maybe less than Tigers method but its not all leading edge first. I use H&H as much as possible and for me it works great, like to keep the ball as low as possible for more control

Tiger had the better chipping stats.

Give Tiger credit, his driving and putting beat Mickelson but Mickelson is the king of the short game, arguably the greatest short game in history. Tiger gets the most attention but he's definitely not the GOAT, Nicklaus still owns that title.

In my opinion, Tiger has the better short game overall and his method is likely to produce more consistent results. However, Phil's approach is more versatile as it allows for the same shot to be used from multiple lies, such as thick grass or hard pan, without requiring an increase in club head speed.

You don’t win 82 times on the pga tour without the best short game. Putting is included, and tiger never missed that clutch putt. Tiger wins

How about working on YOUR own short game that works for you I spend mass amounts of time working on my own game.

Tiger > Phil in every category. Period.

Lost me at Tiger best ever comment.

sorry but you do not show well Phil method.He has a much steeper back swing and he starts immediately on his back swing to hinge the wrists , thing you dont do it.

Phil rules as far as the short game goes. Yes, even better than Tiger. 👍🏾🇺🇸

Tiger, all day long. Phil could pull off the occasional trick shot (like hitting a flop shot over Dave Pelz’s head from 3 ft in front of him, or the backward flop shot from a steep embankment), but Tiger was consistently better with the short game when it counted. My 2 cents worth… bounce is your friend, and much more forgiving. The Phil method is too prone to chunks or blading it across the green. I only use the Phil method about 2% of the time, if I’m in an odd situation

Jack Nicklaus is the greatest ever...so far. Tiger came close, but, for multiple reasons, fell short. Sorry.

Phil by a nose.

Tiger had the best short game ever, how can you argue? He barely hit 50% of fairways and won more tournaments than any other professional ever!

Phil had the better short game. Tiger just could out drive everyone by 30 - 50 Yards. His Putting was better as well.

Neither. Seve will always be the master

Phil > Tiger... too bad lefty would occasionally be erratic off the tee at the wrong time... Note. I use neither... more of claw grip for putting and chipping...