Do Your Chips Roll Too Far? Try This Three Release System For Better Control

If your chips consistently run past the hole, you may be making the wrong decision about which club or chipping method to use. We will look at the most common mistakes that lead to excessive rollout and a simple “three-release” system to help you gain control.

Common mistakes that lead to excessive rollout

Some of the common mistakes that lead to excessive rollout in your chipping include:

• Using a single chipping motion without paying attention to the lie, the location of the pin, green speed or course conditions.
• Too much forward shaft lean will reduce the club’s bounce, expose the leading edge and cause you to hit fat or thin shots which will make distance control unpredictable.
• Slowing through impact (instead of accelerating) reduces spin and leads to more roll.

What is the Three Release System?

The Three Release System was created by Master PGA Coach Dan Grieve. He walks you through a simple system that allows you to match your chipping motion to the lie, trajectory and spin needed for each shot. If you are pulling your sand wedge out of your bag, playing the same shot and still not getting the results you need, try this.  

Release One – Chip and run (Low and rolling)

The low-running chip is good when you have plenty of green to work with. It keeps the ball low and the room for error is minimal. If your chip shots are rolling too far past the hole, this may be your stock shot already.

• How to Execute:
  • Slight shaft lean, ball back in stance, minimal wrist hinge.
  • The butt of the grip points toward the lead hip at impact. (i.e., hands are forward)

Release Two – Soft landing shot (Medium trajectory and spin)

You’ll want to use the shot when you have to carry some fringe or rough but you still expect a bit of rollout when the ball hits the green. The setup and execution allow for added spin and height and more control.

• How to Execute:
  • Ball slightly forward, light grip pressure, slight wrist hinge.
  • Butt of the grip points toward the belt buckle at impact.

You’ll notice the hands are still forward of the ball at impact but not as much as they were in the first release position. This hand position is key to getting that softer landing.

Release Three – Lob shot (High and soft)

The lob shot is used when you need to stop the ball quickly with minimal roll. It helps you generate maximum height and spin for shots over bunkers or when you have really short-sided yourself.

With the third release position, the butt end of the grip points toward the back hip at impact. If you play around with these three impact positions, you’ll see the face of the club is left more open because of wrist and hand position. The open face will help with the softer landing.

• How to Execute:
  • Ball forward, hands neutral, wider stance, more wrist hinge.
  • Butt of the grip points toward the back hip at impact.

How to practice

Now that you have more information about why your chip shots may be rolling too far past the hole, it’s time to practice.

My favorite way to practice hitting different shots like this is to take three golf balls (and the same club) and hit three shots from the same position.

First, try release position one, then two and then three. Don’t give yourself 10 chances to get release position one perfect. Learn to adjust each one to simulate true golf course conditions.

Pick a landing spot and get the ball as close as possible to this spot.

Final thoughts

If your chips roll too far, check out this Dan Grieve method and see if it can help you get your golf ball closer to the hole. This part of the game is all about touch, feel and repetition. You’ll have to put in some practice time to get it right.