Why you blade chip shots — and how to fix it

If you struggle around the greens, know you’re not alone. Being close to the green might seem like it’d be easier to hit shots close, but for many recreational players, chipping can be a nightmare.

There are lots of ways you can screw up a chip shot: Chunks, thins, shanks, duffs, etc. These shots might be from close range, but they’re anything but automatic.

Today we’re going to focus on one of the most prominent misses around the greens: a blade. For the uninformed, this is a shot that occurs when the leading edge of the club strikes the ball near the equator, sending the ball screaming low across the green with very little spin.

This is a shot that every golfer — even the pros — has hit in their career. But while the shot might be common, players at the recreational level have little idea why they struggle with it or how to fix it.

As GOLF Top 100 Teacher Trillium Rose demonstrates in the video above, the culprit for bladed chips is often falling back on your trail foot. When your weight stays behind the ball through the swing, it’s easy to expose the leading edge and hit the center of the ball at impact.

To fix the issue, you need to focus on getting your weight to the front foot. The easiest way to train yourself to do so? Hitting chips with all your weight on the front side.

Set up to the ball and pull your trail foot back. Lean all of your weight onto your lead foot and start hitting chips. With the weight on the front side, it will change your angle of attack, helping you hit down on the ball and stopping the dreaded blade.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.