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Use Different Clubs for Chipping
When chipping, lots of players just grab their sand wedge and hit it. But if you use different clubs depending on the situation, it will make chipping so much easier.
I usually use sand wedge, pitching wedge, 9 iron, 8 iron, 6 iron and 4 iron. Some golfers are surprised to see me use 4 iron for chipping.
Why do I change clubs?
It is much easier to control distance if you roll the ball to the hole. It's much harder to hit it up in the air and control distance.
To prove it, try to roll the ball with your hand toward the hole. And then throw the ball up in the air and try to stop it near the hole.
You will find it much easier to roll the ball.
So you want the ball to start rolling on the green as soon as possible.
In other words, use the club that lets you do just that.
If you are just off the green and don't have any rough between the ball and the green, use less lofted club and get the ball running as soon as possible.
But if you have some rough between the ball and the green, you might want to use the lofted club to get over the rough and start rolling once it hits the green.
Avoid using too much Back Spin
Tiger Woods said he tries to limit back spin on chipping. He certainly has lots of skills to hit variety of chipping shots.
But even for him, it's hard to control spin. It's much easier to roll the ball to the hole instead of trying to stop it with back spin.
The Choice between Chipping and Putting
When you have a choice between chipping and putting, what do you do?
Tiger Woods once said that if you have short grass and no obstacles between the ball and the green, you should putt instead of chip.
Some famous teacher said "bad putt is better than good chip." I can't recall who said this, but I agree with this idea.
I like chipping, but I try to putt whenever the situation allows me.