How the World’s Best Chippers Stay Simple (And How You Can Too)

If you’ve played golf for years, you know the frustration of “the stalls”. You’re standing over a simple chip shot, but your body stops rotating, your wrists flip, and the ball either duffs two feet in front of you or screams across the green.

Most YouTube “gurus” will tell you to master complex mechanics or “spine angle mechanics,” but at The Art of Simple Golf, we know that jargon just kills your natural flow. You don’t need more theory; you need a Simple Rebellion against the complexity that’s ruining your game.

The secret to world-class chipping isn’t found in a textbook—it’s found in the bags of the world’s best players like Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick. Here is how they use simplicity to dominate the short game.

The traditional golf industry wants you to believe that even a 10-yard chip is a complex science involving “degrees of shaft lean” and “spine angle mechanics.” They want you to stay in a perpetual state of “learning” so you keep paying for lessons.

I’m here to tell you that’s the “Complexity Trap” that’s keeping your scores high and your frustration higher.

Why the “Snobs” Hate the Cross-Handed Grip

In the “Traditional Pro” world, there’s a “proper” way to do everything. They want you to have “active hands” and a “perfect release” on every little pitch shot.

But for the realistic golfer—especially if you’re over 50—those “active hands” usually lead to a nervous, stabby motion. You end up “fidgeting around” at address and eventually thinning or chunking the ball across the green.

When I call this technique a “shortcut,” it’s because it removes the technical labor from the short game. It’s not for your driver; it’s for those high-stress moments around the green where you just need the ball to end up near the hole.

1. The Jon Rahm “Connection” Secret

Consistency around the greens starts with one word: Connection. When your arms separate from your body, your hands try to take over the race, and that’s when the inconsistency starts.

  • The Drill: Grab a common towel and tuck it high under your armpits.

  • The Feel: This forces your sternum and core to become the “motor” of your chipping action.

  • The Result: Instead of “fidgeting” with your hands, you create a reliable, rounded Arc that delivers the club perfectly every time.

You see what that does? It removes the guesswork. If it’s good enough for a Major Champion like Jon Rahm, it’s certainly going to help your game.

2. The Fitzpatrick “Reverse Grip” Fix

If you struggle with the chipping “yips” or find yourself “quitting” on the shot, you need to change your perspective—literally.

  • The Technique: Place your lead hand below your trail hand (cross-handed).

  • Why it Works: This “weird” grip pacifies your wrists and ensures your lead side moves through the ball without stalling.

  • The Benefit: It builds a foundational rhythm that works under pressure, even out of the rough.

Players like Matt Fitzpatrick and Vijay Singh use this because it simplifies the intention of the shot. It stops the “snatch” and replaces it with a smooth, relaxed tempo.

This is Golf Simplified

You don’t need to hit 500 balls a day or master “pro-style” mechanics to play great golf. You just need to eliminate the noise. By combining the connection of the towel drill with the commitment of the reverse grip, you can rediscover the joy of a reliable short game.

It’s that simple. Try these rehearsals at home on the carpet or the next time you’re at the range, and you’ll feel the difference instantly.

https://short-fix.theartofsimplegolf.com/short-game

Chipping Consistency: 2 Simple Drills Used by the Pros