Chipping with an 8 Iron (5 Tips)

One of the most basic chips in all of golf is the chip shot where the ball flies 1-3 yards and then starts rolling towards the hole with a high percentage of the distance traveled taking place on the playing surface of the course. This shot can be used from the fringe or just into the rough. Of course you can play a similar putting motion from a little further back, but will more than likely need a club with more loft than an 8 iron.

The short game is the fastest way to lower your score in golf. Consider this scenario below:

A golfer that can hit 4 out of 18 greens in regulation

And save par 50% of the time with his or her short game
Can break 80
And be part of the top 2% of the golfing world

Is this motivation to get started practicing those chip shots and the putts between 3-10 feet?

Growing up as a junior golfer, while I was never a great striker of the ball or had great distance due to being undersized, I could save par with the best. This helped me score plenty of rounds in the 70s pretty much off of my short game skills.

Whether you choose to hit every shot with a 60 degree wedge or use multiple wedges or irons to hit a variety of chip shots, you need a quality short game when it comes to chipping.

It is amazing how much better of a putter someone becomes when they are only putting from 3-5 feet vs even 8-10 feet. The make percentage almost doubles in the shorter range vs the 10 foot range.

The next stop for some golfers would be the low single digits or scratch level. Of course the ball striking will have to improve some, but you would have been within range on the scrambling percentage.

Take special note of the scrambling percentage below.

Greens in Regulation	67%
Fairways Hit	53%
Putts Per Hole	1.67
Scrambling	54%
Sand Saves	58%
Average Driving Distance	251

This means that the average scratch golfer is able to “save par” or “get up and down” in 2 shots or less around 54% of the time. The most basic of these chips shots is the bump and run with the 8 iron.

Chipping with an 8 iron

My Story: For years I only used my 60 degree wedge around the green, unless I had the most basic bump and run shot. Today, now playing at scratch, I used a variety of shots including the 8 iron bump and run shot. These basic shots can save you stress and eliminate the really bad chip shot. Keep it simple, get the ball inside of 6-8 feet and give yourself a chance to make the putt!

This basic chip shot is one of the first shots to master and probably the easiest because of its close relation and movement to a putting stroke.

Below, I will dive into some tips to help you hit this chip shot with the 8 iron.

The 5 tips for chipping with an 8 iron include:

Use your putting grip
Play the ball center to back in your stance

Make a putting motion
Read the break of the green
Keep it simple

Chipping with an 8 iron (5 Tips)

Tip #1: Use Your Putting Grip

Most golfers are able to hit a putt with quality aim and quality distance control. The chip shot with an 8 iron is just an extended putt from the fringe or rough. Don’t make it more complicated than it has to be.

You can start and make it simple by using a putting grip and standing closer to the ball. This keeps the motion back and forth and allows you to control your aim and start line most efficiently.

This shot becomes a low risk, high reward shot and doesn’t take a great deal of practice

Need help with ball striking? Check out our how to hit an 8 iron post!.

Tip #2: Play the ball center to back in your stance

If you want to hit the ball a little higher, move it forward of center. If you want to hit it a little lower, move it back in your stance. For a standard shot with an 8 iron chip, play the ball center to back of your stance. We would recommend instead of playing around with the ball position too much, to just change your club if you need a bit more loft to a 9 iron or pitching wedge.

Once again, keep the setup, grip and motion basic and repeatable. Change variables such as the club or speed of the motion to control loft and distance!

How to practice chipping at home!

Tip #3: Make A Putting Motion

Now that you have the proper grip, the ball in the right spot, go ahead and move your weight just slightly forward. You will now make an equal back and equal through putting like motion stroke. The goal is to keep the face square and get the ball started on the right line.

The purpose of the putting motion is to eliminate the different variables that are created when hitting a chip shot. All we need in this situation is to get the ball moving in the right direction. Too many golfers make the chip shot more difficult by unnecessary wrist hinging or taking the club too far back.

Make sure you practice this motion just to the side of the ball and take 3-5 practice swings feeling the distance of the swing and seeing how the club reacts to the grass at that point. One more key here is to make sure you keep your head still and your eyes on the ball. You do not need movement here because it is a precision shot and not about creating distance.

As you get used to the speed of the greens throughout a round, you will become more efficiently with this shot. I often like to try to think of what length putting stroke I would use and match the club to that putting length stroke that would be comfortable.

How to chip with a 9 iron (5 Tips)

Tip #4: Read the Break of the Green

Before you hit the shot, make sure you check out what way the green will break. Is the shot slightly uphill or downhill? Does the green run away from you after the hole. These are the different factors that should factor into the club selection and the length of the stroke that you will make.

Once again, change the variables you are most comfortable changing. Some people prefer to change swing length, swing speed or club. You might only change one of the variables to get a distance that you need. Some golfers prefer to change the length of the motion, while others will just add a less lofted club to get a bit more distance.

11 Golf Drills for Chipping

Tip #5: Keep It Simple!

The goal here is simplicity. We want to advance the ball and get in a 3 foot circle around the hole. If you imagine a big 3 foot circle drawn around the hole, that should be your goal. Keep the motion simple and allow the club to do the work.

Do not stop, do not over accelerate and keep your head down.

Simple, simple, simple! Get the ball moving with this simple putting like motion with your 7, 8 or 9 iron in hand.

Chipping from a tight lie (5 Tips)

Once you get good with this shot, you can advance onto mastering others!

When to Chip With an 8 Iron?

You can hit this shot when you just barely miss the green and you are off to the edge. This basic chip shot is the foundation and the first chip shot golfers should learn to hit.

You wouldn’t use a 8 iron if you have a bunker to hit over or have to carry the ball a long way with some extra loft.

You could hit a longer bump and run if you are 10-20 yards on the approach part of the green and feel comfortable with how the ball will roll through the fringe area.

As green complexes have become undulating with more and more bunkers, the ability to use a 60 degree wedge around the greens will become vital in the overall development of a golfer.

Check out our post on when to use a 60 degree wedge!

What Percentage of the Time Should I be able to save par?

Keep track of your stats over time. The goal should be to be able to get up and down on these simple chip shots 40% if you are a start or trying to break 100 for the first time. As you get into the single digits, we should be able to save par with these chip shots around 75% of the time. This is the most simple shot you might hit all day and you may even be able to roll it in for a birdie or an eagle on a par 5.

The Simple Formula for Getting Better!

Back when I was a young junior golfer I received some great advice. This advice would be perfect for the person trying to break 80 for the first time.

Break it down to learn how you can break 80 or reach your next goal related to scoring!

Here is the simple formula:

Just be around the green in regulation. For example on a par 4, you want to be withing 20 yards of the putting surface after your 2nd shot. On a par 3 after your first shot and on a par 5 after your 3rd shot.

The goal now is to save par around 33% of the time. So if you missed every green in regulation, but can save your par 33% of the time, you will shoot a 42 per nine and an 84 overall. Keep the formula simple and work on that short game.

The short game is the secret to quick improvement. As you play the game over the years, your swing will improve and your ball striking will get better. However, the fastest and easiest way to get better is with the short game.

Here are 22 practice game you can use for game improvement. Many of these are short game routines.

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About four years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage. I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Rain or Shine Golf Packages

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions: