The basic chip shot is the most useful shot and is used more than any other short game shot aside from a putt. Improving your chipping skill is a very quick way to really reduce your scores. Discounting your putter, the green side chip shot is the simplest motion in golf.

To become an effective chipper there are a few key points that must be consistent.

Shift your centre of gravity forward, sit more in your left side for a right handed golfer at address and keep it there throughout the motion.
Place your ball position just on middle to slightly behind of the middle of your stance.

Your hands and the shaft will now be slightly forward of the ball at address and it must be recreated at impact.
Start the club head moving first while turning your hips a little. The club head is now moving up and around in a small arc. The club head must work up to allow it to hit down on the ball.

In the downswing you need to pivot your lower body and let the club head swing without interruption. Use this pivot to regulate your speed that controls how far the shot goes. The lower body is an active part of the shot. If you have been using all arms as your source of power in your short game shots your swing will be a little strong until you can coordinate your arms and body.

In the downswing your want to avoid the most common fault “the flick or scoop” Make sure the leading edge is clipping the ground after you have hit the ball. Keep rotating forward, finish with good balance and your body facing the target always.

It is important that the club bottoms out past the ball so setting up with your weight favouring your front foot and keeping it that way throughout the swing will ensure that this will happen. If you shift back at all on a chip shot, the tendency is to either hang back during the swing (hit behind the ball), or sway forward and move the bottom of your swing around creating inconsistent contact. Essentially when you are chipping you are pivoting around your front leg. The small hip turn on the way back helps get the club moving on the right plane, and then rotate or pivot through and the pivoting action will propel the club through the ball.