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If you’re an amateur golfer trying to improve without overhauling your entire swing, “The Lads” YouTube channel needs to be on your weekly playlist. Led in part by Jason Day, the channel blends elite-level instruction with entertaining, relatable golf content. In this post, I break down their newest chipping lesson and share why their videos have helped my game more than most formal instruction.
This iteration of “Training with the Lads,” led by Jason Day, focused on improving golf chipping techniques. The discussion highlighted five common mistakes amateurs make when chipping and provided practical solutions:
1. Setup Issues
Why it matters: Almost every bad chip starts with a bad setup. If your stance, weight, or sternum position is off, the club’s low point will be in the wrong place — leading to fat or thin shots.
Common mistakes:
- Stance is too wide
- Weight is too centered
- Sternum falls behind the ball
Fix it:
- Narrow your stance to 6–10 inches
- Set 60–70% of your weight on your lead side
- Position your sternum directly over or slightly ahead of the ball
This creates the correct low point and makes clean contact far more automatic.
2. Club Path Problems
Why it matters: Pulling the club too far inside on the backswing causes an overly shallow path and unpredictable contact. This is one of the most common reasons amateurs chunk or blade chips.
Common mistakes:
- Inside takeaway
- Clubhead too far behind hands
Fix it:
- Keep the club tracing a neutral path
- On the backswing, the shaft and hands stay aligned
- On the downswing, feel the club returning on that same line
Neutral path = consistent strike = instant improvement.
3. Excessive Head Movement
Why it matters: If your head moves backward during the strike, your low point shifts behind the ball. That virtually guarantees fat shots, thin shots, or both.
Common mistake:
- “Backing up” during the downswing
Fix it:
- Keep your head steady, or allow it to move slightly toward the target
- Use a checkpoint: place a club or your hand beside your head as a reference
A quieter head creates a more predictable low point — the foundation of every good chip.
4. Lack of Body Rotation
Why it matters: When the body stops and the arms take over, you get the dreaded “stabby,” arms-only chip. No rotation = no flow = no clean contact.
Common mistakes:
- Arms outracing the body
- Chest stopping at impact
Fix it:
- Use the towel drill: place a towel under both arms
- Focus on turning your chest through the shot
- Feel the arms and torso moving together as one unit
Body rotation gives you speed control, consistent contact, and better spin.
5. Poor Tempo
Why it matters: Tempo is everything around the greens. Rushed or jerky rhythm leads to inconsistent contact and unpredictable rollout.
Common mistakes:
- Quick takeaway
- Decelerating into impact
- No internal rhythm
Fix it:
- Use a tempo app or metronome (Jason recommends 18–9)
- Practice smooth, even rhythm indoors or during winter training
- Keep the backswing and through-swing balanced and connected
Jason Day hammered home one theme: flow, connection, and consistency beat mechanical “tips” every time. If you master these five fundamentals, your chipping will instantly look and feel more like the pros — and The Lads’ videos make it simple to practice at home.
If you’re an amateur golfer trying to build consistency around the greens, The Lads offer some of the best free instruction on the internet. Their lessons simplify complex ideas, demonstrate fundamental drills, and make improvement enjoyable rather than overwhelming. Watch these videos, try the drills at home, and your short game will thank you.
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Control Spin with Your Wedges – Training with the Lads
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