Hinge and Hold (Short Game)
Also known as: hinge and hold, hinge-and-hold, hinge and hold chip, hinge and hold pitch, hinge and hold technique
Hinge and hold is a short-game technique. You hinge your wrists early in the backswing, then hold that angle through impact so the clubhead never passes your hands. The body turn moves the club, and the finish stays short, with the shaft still leaning forward.
Many chips go wrong when the hands flip at the ball. Hinge and hold removes that. The wrists set on the way back, and the handle leads the clubhead all the way through.
Set up with the ball in the middle of your stance and your weight slightly on your lead foot. Hinge your wrists as you start back. Then turn your chest through and stop with the club pointing up and the handle still ahead of the clubhead.
The ball comes out lower and more predictably than with a flippy stroke. It suits short pitches and chips with a sand wedge or gap wedge. For a high, soft flop, a different release is needed.
Tips by skill level
Hit chips where you freeze the finish. If the handle is ahead of the clubhead, you held it.
Vary the length of the backswing, not the speed, to control distance. Keep the hold the same for every length.
Example
She flips her chips and hits some fat and some thin. Her coach teaches her to hinge and hold, and the contact gets crisp and steady.
Why it matters
It takes the hands out of the moment of impact. That makes chips more repeatable under pressure.
Common mistakes
- Letting the wrists release at the bottom
- Stopping the body turn and using only the arms
- Playing the ball too far forward
- Using it for high flop shots
Frequently asked questions
Is hinge and hold good for chipping?
It suits short pitches and chips that need a lower, predictable flight. Many golfers find it steadier than a stroke where the wrists flip at the ball.
What is the difference between hinge and hold and a putting-style chip?
A putting-style chip keeps the wrists quiet the whole time. Hinge and hold sets the wrists in the backswing and keeps them set through the strike, which adds speed for longer shots.
Related terms
- PitchingPitching is a mid-range short-game shot, usually from 30–100 yards, that carries the ball most of the way to the target. It uses a descending blow and controlled spin.
- ChippingChipping is a short shot played from just off the green. A small swing gets the ball rolling on the green quickly so it can run to the hole.
- Wrist HingeWrist hinge is the upward cocking of the wrists in the backswing. It creates the angle between the lead arm and shaft, storing energy to release at impact.
- Shaft LeanShaft lean is when the hands and grip end are ahead of the clubhead at impact. It reduces dynamic loft, compresses the ball, and marks good iron contact.
- FlipA flip is a flick or scoop of the hands at impact, instead of forward shaft lean. It adds loft, kills compression, and is a defensive reaction to poor sequencing.
Related guides & benchmarks
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