published: May 23, 2019

updated: Oct 3, 2023

How to chip from a bad lie

Steve Carroll

European Tour player Paul Waring has a 90-second tip that will help you chip around the greens when faced with a bad lie

All of us have struggled with our short game at one time or another, so I’ve called in European Tour player Paul Waring to give me much-needed tips on how to chip from a bad lie.

I visited Paul at his home club Bromborough on the Wirral where he took me through a couple of key points that will help me chip around the green more confidently when faced with a bad lie.

How to chip from a bad lie: Key points

One of the main things Paul talks about when chipping from a bad lie is the heel of the club: “When the heel of the club stops the whole club stops with it.”

To make sure this doesn’t happen Paul advised me to bring the heel off the floor slightly when addressing the ball. Doing this allows you to use the toe of the club more and if you do get a little jabby with it it still means the club will be able to get through the turf.

chipping from a bad lie

Watch the full video for more chipping tips from Paul.

About Paul Waring

Paul Waring had a stellar amateur career which included winning the English Amateur in 2005 before turning pro in 2007.

He earned his European Tour card at Q School the same year and, after a third-place finish at the 2013 Portugal Masters and a runner-up spot at the 2017 Joburg Open, Paul got his breakthrough in his 200th start, winning the 2018 Nordea Masters.

Paul’s CV also boasts a top 20 at the Open Championship.

The Merseysider is an ardent Liverpool fan.

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About the author

Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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All of us have struggled with our short game at one time or another, so I’ve called in European Tour player Paul Waring to give me much-needed tips on how to chip from a bad lie.

I visited Paul at his home club Bromborough on the Wirral where he took me through a couple of key points that will help me chip around the green more confidently when faced with a bad lie.