If you’ve played golf long enough, you know the terror of the chipping yips. The sudden, twitchy mis-hits that destroy your short game confidence and leave you questioning your life choices. Even Tiger Woods has yipped a chip—it happens to the best of us.
What Causes the Chipping Yips?
The yips often come from a breakdown in the lead wrist at impact. When your hands flip or your grip gets unstable, the club digs instead of glides—and the ball barely makes it off the ground (if at all).
The Fitzpatrick Fix — Go Cross-Handed
Matt Fitzpatrick has battled the yips too, and one of his go-to solutions is a cross-handed grip. That means putting your lead hand (left hand for righties) lower on the club, just like a cross-handed putting grip.
This setup helps stabilize the lead wrist and encourages a smooth, shallow strike. The result? More glide, less grab, and fewer disasters around the green.
Why It Works (And How to Try It)
QuickFixGolf.com’s Darren deMaille demonstrates how the cross-handed grip keeps the clubface square and allows it to slide through the turf. Because your lead hand is in control, the leading edge stays soft—minimizing the risk of digging or chunking.
Bonus: It’s harder to overuse your wrists with this grip, which promotes consistency.
Check it out here:
Tips for Practicing the Cross-Handed Chip
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Start small: Try short chips from tight lies to get a feel for the technique.
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Watch the turf: You want to clip the grass—not take a divot.
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Feel the glide: The goal is to let the club slide under the ball naturally.
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Be patient: It may feel awkward at first, but stick with it.
Final Thoughts — Try Something New
The yips won’t go away on their own. If you’ve been struggling, now’s the time to mix it up. Go cross-handed like Fitzpatrick, follow Darren’s guidance, and bring confidence back to your short game.
Because nothing ruins a round faster than flubbing a chip in front of your buddies.
