This article goes into the chip shot and offers some pointers as to how to improve your chipping.
With a chip shot, your goal is to get the golf ball onto the green and have it run on, you do not want it to land and stop.
If you can get the ball rolling like a putt so much the better.
You would play a chip shot when close to the green and use a variety of clubs depending on the situation, from a 5 iron to a sand wedge.
You firstly need to establish in your mind where you want the ball to land - preferably somewhere on the green.
The reason for this is pretty obvious, the grass on the green is the smoothest and flattest on the golf course and therefore makes predicting bounce much easier than say, on the fairway or in the rough.
If you work on getting the chip about two feet onto the green with room to run on towards the hole, that will be a good starting point.
Club selection for chipping is governed by how far the ball needs to run from the landing point to the hole.
The shorter the distance, the more lofted club you will use so that the distance the ball runs is reduced.
If the distance is quite large, for example fifty feet or so then a shallower-lofted club is what you should go for.
Another factor that comes into the club selection equation is the lie of the ball.
If the ball is in long grass you need a lofted club to get the ball up and out of the grass.
All of this takes a lot of practice as there are many variables at play.
The best way to improve is with experience.
If you practice with lots of different clubs in different situations you will start to get a "feel" about what club is the right choice for the situation.
A good way to hit a chip shot is to treat it like a putt shot.
That is you use the same grip and swing as you do with a putter.
Adopt a narrow stance but move your left foot back slightly.
Most of your weight should be on your left foot.
When hitting a chip shot you want a lot of downward movement of the club face and the fact that you are using your putting stance and grip will mean your hands are in the perfect position to exert this downwards movement.
As you play the stroke, as in putting, try to keep your left wrist solid as any movement will cause serious deviation in the direction of the shot.
Taking some time on the putting green to hit some practice chips before you play will give you an indication as to how fast the greens are playing on the course.
Hopefully this has been a useful introduction to the chip shot and you have learned something new to try on you next round of golf.