When playing uphill chip shots, the most important consideration is that the ball will not roll, or run, as far as it usually will due to the slope.

Because of this uphill slope, you need to select a less lofted club than you would usually use. If you were chipping on a flat surface, generally your pitching wedge should be played so that it lands, first bounce, approximately two thirds of the way to flag. However, because you are now playing an uphill chip shot, the ball will not run as far once it has landed, so instead of using your pitching wedge, play the shot with your 9 iron which has less loft on it than the pitching wedge and this will allow the shot to run more once it has landed.

The second consideration for playing successful uphill chip shots is your set up position. Set up with a slightly narrower stance than usual and play a chip from the centre of your stance, with your weight more on your left side, if you are a right handed golfer. However, when playing an uphill chip, you need to alter your weight position and ball position if you are going to execute a successful shot. You need to alter your set up to allow your spine to become perpendicular, or at a right angle to the ground, as this is how your spine is when playing from a level surface. To achieve this, place more weight on to your lower foot, which if you are right handed, is your right foot in this situation. The simple way to remember this is to play the shot so that your shoulders reflect the angle of the slope that you are playing from. This set up position will now allow you to swing the club head with the slope – down the slope as you swing back and up the slope as you swing through, so you will now achieve a crisp contact with the ball.

Set up so that your shoulders reflect the angle of the slope you are playing from. Have the ball slightly left of centre (if you are right handed) and keep your hands forward of the club head – create a straight line from your left shoulder down to your left hand and then to the club head. Pull your left foot back slightly to help you follow through more easily and then keep the straight line of your left arm and the club shaft as you swing back and through, ensuring you finish with this straight line position. Make sure that you mirror the length that you swing away from the ball on your backswing, with the length of your swing on your follow through to ensure that you are accelerating as you hit the chip.

To work on landing the ball on its first bounce at the distance that you want, play chip shots to hoops at different distances away from you. If you do not have any hoops, use two of you other clubs to create an area to land/bounce the ball in.

The more you practice this, the more accurate you will become and your chipping will improve to become a real strength in your game.