Jordan Spieth Short-Game Lesson: How To Play The 'One-Hop-And-Stop' Shot

Jordan Spieth is one of the greatest short game players ever, with his repertoire around the greens revered by many. Here, he shares an expert short-game lesson

Jordan Spieth close up image and inset image of Jordan Spieth hitting a chip shot around the green
This chip shot lesson, from PGA Tour winner Jordan Spieth, could transform your short-game and lead to lower scores...
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Jordan Spieth is a short-game wizard, renowned for his creativity and flair around the greens in a career that is littered with accolades.

Pitching and chipping is an area that amateur golfers often struggle with, leading to big scores and frustration on the golf course. Finding different ways to save par is crucial for golfers wanting to lower their handicap, so a short-game lesson from a serial PGA Tour winner is just what the doctor ordered.

In this article, Jordan Spieth shares his expert tips on how to play one of his trademark chip shots... the 'one-hop-and-stop'.

Jordan Spieth takes a shot during the John Deere Classic
Jordan Spieth

Former World No.1 Jordan Spieth is one of the greatest golfers of the modern era, accruing three Major Championship wins to date alongside 10 PGA Tour victories. Spieth is one leg away from completing the coveted career grand slam, and has played on nine Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams for Team USA.

Jordan Spieth: How To Play The 'One-Hop-And-Stop' Chip Shot

Some recreational players are intimidated by ‘tricky’ half shots from 40 to 60 yards. But after practising this tip, these short shots will be as automatic as throwing darts, and you’ll be knocking a lot of them to tap-in range.

On these half wedges, I like to hit shots that hit the green, take a small hop, and then immediately stop. These are closer to miniature full swings than long chips.

Apply more speed than finesse to create enough spin on the golf ball to hop and stop, but not so much spin that your ball grabs and pulls backwards and further away from the pin. Use the following technique and practise with different wedges to see how much carry you get with each club.

Jordan Spieth hitting a chip shot around the green

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Step 1: Set your weight slightly forward (about 60% of it on the front foot), then open the clubface slightly and narrow your stance by a few inches.

Step 2: Make a chest-high backswing while hinging your wrists to the maximum. This extra hinge offers added fizz at impact from your shortened top position. Let your shoulders turn as they normally would, but keep your hips still and your weight over your front foot to produce more of a descending blow.

Jordan Spieth hitting a chip shot in front of the gallery at a PGA Tour event

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Step 3: Although you shortened your backswing, this is not a slow-swing shot. Make an aggressive downswing while releasing all the hinge in your wrists. Feel as if your right arm and the shaft form a straight line at impact.

Step 4: Hold your left wrist angle through impact so that the logo on the back of your glove faces the target in an abbreviated finish. This move creates cut spin to stop the ball after its first bounce, as well as a lower-than-normal trajectory, which heightens accuracy.

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Barry Plummer
Staff Writer

Barry Plummer joined Golf Monthly as a staff writer in January 2024, and now oversees the instruction section across both print and digital. Working closely with the Golf Monthly Top 50 Coaches, he endeavours to provide hints and tips about all aspects of the game - helping amateur golfers to shoot lower scores. A member at Sand Moor Golf Club in Leeds, he also looks forward to getting out on the course at least once a week.

Barry is currently playing:

Driver: Benross Delta XT Driver

Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 4 Hybrid

Irons: Benross Delta XT 5-PW

Wedges: TaylorMade RAC 60, Callaway Jaws MD5 54

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour