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Short Game Fundamentals
The Rule of 12
The simplest way to pick the right club for every chip shot. No guessing, no feel — just math that works.
Watch It First
See the Rule of 12 in Action
Before we break it down, watch this quick video to see the Rule of 12 applied on a real green. Then scroll down for the full explanation, visuals, and a calculator you can use on the course.
The Concept
What is the Rule of 12?
Here's the deal: most amateur golfers grab their sand wedge for every chip and try to hit some magical flop shot they saw on TV. That works about as well as you'd expect. The Rule of 12 takes the guesswork out of chipping by giving you a dead-simple formula to pick the right club every time.
The idea is straightforward — every chip shot is a combination of air time (carry) and ground time (roll). Different clubs produce different carry multipliers. Take 12, subtract your club number, and you get a multiplier. Multiply that by your carry distance and you get the total distance the ball travels — carry and roll combined.
The Formula
(12
constant
−
Club #)
loft number
×
Carry
carry distance
=
Total Distance
carry + roll combined
(12 − Club #) is your carry multiplier. The result is your total distance — carry is already included.
Here's how you actually use it on the course. You start with two numbers: how far is the pin, and how far do you need to carry the ball to land on a good spot on the green. Then you work backwards to find the right club.
Say the pin is 8 feet away and you need 2 feet of carry to clear the fringe. Divide 8 by 2 = 4. That's the carry multiplier you need. Now: 12 minus 4 = 8 — grab your 8-iron. The ball carries 2ft, rolls 6ft, and you're at the hole in 8ft total.
What if the pin is 10 feet out with the same 2ft carry? 10 ÷ 2 = 5. 12 minus 5 = 7 — that's a 7-iron. Need only 4 feet total with 2ft carry? 4 ÷ 2 = 2. 12 minus 2 = 10 — that's your pitching wedge. Always start from the pin and work backwards.
Visual Breakdown
Air vs. Roll by Club
This is where it clicks. Look at how the air-to-roll ratio shifts as you go from a low iron to a wedge. The bars below show how each club splits a chip into carry (blue) and roll (green).
1× Carry (air)
Roll segments (each = 1× carry)
6 Iron
×6
Most roll
7 Iron
×5
8 Iron
×4
9 Iron
×3
PW
×2
SW
×1
All carry
The key insight: you're using a putting stroke for all of these. Same motion, same tempo — the only thing that changes is the club in your hand. The loft does the work.
Example
How It Looks on the Course
Say you're sitting just off the green with 2 feet of carry to your landing spot. You grab an 8-iron — that's a ×4 carry multiplier. So 4 × 2ft = 8 feet total distance (carry included). The ball flies 2 feet, lands, and rolls the remaining 6 feet to the hole.
8-Iron Chip — 2ft carry × 4 = 8 feet total
1
Find Your Carry
Figure out how far you need to carry the ball to land on the flattest spot on the green. Here that's 2 feet.
2
Pick Your Club
Choose the club that gets you to the pin. 8-iron has a ×4 multiplier, so 4 × 2ft = 8ft total. If the hole is 8ft away, that's your club.
3
Do the Math
8-iron: 12 − 8 = 4. That's your carry multiplier. 4 × 2ft carry = 8ft total (2ft air + 6ft roll).
4
Use a Putting Stroke
No wrist hinge. No big backswing. Just a smooth putting stroke and let the loft do the work.
Try It Yourself
Chip Shot Calculator
Plug in your numbers and see what club to grab. This mirrors exactly what you'd do on the course.
Where Should I Land It?
Start with the pin. Enter how far away it is, pick your club, and find out where to aim your landing spot.
Landing Spot / Carry
—
Enter distance to pin and select a club
Cheat Sheet
Quick Reference Card
Screenshot this or save it to your phone. Pull it up next time you're on the course until the ratios become second nature.
Rule of 12 — Carry Multipliers
6i
×6 total
Bump & run
7i
×5 total
Low runner
8i
×4 total
Standard chip
9i
×3 total
Mid flight
PW
×2 total
Higher chip
SW
×1 total
Lob / stop
Pro tip: The Rule of 12 works best on flat greens with a standard putting stroke. Adjust for slopes — uphill means less roll, downhill means more. Wet greens also reduce roll, so consider going one club lower.