For many amateurs, ‘one hop stop’ while chipping is only a dream. The challenge is develop enough spin to check the ball very quickly. If you have mastered this skill, then your ability to be aggressive when pin hunting grew exponentially. Over the years, I have somewhat develop the ‘one hop stop’ skill, but I would not say that I have completely mastered this ability. Hence, I am still working on ways to improve my short game in this manner. I came across some advice that I think might be helpful for anyone working on this short game skill.
The premise to hitting a short chip or pitch that generates backspin is fairly simple. As shown in the video below, set up is key to adding backspin to your game. Here, take a look:
Opening your clubface and your stance is very important. After many years of practice, I understand this important setup position. It allows for clean contact on the ball and maximum time for the ball to roll up the clubface thus creating backspin. The idea of rolling our wrists through the shot due to a closed grip is one that is a little more tricky.
Rolling the wrists does have its benefits with this shot, however I would caution you not to be too handsy. Many times we want to help the ball through contact and this attempt usually causes mishits or hitting behind the ball. I was taught, and still use, to quiet my hands when chipping. I like the feel of less hand action through contact, but each player must identify what works for their game. Regardless, the above advice does work.
If you are looking to put a bit more action on your ball while chipping, try opening your clubface and stance. This setup will facilitate more action on the ball. I will suggest that closing your grip might be a bit more problematic, however it is not a show stopper. Next time you are practicing your short game, play with your stance, clubface and grip. You never know what combination of these skills will work best for your game.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
The low trajectory one hop and stop shot looks great, but is it really needed? I’m voting not really. It’s not on my list of things to work on at least.
First, it’s a shot that requires perfection. Or close enough. Hitting a shot at speed with the face open and hands forward and finding the ball first on the lower grooves to get the friction off as much of the face as you can is a shot that is orders of magnitude more difficult to perform consistently than a high trajectory shot that you can make use of the bounce to execute. Not only that, but it requires a more intimate knowledge of the green to execute well.
Second, it’s not a shot best suited to the raised greens we hit to more often than not. It’s a shot that may call to you when facing a green that slopes up from front to back but not so much when you can’t see the green over the slope. You can take the ball in either case, but not so much with the low spinner.
So for me, I feel like a more useful shot to work on is the high lofted shot that stops pretty much where it lands. With it I can jump over areas where slopes are dangerous, aim for ledges and expect to hold them if I just get the distance right, and go pin hunting when I can’t even see the pin.
One hop and stop may come. I’m always working on controlling the bottom point of my swing, but it’s just not a particular shot I see as giving me any major benefit.
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Kevin,
I agree the player needs to understand their game a fair bit to make this one hop and stop shot. It is a valuable shot if you can consistently make it, but otherwise there are many other shots that are easier and would fit the bill.
Cheers Jim
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