The basic chip should be one of the simplest shots in the game yet many golfers struggle with it all their lives.

But if you remember these three key things, you should never have a problem:

• Let the club lift the ball, don't try to 'scoop' it up
• Accelerate into impact
• Aim to pitch the ball a yard or two on the green with its first bounce

Below you'll find a guide to the basics. As you develop, experiment pitching the ball in different places and with different clubs for with different results.

Address the ball with your feet close together and the ball slightly nearer your back foot than your front.

Open your shoulders a little. Your hands should be ahead of the ball.

Focus on your swing, not on attempting to force the ball skywards.

If you play the shot correctly, the angle of the clubhead will take the ball into the air without any extra effort.

You may want to grip down the handle on shorter shots to help shorten the swing without slowing it down.

Keep your weight on your front foot.

Swing the club back with your arms and shoulders rather than your wrists, though some players do develop a more 'wristy' action as they progress.

The distance the ball will travel depends on your backswing, not so much on how hard you hit the ball.

So if you are only playing the ball a short distance, make a short backswing.

As a general rule, your backswing should be the same length as your follow through as would happen if you were rolling the ball underarm.

Keeping your weight on your front foot through the shot will make sure that your hands arrive in front of the ball at impact.

This is vital to a crisp connection.

Do not be tempted to look up at the target too soon.

Accelerate through the ball.

Even if you only take a short backswing, make sure you attack the ball.

If you quit on the shot you are likely to fluff it only a few feet.

Accelerating down through the back of the ball will also impart a little backspin which will make the ball check when it hits the green and give you more control.