Viktor Hovland once said the quiet part out loud: “I just suck at chipping.” That was 2020. Fast-forward a few years, and that same guy is chipping in during FedExCup playoffs like it’s just another walk in the park. So what changed? A lot, actually — and the good news is, most of it is the kind of stuff you can steal for your own game.
Let’s break down how Viktor turned one of the biggest weaknesses on the PGA Tour into one of his secret weapons — and why your own short game might be one good pivot away from becoming something you’re not embarrassed to practice in front of your buddies.
The Confession Heard ’Round the Greens
Back in 2020, after winning the Puerto Rico Open, Hovland didn’t mince words. His ball-striking was world-class. His chipping? Not so much.
“I just suck at chipping,” he admitted, almost laughing. But anyone who’s chunked one from the fringe knows — that kind of honesty usually comes after a dozen failed fixes and a mental spiral or two.
At the time, the stats backed him up. He ranked 185th in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green. That’s not just below average — that’s “please don’t make me chip this” territory.
From Lead-Edge Panic to Low-Spinner Magic
So what changed?
First, Hovland ditched the static, stiff setup that plagued his early years. He used to lean hard on the leading edge of the club, especially on sticky turf. Bad lie? Rain-soaked rough? Instant disaster.
Now? He starts with weight on his left side and actually moves forward through the shot — head, body, everything. That little pivot shift puts the low point of the swing in front of the ball, leading to cleaner, crisper contact.
It’s a subtle tweak, but it’s everything.
He even gets “taller” through the ball — a weird phrase until you try it and realize it keeps the club from digging. Instead of sticking the wedge into the earth like a spade, he glides it through like a hot knife through butter (or at least, that’s the goal).
The Shot That Changed Everything
If there’s one shot that defines Hovland’s turnaround, it’s the low-spinner.
This isn’t some fancy tour-only move. It’s repeatable, and it works.
He gets a little closer to the ball, sets it slightly back in his stance, then drives down on it — hard. His head moves forward. The club compresses the ball. Spin city.
It’s aggressive, but it’s controlled. And because of the new release pattern — where he lets the club “go” a bit instead of dragging it — he’s got way more forgiveness in his strike. That means even when it’s not perfect, it still works.
Coaching Chess, Not Just Swing Thoughts
A big piece of Viktor’s short game puzzle? Joe Mayo.
Mayo didn’t just tweak his technique — he flipped his entire strategy. After a win at the Memorial, Hovland shared Mayo’s brutally simple mantra: “It’s not a birdie contest. It’s a double-bogey-avoidance contest.”
That shift in mindset — from aggressive shotmaker to strategic grinder — helped Viktor stop trying to out-bomb guys like Jon Rahm and start out-thinking them.
Mayo made it clear: if you can’t chip like Seve, you better play chess like Kasparov.
A Rotating Cast of Coaches (And Why That’s Okay)
Hovland’s coaching carousel didn’t stop with Mayo. He’s worked with Jeff Smith, Pete Cowen, Denny Lucas, and most recently, Grant Waite.
What’s interesting isn’t the list — it’s the mindset. Hovland knows the ultimate responsibility rests with him. He’s not outsourcing his swing. He’s curating it.
“I’m the boss of my own swing,” he said. That’s not arrogance. That’s ownership.
And honestly, that’s something every mid-handicapper could learn from. You can copy drills all day long — but unless you understand why they work for you, you’ll always be guessing.
The Payoff: From Chop to Champion
Let’s talk results.
In the 2023 FedExCup playoffs, Hovland got up-and-down on 21 of 26 chip attempts — and most of them finished past the hole. That’s a confidence stat. It means he’s not just getting close — he’s attacking.
And it paid off: Memorial. BMW Championship. Tour Championship. FedExCup.
That’s not just a hot streak. That’s a complete player finally matching short game polish with ball-striking brilliance.
What This Means for the Rest of Us
Viktor Hovland’s short game turnaround isn’t just a Tour story — it’s a roadmap.
✅ He owned his weakness.
✅ He stopped overcomplicating it.
✅ He found feels that matched the fixes.
✅ He learned to think his way around a course.
And maybe most importantly, he showed that “bad chipper” isn’t a life sentence. With the right tweaks — and a little less fear of failure — you might have a low-spinner in you too.