Swinging the golf club and hitting the ball is where the BIG muscles are used, but not in the short game. The short game is ALL FEEL = SOFT HANDS. On and around the green keep your grip very,very soft. You must feel the clubhead and the ball to get the distance correct.
With putting and chipping there is no leg or torso movement = keep the body and especially the head still. Feel the putter head roll the ball, feel the clubhead chip the ball and this can only happen with soft hands. Do several practice strokes or chips and feel the putter/club head = you are striving for the feel of the distance – how much backstroke or back chip do you need to roll the ball just past the hole.
In David Pelz’s book ‘The Putting Bible’ he says that rolling the ball 18 inches past the cup is optimal. This will apply to chipping as well. Naturally on a steep uphill putt or chip do not go past by too much – the downhill or sidehill putt is always more difficult.
Copy the best! With chipping you will see all the pros grip way down, bending their knees more and moving very close to the ball – this will give way more feel and control. I have the shaft of the club only several inches from my legs. The closer you are to the ball the more feel and control you will have. Build a close personal relationship with the ball for chipping. Putting is slightly different with the posture since the shaft is straight, here you want your eyes over the ball.