Chipping · Drill
Chip to a Towel to Train Your Carry
Part of our chipping programs for distance control. Build a program with it
The real key to chipping is carry distance. Not the hole. A towel gives you a clear landing target. Lay one a few steps onto the green. Try to land every chip on it. Watch how far each ball rolls after. Once you can hit the towel, the roll mostly takes care of itself. Move the towel closer or farther. Try a second club and compare.
The drill
- Lay a towel a few steps onto the green.
- Land each chip on it.
- Watch the roll.
- Move the towel and repeat.
- Try two clubs.
Why it works
A chip has two parts: the carry in the air and the roll after landing. For a given club, the roll is fairly consistent, so the landing spot decides where the ball ends up. A towel gives you a small, clear target, so you control carry first and let the roll follow.
Common mistakes
- You aim at the hole instead of the towel.Pick the towel as your only target and ignore where the ball finishes until you have watched the roll.
- You try to lift the ball with your hands to reach the towel.Keep your hands ahead of the ball through impact and let the loft of the club lift it.
- You change your swing length and speed every shot, so the carry is random.Use the same stance and swing length for a set of balls, then change only the towel distance or the club.
How you'll know it's working
- Most of your chips first touch the ground on the towel, not short of it or past it.
- Balls hit with the same club and swing finish at similar distances after landing.
- You can predict roughly where a ball will stop before it lands.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a larger towel and place it closer to you, so the target is easy to hit.
Harder: Fold the towel smaller, move it farther away, or try to land three balls in a row on it before you change anything.
Common questions
How far should I carry a chip before it rolls?
It depends on the club and the green speed. Use the towel to find out: land balls on it with each club and note how far each one rolls out.
Should I aim for the hole or a landing spot when chipping?
Aim for a landing spot. The hole is only where you want the ball to end up, and the carry and roll decide that. Pick the spot that lets the ball roll toward the hole.
