Short Game · Drill
The Landing Window Chipping Game
Part of our short game programs for distance control. Build a program with it
This game trains you to control both carry and roll. Make a window on the green with two markers. Put the near one just past where you'll land the ball. Put the far one a few yards past the hole. Set up several hitting spots around the green. From each spot, try to land the ball past the first marker and stop it before the second. Count your successes. Jump between spots at random. To make it harder, shrink the window or use a club with less loft.
The drill
- Place two markers to form a window.
- Set several hitting spots around the green.
- Land past the first marker, stop before the second.
- Move between spots at random.
- Shrink the window as you improve.
Why it works
A chip has two parts: the carry through the air and the roll after it lands. If you fix the landing area, you must choose a club and swing length that give the right carry, and the loft then sets how far the ball rolls. The window gives you a clear target for both parts, so you learn how much a ball runs out from different lies and distances. Moving between spots at random stops you from repeating one shot and forces you to judge each one fresh.
Common mistakes
- You aim at the hole instead of the landing area.Pick the spot just past the near marker first, and let the ball roll to the hole from there.
- You use the same club and swing for every spot.Change the club or the swing length so the carry fits the distance to the window from each spot.
- You scoop at the ball to lift it past the near marker.Keep your weight forward and your hands ahead of the ball, and let the loft of the club do the lifting.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball lands just past the near marker and not on it or short of it.
- The ball stops before the far marker on most shots from each spot.
- Your contact is crisp and the low point of the strike is just in front of the ball, with no thin or fat shots.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Widen the window by moving the far marker further back, and use the same hitting spot for several shots in a row.
Harder: Shrink the window, or use a club with less loft so the ball rolls out more and the carry must be more exact.
Common questions
How do I control how far a chip rolls?
Choose where the ball lands and which club you use. A lower-lofted club runs out more after landing, and a higher-lofted club stops sooner.
Where should I land a chip on the green?
Land it on the first flat part of the green you can reach, with enough room for the ball to roll to the hole. The softer or slower the green, the closer to the hole you land it.
