Backyard Chipping Practice Drills

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• Set up varied targets like buckets or towels in your yard.
• Focus on solid contact and a controlled, pendulum-like swing.
• Practice with different clubs to build versatility for on-course shots.

Who This Is For

• Golfers looking to sharpen their short game without the hassle of a course.
• Beginners aiming to build fundamental chipping skills with consistent practice.
• Intermediate players wanting to refine their touch and accuracy around the greens.

What to Check First for Backyard Chipping Practice

• Space Assessment: Scope out your yard. Do you have enough clear, relatively flat space for a comfortable swing and for the ball to land and roll without hitting anything? Think about where errant shots might go – nobody wants a ball in the neighbor’s prize-winning petunias.
• Obstruction Check: Look up and around. Are there any low-hanging tree branches, power lines, fences, or other potential hazards that could interfere with your shots? Safety and avoiding lost balls are paramount.
• Ground Condition: Take a look at the grass. Is it reasonably level? Significant divots, rocks, or extreme slopes can throw off your strike and make practice less effective. A few minor imperfections can actually add a touch of realism, though.
• Safety Zone: Ensure pets, children, or any fragile garden ornaments are well clear of your practice area. A stray ball can do damage.

Step-by-Step Plan for Backyard Chipping Practice

1. Establish Your Chipping Zone. Pick a suitable spot in your yard that’s relatively flat and free of debris.

• Action: Designate a specific area for your practice.
• What to look for: A clear patch of grass, free from toys, garden tools, or anything that could interfere with your swing or the ball’s roll.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to chip from a patch of thick weeds, a rocky area, or a severely sloped part of your lawn. This will lead to inconsistent results and frustration.

2. Set Up Your Targets. Place various objects at different distances to simulate on-course pin positions. Aim for 10, 20, and 30 yards, or whatever distances work for your space.

• Action: Scatter your targets around your chipping zone.
• What to look for: Visible markers like buckets, towels, hula hoops, or even chalk circles. Vary the distances to challenge yourself.
• Mistake to avoid: Bunching targets too close together, which doesn’t accurately mimic course conditions or provide a sufficient challenge.

3. Choose Your Club Wisely. For most backyard chipping, your sand wedge or pitching wedge will be your best friends.

• Action: Select your preferred chipping club.
• What to look for: Clubs with sufficient loft to get the ball up and over any fringe obstacles and onto the green.
• Mistake to avoid: Using a driver or a long iron. These clubs are not designed for the loft and control needed for chipping, and you’ll likely end up with poor contact and unpredictable results.

4. Grip the Club Lightly. Your grip pressure is crucial for feel and control.

• Action: Take your normal golf grip, but consciously relax your hands.
• What to look for: A grip that feels firm enough to control the club but loose enough to allow your wrists to hinge naturally during the swing. Think of holding a baby bird – you don’t want to crush it.
• Mistake to avoid: Squeezing the club too tightly. This restricts wrist action, stiffens your arms, and leads to a loss of feel and inconsistent contact.

5. Focus on Clean Contact. The goal is to strike the ball first, then the turf, creating a crisp sound.

• Action: Practice making solid contact with the ball.
• What to look for: A clean “thwack” sound and the ball launching with a predictable trajectory, followed by a small divot or brush of the grass.
• Mistake to avoid: Hitting the ground significantly behind the ball (a “fat” shot) or hitting the ball too high on the clubface (a “thin” shot).

6. Develop a Controlled Follow-Through. Your swing should be a smooth, balanced motion.

• Action: Execute a full, but controlled, swing motion.
• What to look for: A consistent finish position where the club has released naturally towards your target, with your weight balanced.
• Mistake to avoid: Decelerating through the impact zone or stopping your swing abruptly. This kills momentum and leads to poor distance control and accuracy.

7. Vary Your Swing Length. Adjust the length of your backswing and follow-through to control distance.

• Action: Practice different swing lengths for different distances.
• What to look for: A shorter backswing and follow-through for shorter chips (e.g., 10 yards) and a slightly longer motion for further chips (e.g., 30 yards). The key is to keep the tempo consistent.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to “help” the ball up into the air or making drastic, uncontrolled changes in your swing speed for different distances.

8. Practice Different Shot Types. Don’t just hit the same chip over and over.

• Action: Experiment with different ball positions, clubface angles, and swing lengths.
• What to look for: Practicing low runners (bump-and-runs) with less loft and higher, softer landing chips with more loft. Try using your 8-iron or 9-iron for lower trajectory shots.
• Mistake to avoid: Only practicing one type of chip. This won’t prepare you for the variety of shots you’ll face on the course.

How to Practice Chipping in Your Backyard Effectively

Mastering your short game is often the fastest way to lower your scores, and practicing chipping in your backyard is incredibly effective. It’s all about building muscle memory through repetition. You can simulate a surprising range of shots, from delicate little bump-and-runs that roll out like a putt, to slightly higher chips that stop near the hole. The beauty of backyard practice is that you can do it anytime, and it’s a low-pressure environment to experiment.

Think about the different lies you encounter on the course. You’ll have fluffy lies, tight lies, and even lies where the ball is slightly above or below your feet. While your backyard might not perfectly replicate every scenario, you can create variations. For instance, practicing from a slightly longer patch of grass can mimic a fringe lie, while a bare spot can simulate a tight lie.

The key is to focus on consistent contact and developing a feel for how the ball will react. Don’t just bash balls aimlessly. Set goals for each practice session. Maybe today is about hitting 10 chips within a 5-foot circle from 20 yards, or perhaps it’s about feeling the difference between a 10-yard chip and a 30-yard chip with the same club. This kind of focused practice will pay dividends on the course.

Common Mistakes in Backyard Chipping Practice

• Gripping Too Tightly — Restricts wrist hinge and causes a stiff, disconnected swing, leading to inconsistent contact. — Loosen your grip pressure significantly. Focus on a relaxed, yet firm, hold that allows your wrists to work freely.
• Scooping the Ball — Trying to help the ball into the air by hitting up on it, which often results in thin shots that skid across the green or even miss entirely. — Focus on hitting down and through the ball, allowing the loft of the club to do the work. Imagine brushing the grass after impact.
• Excessive Wrist Hinge — While some wrist hinge is natural, overdoing it can lead to a loss of control, inconsistent contact, and difficulty with distance judgment. — Keep your wrists firm and use more of a pendulum motion with your arms and shoulders for shorter chips. For longer chips, allow a bit more natural hinge, but maintain control.
• Ignoring the Landing Spot — Simply aiming at the flag without considering where the ball needs to land first to get it close. — Visualize the ball’s trajectory and the amount of roll it will take. Pick an intermediate landing spot a few feet in front of the hole.
• Only Practicing One Shot — Sticking to the same distance and club for every chip, which doesn’t prepare you for real course situations. — Vary your targets, distances, and even club selection (try your 9-iron or even an 8-iron for a lower bump-and-run).
• Lack of Follow-Through — Stopping your swing abruptly after impact, which kills momentum and leads to poor distance control and inconsistent contact. — Ensure you have a smooth, balanced follow-through that mirrors your backswing. Let the club release naturally.
• Practicing on Unsuitable Ground — Trying to chip from a bumpy, uneven, or rocky surface that doesn’t allow for a clean strike. — Choose a relatively smooth, level area. If your yard isn’t perfect, use artificial mats or focus on practicing with softer foam balls.

FAQ

• What is the best club for chipping in the backyard?

For most backyard chipping, your sand wedge or pitching wedge are excellent choices. They offer the right amount of loft to get the ball up and over short fringe obstacles and onto the green, while still allowing for a controlled roll. Some golfers also find success with their 9-iron or even 8-iron for lower, running chips.

• How far should I be hitting chips in my backyard?

The focus in backyard chipping practice should be on accuracy and feel, not raw distance. You should aim to be able to consistently land chips within a 5-10 foot radius of your target from distances of 10, 20, and 30 yards. The goal is to get the ball close to the hole, not necessarily to hit it far.

• What are good targets for backyard chipping practice?

Anything visible and that provides a clear objective works well. Common choices include plastic buckets, towels laid flat, hula hoops, old laundry baskets, or even just distinct patches of grass or small cones. The key is to have something to aim for that gives you a clear sense of success when you hit it.

• How much space do I really need to practice chipping in my backyard?

You don’t need a massive amount of space. A relatively clear area of about 15-20 yards in length is usually sufficient for setting up targets at varying distances and allowing for a comfortable swing. Even a smaller space can work if you’re creative with your target placement and focus on shorter chips.

• Can I use foam golf balls for backyard chipping practice?

Absolutely! Foam or plastic golf balls are fantastic for backyard practice. They are much safer, quieter, and travel significantly shorter distances than regular golf balls, making them ideal for smaller yards and reducing the risk of damage or disturbance. They allow for plenty of repetitions without worry.

• How often should I practice chipping in my backyard?

Consistency is key. Even 15-20 minutes of focused chipping practice a few times a week can make a noticeable difference in your game. Try to incorporate it into your routine, perhaps after work or on a weekend morning, rather than waiting for long, infrequent sessions.

• What’s the difference between chipping and pitching?

Chipping is typically a shorter shot played from just off the green, where the ball spends most of its time rolling towards the hole. It involves a shorter swing and less loft. Pitching is usually a longer shot, played from further away from the green, where the ball flies higher and stops more quickly. It involves a longer swing and more loft. Backyard practice can incorporate both by varying your club selection and swing length.