David’s Golf Drills · short game
20-Yard Chipping
Build a 20-yard chip you can judge before you hit it. This practice session helps you separate the distance the ball flies from the distance it rolls, while tracking whether your stock shot keeps missing in the same direction.
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Wedge or suitable club; safe 20-yard target; launch monitor optional
20–40 balls, or a shorter focused block
Carry versus rollout on a longer chip
Why this 20-yard chip matters
The longer chip is often uncomfortable because a golfer tries to stretch a tiny greenside motion without deciding where the ball should land. The result can be a hurried jab, too much loft, or a ball that lands well but rolls much farther than expected. A fixed 20-yard task makes that uncertainty visible.
The app uses a 20-yard target for this drill, but the most useful outdoor lesson is the relationship between flight and rollout. A ball that carries 20 yards and then releases is not the same shot as a ball that finishes 20 yards away. Decide which you are practicing, mark the relevant area, and keep the result labels consistent.
This is a useful bridge from the 10-yard chip to a longer pitch. You are asking for a little more energy while keeping the movement coordinated. Once you have a reliable baseline, comparing a lower-lofted option with a more lofted wedge can teach you which trajectory fits a particular amount of green.
Set a target you can score honestly
The app keeps the target fixed at 20 yards throughout this drill. For carry practice, mark a landing area at that distance. For finishing practice, agree on an on-target area and judge the ball after it stops. Outdoors, allow for rollout rather than assuming carry and total distance are identical.
The result pad records where the shot finished, while the optional carry field records flight distance. Keep those meanings consistent throughout the session. Choose a target area that matches your skill and available space; the app does not require a universally tiny circle. Use an appropriate practice area or a simulator with enough safe space for the shot.
How to hit the shot
Start with the wedge and lie you used for the shorter chip, then make a slightly longer comfortable motion. Let the club move through the strike instead of abruptly stopping at the ball. Watch the first bounce, then the release; those two observations tell you whether the flight or the rollout needs attention.
If you want to compare clubs, use separate blocks and add a session note identifying the club. Do not alternate clubs randomly and then interpret the combined short-and-long pattern as a single stock shot. A lower flight may be useful when there is plenty of green, while a different lie or obstacle may call for another option.
How to use 20-Yard Chipping in the app
- Open the dedicated drill
Use the button on this page to open 20-Yard Chipping. On the introduction screen, review the target and tap Start session. A returning unfinished session may offer Resume session or Start over.
- Choose whether to record carry
In Advanced settings, leave Record carry distance on if you have measured numbers, or turn it off if you do not. Carry is optional on each shot, even when recording is enabled.
- Hit one ball to the fixed target
Play the 20-yard shot using your chosen club and routine. The distance stays the same after each result; this is deliberate repetition rather than a random target drill.
- Record carry, then the observed result
If you have a carry measurement, set it on the slider before tapping the result. Use Made for on target, or select Short, Long, Left, Right, or a corner. Made does not mean the ball went into the hole.
- Continue, then finish and review
Record every ball until you choose Finish. Add notes about the club, lie, target rule, and one cue you used. Undo corrects an accidental entry. Review the distribution of results rather than judging the session by one excellent ball.
| Long left | Long | Long right |
| Left | Made | Right |
| Short left | Short | Short right |
This is an instructional diagram, not an app screenshot. In chipping and pitching, Made means on target; in Random Green it means on the green; in Aim putting it means made.
A real logging example
A measured carry of 20 yards with a final finish beyond your scoring area can legitimately be logged as carry 20 and Long. On a simulator, use the displayed green result for the directional pad and its carry measurement for the slider.
In a supported browser, Hands-free lets you speak a result such as “short left” or “made 20.” Allow microphone access only if you want voice entry. You can say “undo” to correct the previous result. If voice entry is unavailable or noisy, use the same on-screen controls. A carry number alone cannot determine whether the ball missed left or right.
What to change when the pattern is poor
Treating a longer chip as a scoop often changes the loft and strike. Equally misleading is assuming a 20-yard carry guarantees a 20-yard total distance. Practice the ball’s release as deliberately as its flight.
Use a few sessions to identify the repeated tendency. Consistently short shots, consistently long shots, and a wide mix of both deserve different experiments. Start with one change and score another small block. The app tracks outcomes; it does not replace an assessment of the swing or automatically identify a technical fault.
Frequently asked questions
Is 20 yards a chip or a pitch?
Golfers use those terms differently. The app calls this 20-Yard Chipping. Use a controlled shot suited to the lie and target; the point is a repeatable distance and outcome, not forcing a particular label onto your technique.
Do I need a launch monitor?
No. The directional pad works with a visible target. A launch monitor adds measured carry; do not invent a number when you cannot measure it.
How many balls should I hit?
The app has no fixed session length. A focused 20–40-ball session is an option, but a smaller honest block is useful too. Stop when attention or strike quality fades.