Golf chipping net drills work best when the net is not just a ball catcher. The real value is “slam dunk” practice: landing the ball directly into a target pocket so you learn carry distance, trajectory, and contact control inside 30 yards.
Most golfers miss shots around the green because they never practice landing spots. They hit chips toward a hole and hope the rollout works. A chipping net forces a cleaner question: can you land the ball on the exact target you picked?
This guide gives you five chipping net drills for home practice, plus a DIY golf chipping net section for golfers who want to use hula hoops, old tires, laundry baskets, or target rings before buying a real net.
If you still need the gear first, read our best golf chipping net guide. If you want the full backyard setup with a mat and net together, see golf chipping mat and net. This page is about what to do after you have a target.
Quick Verdict: Best Chipping Net Drills for Home
Best overall drill: The Leapfrog Pocket Drill because it trains low, medium, and high trajectories without letting you repeat the same easy chip.
Best distance-control drill: The Slam Dunk Ladder because it teaches you to land the ball directly into the target from different distances.
Best beginner drill: The 10-Ball Landing Score because it creates simple pressure without making the target impossible.
Best indoor drill: The Foam Ball Contact Drill because it lets you work on clean strike and carry feel without using real balls inside.
Best DIY drill: The Hula Hoop Landing Zone because it gives you a cheap target before you buy a net.
Best warning: Use foam or plastic balls indoors. Real golf balls and small rooms are a bad combination, even with a chipping net.
Best Tools for Golf Chipping Net Drills
A chipping drill article should not overload the reader with products, but the right tools make the drills safer and easier to repeat. These product choices each serve a different purpose, so the Amazon buttons do not repeat the same product or buyer intent.
| Product | Best For | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| GoSports Chipster Chipping Net | Game-style chipping drills | Multiple net targets make scoring drills more fun. |
| Callaway Chip Shot Chipping Net | Compact pop-up practice | Good for quick short-game sessions and easy storage. |
| JEF 3-Basket Chipping Net | Leapfrog pocket drills | Three baskets make low, middle, and high target practice simple. |
| RELILAC Chipping Net Set | Starter bundle | Includes targets, mat, and foam balls for a ready practice setup. |
| GoSports Lag Circle | DIY landing zone drills | Creates chipping and putting circles without needing a net. |
| GoSports Foam Practice Balls | Indoor practice | Safer for garages, basements, offices, and tight spaces. |
GoSports Chipster Chipping Net
Best for: Golfers who want chipping net drills to feel like a backyard game instead of a boring practice session.
The GoSports Chipster is a strong fit for this article because it works naturally with scoring games. Instead of hitting every ball into one target, you can create low, medium, and long challenges, play against family members, or use the targets as stations in a short-game circuit.
This is the best choice for golfers who struggle to stay engaged during practice. A drill only works if you repeat it. A game-style net makes repetition easier because every shot has a score.
Buy it if: You want chipping drills that feel competitive, social, and easy to score.
Avoid it if: You want one larger technical net with a more traditional multi-pocket practice layout.
Callaway Chip Shot Chipping Net
Best for: Golfers who want a compact pop-up chipping net for quick practice sessions.
The Callaway Chip Shot-style net is a good match for quick home practice because it is simple, compact, and easy to bring out when you only have 10 to 15 minutes. That matters for busy golfers who will not build a full backyard station every day.
This type of net works well for the 10-Ball Landing Score and Pressure Finish drills because the setup is fast. The easier it is to start, the more likely you are to practice consistently.
Buy it if: You want a recognizable compact chipping net for fast short-game practice.
Avoid it if: You need a larger target area for beginners or family games.
JEF 3-Basket Golf Chipping Net
Best for: Golfers who want a simple three-target setup for the Leapfrog Pocket Drill.
A three-basket chipping net is ideal for the Leapfrog drill because the targets naturally create low, middle, and high landing windows. That makes it easier to practice multiple trajectories without overthinking the setup.
This type of net is useful for golfers who want structure but do not want a complicated backyard station. Choose one club, aim at each basket in order, and score the round.
Buy it if: You want the cleanest target layout for bottom, middle, and top pocket drills.
Avoid it if: You want a family game set with separate targets spread across the yard.
RELILAC Chipping Net Set with Mat and Foam Balls
Best for: Beginners who want a starter setup instead of buying a net, mat, and practice balls separately.
The RELILAC-style chipping net set is useful because it solves the “I do not know what else I need” problem. A beginner-friendly set with targets, a small mat, and foam balls can be enough to start practicing at home safely.
This is not the most premium long-term station, but it is practical for golfers who want to start drills quickly. It also fits the DIY crowd who may be ready to move from laundry baskets and hula hoops into a real chipping setup.
Buy it if: You want a ready starter bundle for home chipping practice.
Avoid it if: You already own a high-quality mat and only need a premium net upgrade.
GoSports Lag Circle Putting and Chipping Targets
Best for: Golfers who want a DIY-style landing-zone drill without using a full net.
The GoSports Lag Circle is not a chipping net, but it belongs in this drill article because it solves the DIY landing-zone problem. If you want to practice landing the ball in a circle instead of catching it in a net, this is a cleaner option than a random towel or hula hoop.
This is especially useful when you want to train rollout after landing. Nets are great for carry control. Circles are better when you want to see how the ball lands, bounces, and releases.
Buy it if: You want a reusable target-circle system for chipping and putting distance control.
Avoid it if: You need ball containment because your practice area is tight or unsafe.
GoSports Foam Golf Practice Balls
Best for: Indoor chipping net drills, garage practice, and tight backyard spaces.
Foam balls are the safest add-on for indoor chipping net drills. They do not fully copy real golf ball spin or flight, but they let you work on contact, landing direction, and carry feel without turning a mishit into a broken window or dented wall.
Use foam balls for the Foam Ball Contact Drill, short indoor scoring games, and any practice space where real golf balls would be risky. Then transfer the same drill outdoors with real balls when the space is safe.
Buy it if: You practice chipping indoors, in a garage, or in a tight backyard.
Avoid it if: You only practice outdoors in a safe open space and need realistic wedge flight every session.
5 Golf Chipping Net Drills Compared
| Drill | Best For | Main Skill | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leapfrog Pocket Drill | Trajectory control | Low, middle, and high target control | Medium |
| Slam Dunk Ladder | Carry distance | Landing the ball directly into the net | Medium |
| 10-Ball Landing Score | Beginner consistency | Simple scoring and repetition | Easy |
| One-Club, Three-Trajectory Drill | Shot variety | Changing launch with the same club | Medium |
| Pressure Finish Drill | Course transfer | Making one good chip under pressure | Hard |
| DIY Hula Hoop Target Drill | Budget practice | Landing-zone awareness without a net | Easy |
How TopGolfe Evaluates Chipping Net Drills
When we evaluate chipping net drills, we care about whether the drill improves a real short-game skill. A good drill should train carry distance, strike quality, trajectory, landing-zone discipline, or pressure control.
A weak drill is just hitting random chips into a net until the bucket is empty. That may feel productive, but it does not tell you whether your contact, carry distance, or target control is improving.
A strong drill has a target, a score, a distance, a club choice, and a rule for moving forward. That is why these drills use pockets, ladders, scoring systems, and pressure finishes instead of random repetition.
If you want a bigger practice-area build after these drills, use backyard golf chipping station. If you prefer landing targets instead of nets, compare best chipping targets for backyard practice.
Drill 1: The Leapfrog Pocket Drill
Best for: Learning low, medium, and high chip trajectories with one chipping net.
The Leapfrog Pocket Drill is the best overall chipping net drill because it stops you from repeating the same comfortable shot. You must land one ball in the bottom target, one in the middle target, and one in the top target without missing.
Start close enough that the drill is possible. For most golfers, 6 to 10 feet from the net is a good starting range. If your net has three target pockets, use them in order: bottom, middle, top.
- Place the net 6 to 10 feet away.
- Use one wedge or short iron first.
- Hit the first ball into the bottom pocket.
- Hit the second ball into the middle pocket.
- Hit the third ball into the top pocket.
- If you miss, restart from the bottom pocket.
- Complete three clean rounds before moving back.
This drill teaches shot height. The lower pocket encourages bump-and-run feel. The middle pocket trains a standard chip. The upper pocket teaches a softer shot that needs more loft and touch.
Make it harder: Move the net farther away, change clubs, or require two successful rounds in a row.
Make it easier: Use foam balls, move closer, or allow one miss before restarting.
Common mistake: Trying to hit the top pocket by flipping the wrists. Keep the motion controlled and change trajectory with setup, clubface, and swing length instead of a last-second scoop.
Drill 2: The Slam Dunk Ladder
Best for: Carry distance control inside 30 yards.
The Slam Dunk Ladder is the drill that makes a chipping net different from a normal landing towel. The goal is to land the ball directly into the net target, not just near it.
This is valuable because many golfers practice rollout without first controlling carry. On the course, you often need to carry the ball over fringe, rough, a sprinkler head, a wet patch, or a false front. A chipping net teaches you to control where the ball lands.
- Place the net 6 feet away.
- Hit five balls and count how many land in the target.
- Move back to 9 feet.
- Hit five more balls.
- Move back to 12 feet, then 15 feet.
- Record your best score out of 20.
The goal is not to swing harder each time. The goal is to change the length and rhythm of the motion while keeping the same clean strike.
Scoring: Give yourself 2 points for a ball that lands in the target pocket, 1 point for a ball that hits the net face, and 0 points for a miss.
Make it harder: Use a smaller pocket or require the ball to land in the same target twice in a row before moving back.
Common mistake: Moving back too quickly. Stay close until you can score consistently. Distance control improves faster when the target is challenging but not impossible.
Drill 3: The 10-Ball Landing Score
Best for: Beginners who need simple feedback and confidence.
The 10-Ball Landing Score is the easiest drill to start with. Place the net at a comfortable distance and hit 10 balls toward one target. The point is to create a score you can beat later.
Do not switch targets after every miss. Stay with one landing window long enough to learn what the shot feels like. Beginners improve faster when the task is simple and repeatable.
- Place the net 6 to 8 feet away.
- Pick the easiest target pocket.
- Hit 10 balls with the same club.
- Score 1 point for each ball that lands in the target.
- Repeat with the same club until you beat your score.
- Only then change distance or target pocket.
This drill is useful because it creates measurable improvement. Instead of saying “I practiced chipping,” you can say “I made 4 out of 10 yesterday and 7 out of 10 today.”
Make it harder: Move the net back 2 feet or switch to a smaller target pocket.
Make it easier: Use a larger target or allow any ball that hits the net to count as a half point.
Common mistake: Rushing the next ball after a miss. Step back, reset, and use a normal pre-shot routine.
Drill 4: One Club, Three Trajectories
Best for: Learning shot variety without changing clubs.
Many golfers think they need three different wedges to hit three different chip shots. Sometimes they do. But this drill teaches you how much variety you can create with one club by changing setup, ball position, face angle, and swing length.
Use one wedge or short iron. Your goal is to hit a low chip, a standard chip, and a higher soft chip into different net targets.
- Choose one club.
- Hit three low chips into the bottom pocket.
- Hit three standard chips into the middle pocket.
- Hit three higher chips into the top pocket.
- Finish with one random target chosen before the shot.
This drill helps because golf rarely gives you the same chip twice. Sometimes you need a runner. Sometimes you need a soft landing. Sometimes you need a simple middle-height shot that carries a few yards and releases.
Make it harder: Call the target out loud before each shot and do not change your mind after setup.
Make it easier: Use only the bottom and middle targets until your contact improves.
Common mistake: Trying to help the ball into the air. Let loft, setup, and clean contact do the work.
Drill 5: The Pressure Finish Drill
Best for: Turning practice into course pressure.
The Pressure Finish Drill is simple: you cannot end practice until you hit the required target. This creates a small amount of pressure, which is what most backyard practice is missing.
Use this at the end of a session, not the beginning. Warm up first, do the easier drills, then finish with one target that matters.
- Pick one target pocket.
- Choose one club.
- Give yourself three balls.
- You must land one ball in the target before practice ends.
- If you miss all three, reset and start another three-ball round.
This drill teaches commitment. On the course, you do not get 20 tries to find the feel. You get one shot. A pressure finish makes home practice feel more like real golf.
Make it harder: Require the first ball to hit the target or move the net farther away.
Make it easier: Allow any ball that hits the net face to count.
Common mistake: Turning pressure into tension. Keep the grip light and the finish balanced.
Bonus Indoor Drill: Foam Ball Contact Control
Best for: Golfers who want indoor reps without using real golf balls.
The Foam Ball Contact Control drill is simple. Place the net close, use foam practice balls, and focus on strike quality rather than power. The goal is to brush the mat, clip the ball cleanly, and send the foam ball into the same target window.
- Place the net 4 to 6 feet away.
- Use foam golf balls only.
- Hit 10 short chips into the easiest target.
- Count only clean contact shots.
- Repeat until you can make seven clean strikes out of 10.
This drill is not about perfect ball flight. Foam balls do not behave exactly like real balls. The goal is contact, direction, and routine in a safer indoor setup.
DIY Golf Chipping Net Ideas If You Are Not Ready to Buy
A DIY golf chipping net does not have to be complicated. The goal is to create a visible landing target. If you are not ready to buy a net, use a hula hoop, old tire, laundry basket, cardboard box, bucket, towel, or target ring.
The safest DIY setup depends on your space. Use foam balls indoors. Use plastic balls in tight yards. Use real balls only if you have enough open space and a safe backstop.
DIY Drill: Hula Hoop Landing Zone
Best for: Learning landing spot control without a chipping net.
- Place a hula hoop 6 to 12 feet away.
- Chip 10 balls and count how many land inside the hoop.
- Move the hoop farther away after scoring 6 out of 10.
- Use a smaller target when the drill gets too easy.
This is the simplest DIY version of chipping net practice. The hoop becomes your landing zone. Once you get comfortable, move from a large hoop to a smaller target ring or towel.
DIY Drill: Old Tire Slam Dunk
Best for: Outdoor golfers who want a durable backyard target.
An old tire can work as a backyard landing target if it is clean, stable, and placed in a safe area. The goal is to land the ball inside the tire opening. This creates a harder version of the slam-dunk drill because the target is smaller than many nets.
Use caution with hard surfaces and ricochets. Do not chip real balls into a tire near windows, cars, people, pets, or patios. Foam or plastic balls are safer if the space is tight.
DIY Drill: Laundry Basket Net
Best for: Indoor foam-ball practice or beginner backyard practice.
A laundry basket can work as a simple target for foam balls. Turn it on its side for a wider target or leave it upright for a slam-dunk landing challenge. This is not as good as a real chipping net, but it is enough to start training carry distance.
If the DIY setup gets used often, that is a sign you may benefit from a real portable net. The best upgrade path is simple: DIY target first, then chipping net, then mat and net bundle if you practice regularly.
Chipping Net vs DIY Target: Which Should You Use?
A chipping net is better when you need ball containment, target pockets, indoor practice, or a more organized home setup. A DIY target is better when you want a free or low-cost landing-zone drill and already have a safe practice area.
Use a chipping net if: You want to practice often, keep balls contained, and train multiple target pockets.
Use a DIY target if: You are testing whether home chipping practice fits your routine before buying gear.
Use both if: You want to practice slam-dunk carry control with the net and landing-zone rollout control with hoops or rings.
If your net-only setup is damaging your grass, the next step is not another net. It is a mat. Read golf chipping mat and net before building a permanent backyard station.
Indoor Chipping Net Drill Safety
Indoor chipping practice should be built around safety first. Real golf balls can damage drywall, windows, TVs, cars, floors, lamps, and furniture. A small chip can still come off thin and fast.
Use foam balls indoors. They are safer than real balls and still give useful contact feedback.
Keep the net close. Indoor chipping should train contact and carry feel, not full wedge shots.
Check ceiling height. High soft chips can hit lights, beams, fans, or garage doors.
Use a mat. Do not chip repeatedly from carpet, tile, wood flooring, or concrete.
Clear the area. Keep people, pets, and breakable items away from the hitting line and target area.
For safer practice balls, compare foam golf balls for practice, foam golf practice balls, and plastic practice golf balls.
Simple 15-Minute Chipping Net Practice Schedule
Use this short schedule when you want fast practice without wasting time. It works with a real chipping net, DIY target, or foam-ball indoor setup.
- Minutes 1–3: Warm up with easy chips into the largest target.
- Minutes 4–6: Do the 10-Ball Landing Score drill.
- Minutes 7–9: Do the Leapfrog Pocket Drill.
- Minutes 10–12: Do the Slam Dunk Ladder from two distances.
- Minutes 13–15: Finish with the Pressure Finish Drill.
This structure keeps practice short enough to repeat but focused enough to matter. The goal is not to hit hundreds of balls. The goal is to hit better targets with better attention.
Common Mistakes with Golf Chipping Net Drills
Hitting random balls with no score. A drill needs a measurable goal or it becomes ball beating.
Standing too close forever. Start close, but move back as control improves.
Using the same trajectory every time. Practice low, medium, and high chips when your net has multiple pockets.
Ignoring the hitting surface. If your mat slides or your lawn is getting damaged, practice becomes less useful.
Using real balls indoors. Foam or plastic balls are safer for indoor net drills.
Never practicing rollout. Nets train carry. Use target rings or towels later to practice how the ball releases after landing.
Changing clubs too soon. Learn one club first, then compare wedge, pitching wedge, 9-iron, and 8-iron options.
What Not to Buy for Chipping Net Practice
Do not buy a one-pocket net if you want trajectory drills. Multiple pockets are better for low, middle, and high targets.
Do not buy a flimsy net for heavy backyard use. If it twists or collapses, you will stop using it.
Do not buy a tiny target for beginners. Make practice challenging, not impossible.
Do not buy real balls for indoor drills. Use foam or plastic balls inside.
Do not buy a net and forget the mat. If you chip from the same spot often, the hitting surface matters.
Do not buy every accessory at once. Start with a net or DIY target, then add a mat, foam balls, and target rings as your practice habit grows.
Hidden Costs to Consider
Chipping mat: Needed if you want to protect grass, floors, or patios from repeated contact.
Foam balls: Important for safer indoor drills.
Plastic balls: Useful for limited-flight backyard practice.
Target rings: Helpful when you want to practice rollout and landing zones without a net.
Ball basket: Keeps practice organized and reduces bending over.
Ground stakes: Lightweight pop-up nets may need extra stability outdoors.
Storage bag: Nets, balls, hoops, stakes, and mats are easier to use when everything stays together.
Who Should Use Chipping Net Drills?
Use them if you miss greens and waste shots around the fringe. Landing control inside 30 yards can save strokes quickly.
Use them if you practice at home. A net gives you a clear target without needing a full short-game area.
Use them if you are a beginner. Simple target pockets make practice easier to understand.
Use them if you need distance control. Slam-dunk practice teaches carry distance better than random chipping.
Use them if you practice indoors. Foam-ball net drills are safer than real-ball practice in small spaces.
Use them if you like games. Scored drills are more engaging than hitting ball after ball with no target.
Who Should Skip Chipping Net Drills?
Skip them if you have no safe practice area. A net does not fix a dangerous space.
Skip real balls indoors. Use foam balls or choose another practice method.
Skip slam-dunk targets if you only need rollout practice. Use hoops, towels, or target rings for landing-and-release drills.
Skip tiny targets if you are brand new. Start with a larger target and build confidence.
Skip high shots in low ceilings. Indoor practice should stay controlled and safe.
Skip equipment upgrades if you will not practice consistently. A DIY hula hoop target may be enough until the habit is real.
Simple Recommendation
If you already own a chipping net, start with the Leapfrog Pocket Drill and the Slam Dunk Ladder. Those two drills give you the best mix of trajectory control and distance control.
If you do not own a net yet, start with a hula hoop, target ring, or laundry basket and test whether you will actually practice at home.
If you practice more than twice per week, upgrade to a proper portable chipping net and a mat. That setup protects the hitting area and gives you more structured practice.
If you practice indoors, buy foam balls before anything else. Safety matters more than realism inside the house.
If you want the most complete setup, build a small station with a multi-target net, tri-turf mat, foam balls, real balls for safe outdoor use, and target rings for rollout practice.
Final Verdict: Chipping Net Drills Work When You Score Them
Golf chipping net drills can save strokes because they train the part of short game most golfers ignore: landing the ball on a specific spot.
The net is not magic. The drill structure is what makes it useful. Use pockets, distances, scores, and pressure rules so every session gives feedback.
Start with the Leapfrog Pocket Drill, add the Slam Dunk Ladder, and finish with one pressure target. That simple structure is better than hitting 100 random chips with no plan.
If you are not ready to buy a net, use a hula hoop, tire, basket, towel, or target ring. The key is the same: pick a landing target, measure the result, and make your next session slightly harder.
FAQs About Golf Chipping Net Drills
What is the best golf chipping net drill?
The best golf chipping net drill for most golfers is the Leapfrog Pocket Drill because it trains low, middle, and high target control instead of letting you hit the same chip repeatedly.
Do chipping net drills really help?
Yes, chipping net drills can help when they train carry distance, target control, strike quality, and pressure. Randomly hitting balls into a net is less useful than scored drills with clear targets.
Can I make a DIY golf chipping net?
Yes. You can use a hula hoop, old tire, laundry basket, cardboard box, towel, or target ring as a DIY golf chipping target. Use foam or plastic balls if the space is tight.
Can I do chipping net drills indoors?
Yes, but use foam balls, a compact net, and a safe hitting mat. Avoid real golf balls indoors unless you have a proper enclosure and safe backstop.
How far should I stand from a chipping net?
Start around 6 to 10 feet away. Move farther back only after you can hit the target consistently from the closer distance.
Can a hula hoop help with chipping practice?
Yes. A hula hoop is a simple landing-zone target. It is useful for golfers who want a cheap DIY drill before buying a chipping net.
Should I use real golf balls with a chipping net?
Use real balls only outdoors in a safe area with enough room around and behind the net. Use foam or plastic balls indoors and in tight backyards.
Can chipping net drills save strokes?
They can help save strokes if you practice consistently and focus on landing control. Better carry distance inside 30 yards can leave shorter putts and reduce wasted shots around the green.
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