Chuck Cook: Distance Control Chipping Game

In this article, we will be discussing a chipping drill taught by the legendary golf instructor, Chuck Cook. This drill was passed down to him by the great Harvey Penick and has been used by top players like Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw to improve their touch around the greens. The purpose of this drill is to help golfers improve their distance control and touch when chipping.

The Drill

The drill starts by hitting your first shot as close to the far edge of the green as possible without going off the green. Then, the next shot you hit, you try to get as close to that ball as you can without going past it. The goal is to keep hitting each ball closer to the preceding ball without going past it. The objective is to see how many balls you can fit on the green, with each ball getting progressively closer to the target.

Cook mentions that you can also do this drill in the opposite direction. Instead of starting with a shot to the far edge of the green, you can start with a shot as close to the front edge of the green as possible. Then, with each subsequent shot, you make the ball go progressively longer. This variation helps improve your touch and distance control in the opposite direction, allowing you to adapt to different scenarios on the course.

This drill is a wonderful way to improve your touch and distance control around the greens. By focusing on hitting each ball closer to the preceding ball without going past it, you are training yourself to have better control over the distance of your shots. This is a crucial skill in chipping, as it allows you to consistently get the ball close to the hole and avoid costly mistakes.