Chipping Drill for Consistent Shots to Improve Short Game

Many golfers struggle with fat or thin shots around the green. One round, your chips land perfectly close to the hole; the next, you either chunk the turf or blade the ball across the green.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. At Scratch Golf Academy, we’ve worked with thousands of golfers who face this same frustration.

The good news is, there’s a simple fix. In this blog, I’ll share the top chipping drill I use with students to develop consistency, control the low point of the swing, and eliminate fat and thin shots for good.

Why Fat and Thin Chips Happen

Fat and thin shots occur when your club bottoms out in the wrong place. The swing either hits the turf before the ball or makes contact too high, causing the ball to skim across the green.

This usually happens because:

• Club drifts behind the body in the backswing.
• Upper body tilts back, forcing the low point behind the ball.
• Hands work independently, leading to poor timing.

The key to fixing this is training your arms and body to move together. That’s where this drill comes in.

The Best Chipping Drill: Towel Drill

This drill is simple, effective, and only requires a towel. Here’s how to do it:

1. Setup – Place a towel under both armpits and take your stance with a wedge.
2. Backswing – Keep the towel secure by making a short, rocking motion with your upper body. Avoid excessive head movement.
3. Downswing – Rotate your torso toward the target while keeping your arms connected.
4. Impact – The club should strike the ball cleanly with your weight slightly forward.
5. Follow-Through – Finish balanced and tall, facing your target.

Want to see this drill in action? Watch the YouTube video demonstration here.

With this drill, you’ll start hitting the ball first, making cleaner contact and building a swing you can repeat.

Why This Drill Works

The towel drill works because it controls your golf swing consistency by connecting your torso and arms. Instead of flicking at the ball with your hands, your body drives the swing. This creates:

• Reliable contact
• Better distance control
• A square clubface at impact

And the best part, you can practice it anywhere: on the range, in your backyard, or even indoors.
If you’re looking for structured practice routines, check out our Scratch Golf Academy courses. These step-by-step programs go deeper into golf practice drills and short game strategies to help you score better, faster.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When practicing this drill, watch out for these errors:

• Gripping too tightly – creates tension and blocks smooth movement.
• Stopping body rotation – causes hands to flip and lose control.
• Forcing symmetry – your follow-through should be natural, not a copy of your backswing.

Drills like this are part of what makes Scratch Golf Academy one of the leading online golf academy programs for everyday golfers.

Final Thoughts: Take Your Chipping to the Next Level

The best chipping drill is not about perfection; it’s about building reliable habits. By practicing with the towel under your arms, you’ll improve your golf backswing plane drills, reduce mishits, and naturally work on keeping your left arm straight in the golf swing.

If you want more personalized coaching and proven drills to sharpen every part of your game, visit the Scratch Golf Academy to learn about our teaching approach.

Ready to take your short game to the next level? Join Scratch Golf Academy today and start building the consistency you’ve always wanted.