Landing Zones
Why this drill
Soft-ball chipping across a room builds the exact skill greenside golf demands — landing the ball on a chosen spot at a chosen height — in the one arena where nobody can skull one over the green. Touch is trainable at home; this is how.
Setup
Foam or plastic practice balls, a wedge, carpet or a chipping mat. Three landing targets across the room at staggered distances — a towel, a cushion, a shoe box on its side — with a clear wall or curtain beyond as the backstop.
The drill
Twelve chips, calling the target before every ball and never playing the same target twice in a row. One point when the ball lands first-bounce on the called target. The staggered distances force a different length of stroke every time — that variety, not volume, is what builds touch. Nine of twelve moves the targets farther apart. Finish with three "must-make" calls at the smallest target; those three are the day's real score.
One thought to take with you
Brush the carpet where the ball sits — the stroke's length throws the ball, the loft does the lifting.