Top Training Aids for Chipping That Actually Work
Tour Striker Impact Bag
The Tour Striker Impact Bag is one of the most trusted short game tools for teaching clean contact and proper shaft lean at impact. It’s a simple yet powerful aid that gives instant feedback when your hands are flipping or your body is out of sync. When used correctly, it helps reinforce the feeling of compressing the ball and striking it with forward shaft lean — essential for crisp chips and pitches.
This aid doesn’t require a ball — just a focused strike into the padded bag — making it ideal for indoor or backyard use when weather or space is limited.
How to Use the Impact Bag for Chipping:
- Set up with your wedge as if you’re addressing a ball, with the impact bag placed just ahead of where the ball would be.
- Make short chip-style swings and focus on hitting the bag with your hands ahead of the clubhead.
- Keep your lead wrist flat and your body quiet — this promotes solid, repeatable contact.
- Use a mirror or video to check that your shaft is leaning forward and not breaking down through impact.
Why It Works:
- Reinforces proper hand position and body control
- Helps eliminate scooping or flipping at the bottom of your swing
- Builds confidence in your ability to create forward shaft lean
- Great for slow, focused practice reps off the course
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Tour Striker Smart Ball
The Tour Striker Smart Ball is a versatile training aid designed to enhance the connection between your arms and body during the golf swing. By promoting synchronized movement, it helps eliminate common faults like the “chicken wing” and encourages a more efficient swing path. This inflatable ball, positioned between the forearms, provides immediate feedback, ensuring that your arms stay connected throughout the swing.
How to Use the Smart Ball for Chipping:
- Inflate and Position: Slightly inflate the Smart Ball and place it between your forearms.
- Maintain Connection: Focus on keeping the ball in place during your chipping motion, which promotes a connected and compact swing.
- Practice Short Swings: Start with short chip shots to get accustomed to the feeling of connected arms.
- Progress to Longer Swings: As you become more comfortable, incorporate longer pitch shots while maintaining the ball’s position.
Why It Works:
- Enhances Arm-Body Synchronization: Encourages the arms and body to work together, leading to more consistent contact.
- Eliminates Common Faults: Helps prevent issues like the “chicken wing” by promoting proper arm positioning.
- Versatile Training: Suitable for various shots, from chips to full swings, making it a comprehensive training tool.
Incorporating the Tour Striker Smart Ball into your practice routine can lead to improved consistency and better ball striking in your short game.
Target Chipping Net with Multiple Rings
A chipping net with multiple target rings is an excellent tool for golfers aiming to enhance their short game accuracy. These nets provide immediate feedback on your chipping precision, making practice sessions more engaging and productive.
How to Use a Target Chipping Net:
- Set Up the Net: Place the net at a comfortable distance in your backyard or indoor practice area.
- Choose Your Target: Aim for the different rings to practice various shot distances and trajectories.
- Practice Regularly: Incorporate the net into your routine to build muscle memory and improve consistency.
Why It Works:
- Immediate Feedback: The multiple rings allow you to assess the accuracy of each shot instantly.
- Versatility: Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, making it convenient for year-round practice.
- Engaging Practice: The target rings add a fun, game-like element to practice sessions, keeping you motivated.
One notable option is the Me and My Golf Target Chipping Net, which features a 20″ pop-up design and includes exclusive lesson videos to enhance your practice.
Another excellent choice is the Go Sports Golf Pop-Up Chip Net, which offers a larger 3′ diameter net with five target holes, providing a more comprehensive practice experience. Its durable construction and easy setup make it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
EyeLine Golf Putting Alignment Mirror
The EyeLine Golf Putting Alignment Mirror is a compact and portable training aid designed to help golfers improve their putting setup and alignment. By providing visual feedback on eye position, shoulder alignment, and putter face orientation, this mirror assists in developing a consistent and accurate putting stroke.
How to Use the EyeLine Putting Alignment Mirror:
- Position the Mirror: Place the mirror on the ground, aligning it with your intended putting line.
- Check Eye Position: Ensure your eyes are directly over or slightly inside the ball, as reflected in the mirror.
- Align Shoulders and Putter Face: Use the mirror’s guidelines to square your shoulders and the putter face to the target line.
- Practice Stroke: Make practice strokes while observing your alignment and stroke path in the mirror to reinforce proper mechanics.
Why It Works:
- Immediate Visual Feedback: The mirror allows you to see and correct alignment errors in real-time.
- Enhances Consistency: Regular use promotes a repeatable setup and stroke, leading to improved putting performance.
- Portable Design: Its compact size makes it easy to carry in your golf bag for use during practice sessions or pre-round warm-ups.
Incorporating the EyeLine Golf Putting Alignment Mirror into your practice routine can lead to more consistent and confident putting on the greens.
Alignment Sticks for Chipping Drills
Alignment sticks are among the most versatile and cost-effective tools in golf training. They are invaluable for improving chipping technique, providing visual cues and physical feedback to enhance consistency and precision.
How to Use Alignment Sticks for Chipping:
- Train Tracks Drill: Place two sticks on the ground—one pointing at your target and the other parallel to it along your foot line. This setup helps ensure proper alignment of your feet, hips, and shoulders.
- Impact Feedback Drill: Insert an alignment stick into the end of your club grip so that it extends up your lead side. During chipping practice, if you flip your wrists, the stick will make contact with your body, providing immediate feedback to promote a proper forward shaft lean.
- Ball Position Guide: Lay a stick perpendicular to your target line to monitor and adjust ball position in your stance, aiding in consistent contact.
Why It Works:
- Visual Alignment: Provides clear visual references for body and club alignment.
- Immediate Feedback: Helps identify and correct common faults such as wrist flipping or improper swing paths.
- Versatility: Can be used for various drills to improve different aspects of chipping.
For a quality set of alignment sticks, consider the SuperStroke Golf Alignment Sticks, which are durable and come with a handy carrying case.
WhyGolf Chip Stick
The WhyGolf Chip Stick is a straightforward yet highly effective training aid designed to eliminate wrist flipping during chip shots. By attaching the Chip Stick to the end of your club, it provides immediate feedback if your wrists break down, helping you maintain proper form and achieve cleaner contact.
How to Use the Chip Stick:
- Attach the Device: Secure the Chip Stick to the butt end of your wedge or short iron.
- Practice Chipping: Perform your chipping motion as usual. If you flip your wrists, the stick will make contact with your body, indicating improper technique.
- Focus on Form: Aim to keep your wrists firm and lead with your hands to prevent the stick from hitting your side.
Why It Works:
- Immediate Feedback: The physical cue helps you instantly recognize and correct wrist flipping.
- Promotes Proper Technique: Encourages leading with the hands and maintaining a firm wrist position through impact.
- Simple and Portable: Easy to attach and use, making it a convenient addition to your practice routine.
Incorporating the Chip Stick into your chipping practice can lead to more consistent and accurate shots around the green.
Final Thoughts: Make Your Chipping Practice Count
Training aids can be a game-changer — but only if they deliver real feedback and help you build repeatable habits. The chipping aids listed above aren’t gimmicks. They’re practical tools used by serious players and coaches to improve contact, consistency, trajectory control, and feel around the green.
Whether you struggle with flipping your wrists, inconsistent setup, or dialing in landing zones, there’s an aid in this list that can directly target your weakness. Even better, most of these tools can be used in your backyard or indoors, making them perfect for year-round improvement.
But remember: a training aid won’t fix your chipping unless you use it with intention. Pair it with structured drills, honest feedback, and regular reps, and you’ll start to see your short game sharpen faster than ever.
Invest in your practice — your scorecard will thank you.
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- How to Score in the 60’s Golf Training Plan
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Thanks for reading today’s article!
Nick Foy – Golf Instructor
