26 October 2026. Dutch professional Joost Luiten uses a chipping drill in which the result is not the best single shot, but the sum of the three balls' finishing distances from their respective holes. GOLF.NL described the routine as a way of introducing competition-like pressure into short-game practice.
Three targets, one combined allowance
Pick three different flags on a practice green. Play one chip to each, measuring the distance between each ball's resting position and its target hole. Add the three distances together.
In the example described by GOLF.NL, Luiten's combined target is 4.5 metres across all three chips. If the first ball stops one metre away, the remaining two chips must total no more than 3.5 metres to meet the target. Crucially, this is not a 4.5-metre radius for each ball; the sum matters.
Try it at your own level
Choose three targets with varied but manageable distances and challenges. Play the chips consecutively without replaying any miss, then measure and record the results. For example, 1.0 + 2.2 + 1.8 = 5.0 m: that exceeds a 4.5-metre allowance.
Amateurs can set a more generous starting total and tighten it only after measuring their own results over several series. Changing clubs or ball positions can add variety, but note those changes so comparisons remain meaningful. A reasonable personal target is more useful than imitating a tour professional's number without context.
What this drill does — and does not — test
In unstructured practice, a memorable good chip can hide several poor ones. A combined target makes each successive result consequential: a large miss early on leaves less room for error later. It simulates a form of pressure; it is not an official competition format or a substitute for stroke scoring.
This is primarily a distance-control and performance-consistency drill. It does not diagnose a swing fault or replace technical coaching on wedge contact, lie, bounce or landing spots. It also differs from larger multi-shot target drills because the challenge is three consecutive chips and a running total.
Method source: GOLF.NL, “Zo leer je beter chippen onder druk,” published 26 October 2026. The 1.0 + 2.2 + 1.8 numerical example and suggestions for logging results are editorial adaptations.
