Today we're going to learn a fantastic chipping game invented by Rotary Swing Instructor Clay Ballard that turns boring practice into competitive preparation.
Clay found that repetitive chipping practice — hitting the same shot over and over — quickly became mind-numbing. So he designed a game that transforms practice sessions into something that mimics tournament conditions, complete with scoring, consequences for mistakes, and escalating difficulty.
All you need is a target ring tossed around the cup. In these photos, Clay is using a 6-foot chipping ring, giving him a 3-foot radius to chip into.
Similar rings are available from other sources, but many are made from thicker material that deflects the ball on contact. Ours are constructed from very thin material that allows the ball to roll over them without interference. They fold into a compact circle — keep one in your car and it's ready whenever you head to the practice green.
What Real Practice Should Look Like
The entire purpose of this game is preparing yourself for actual competitive golf.
Think about it: the whole point of practicing is to prepare for a real round or tournament. But most golfers grab an oversized bucket of balls, head to the short game area, dump them out, and chip ball after ball at the same two or three pins.
What does that actually achieve? After 10-15 shots, you're essentially on autopilot. You're not thinking about what you're doing or paying attention to individual shots.
Sometimes the green gets so covered with balls that they're bouncing off each other — so you can't even tell how well you're performing.
That's not effective practice. You need quality feedback and genuine engagement to learn and improve your short game.
How the Ring Game Works
Start by grabbing your favorite club. Clay prefers the sand wedge, so that's what he demonstrates here.
Take five balls and drop them at different spots around the green. For Level 1, you're setting up close, easy chips on level ground — nothing complicated.
Position your first five balls approximately 20-25 feet away at the most. Spread them out so no two shots are the same.
Now go around and hit all five. Your goal is to get four out of five chips into the ring. It may take five or six attempts before you accomplish this.
Play Level 1 until you've landed four out of five shots in the ring, then advance to Level 2.
Level 2: Increase the Challenge
Level 2 follows the same format, but you're farther away — approximately 40-50 feet from the pin. Choose spots with some slope or break — conditions that present a genuine challenge.
Your target is three out of five shots in the ring.
When you first start playing this game, use the same club for all three levels. This develops your ability to manipulate the club — hitting slightly higher, slightly lower, and producing different types of shots with a single club.
Spread your balls all the way around the green so every chip is a completely different situation. Maintain at least 15-20 feet between each ball. Walk the entire perimeter of the green to ensure you don't fall into autopilot — that's where learning stops.
Practice until you land three out of five Level 2 shots, then advance to Level 3.
Level 3: Tournament-Pressure Shots
As you've probably guessed, Level 3 features the most difficult shots you can create. We're talking bunker shots, chips from under trees, shots over slopes or mounds, and delicate shots that must be executed precisely to stay on the green.
You can also create trouble shots. Step on the ball to press it into the turf and simulate a bad lie, or place it on a completely bare spot.
Your target on Level 3 is two out of five shots.
Learn What Every Club Can Do
This game is exceptional preparation for actual rounds. It teaches you how to use one club in a wide variety of situations. Once you've played through with your favorite club several times, try different ones.
Eventually, start matching clubs to situations across all three levels. Maybe Level 1 calls for an 8 iron, Level 2 uses a pitching wedge or 9 iron, and Level 3 — with bunker shots and shots over obstacles — demands a sand wedge or lob wedge.
Mix it up constantly. The goal is experiencing new and different types of shots and developing deep familiarity with how each club performs across a multitude of situations. If you want to complement your short game practice with real-time feedback on your full swing mechanics, try a free AI swing analysis to see how your positions compare to the elite model.
Watch part 2 now to see how you're moving your body in the opposite direction of the pros!
6' Chipping Ring
The ball rolls right over the ring
Level 1: Get 4/5 easy, level chips in the ring from 20-25 feet away
Level 2: Get 3/5 in the ring from 40-50 feet away, with some slope or curve
Level 3: Get 2/5 highly challenging shots in the ring
