I wonder if the green just played comes into this consideration. The allowed putting is on the green just played and one would think that the chipping is also. I think a chip is not so much defined by its length as it is by the intent to hole it (or get close), similar to a putt. Yeah, I know you chip out from behind trouble but I believe that the rule makers had the chip from the fringe in mind when the drafted this rule. I think that hitting the balls into the net was probably not permitted under the rules. D