Short game drills for players who want to go lower

Why the short game?

Long shots get noticed. Short shots decide. If you already play around par, or want to, the short game is usually the fastest way to go lower.

Low-handicap players generally spend more time on their short game than others. Not because it's the most fun, but because it pays off.

Start with the basics

Grip, setup, ball position and alignment. Sounds boring, but that's where most misses start. Film yourself from the side and from behind. It'll tell you more than ten tips from your playing partners.

Six drills for a sharper short game

1. 1
   The chip target

   Set a bucket or a ring about ten meters away. Try to land the ball in or near it. Move the target farther away once it starts going well.
2. 2
   Five in a row

   Line up five balls a meter and a half from the hole. Hole all five. Miss one and you start over.
3. 3
   The ladder

   Place four markers around the green at different distances. Chip from the closest and work your way out. Every chip should finish closer than the last.
4. 4
   The gate

   Push two tees into the ground a clubhead apart, just in front of you. Chip through the gate. It trains your start line.
5. 5
   One hand

   Chip with only your lead hand on the club. It gives you a feel for the clubhead and a calmer motion.
6. 6
   The clock

   Picture the hole as the center of a clock face. Place balls at three, six, nine and twelve o'clock and chip from each spot.

From the guide

Bamboo golf tees, 70 mm

See the tees

The mental side

The short game is mostly decisions. Which shot? Which club? Where should the ball land? Practice with a clear goal in mind, like getting up-and-down from ten different lies. Count how many you make.

Get help

One lesson with a PGA pro can save you a whole season of guessing. Bring the drills you've been doing and ask for feedback on those.

Chip or pitch: what's the difference?

A chip is a low shot that rolls more than it flies. A pitch is higher, carries farther and stops faster.

The rule of thumb is simple: roll it when you can, fly it when you have to. A chip with a 9-iron or a pitching wedge is usually safer than a high lob. Fewer things can go wrong.

Pick a landing spot

Most people look at the flag when they chip. Better to look at where the ball should land. Pick a spot about a meter onto the green and let the right club do the rest.

With a less lofted club, the ball rolls farther. With a wedge, it stops sooner. Learn how your clubs behave and the choice gets easier.

Bunker shots: the basics

The bunker shot scares a lot of golfers, but it's really the only shot where you're not supposed to hit the ball.

1. 1
   Open the face

   Open the clubface slightly before you take your grip. It lets the sole glide through the sand.
2. 2
   Dig in

   Work your feet lightly into the sand. Ball slightly forward of center in your stance.
3. 3
   Hit the sand

   Aim for a spot a few centimeters behind the ball. The sand lifts the ball, not the club.
4. 4
   Swing through

   Go all the way. The most common miss is decelerating at impact.

A simple weekly plan

Two sessions a week is enough to keep your short game in shape all season.

• Session 1 (45 min): 15 minutes chipping to different landing spots, 15 minutes in the bunker, 15 minutes putting from 1–3 meters.
• Session 2 (45 min): The ladder and the clock, then an up-and-down contest against yourself from ten different lies.

Track your progress

Two numbers say a lot about your short game. The first is how often you get up-and-down when you miss the green. The second is putts per round. Write both down after every round.

When the numbers improve, the practice is working. When they stall, it's time to change drills.

"Long shots get noticed. Short shots decide."

Stripe Golf

Short game gear

The short game doesn't need much gear, but what you have should be in order.

• Evenly gapped wedges. Four to six degrees between wedges gives you even steps in distance.
• Clean grooves. Dirty grooves mean less spin and more roll.
• A damp towel. Wipe the clubface between shots. A golf towel on the bag makes it easy.
• A good glove. Grip matters on short shots, where feel is everything.

None of this replaces practice. But it lets practice do its job.

Frequently asked questions