The short game is where scores are made or broken. While a booming drive might look impressive, it's the ability to get up and down from around the green that separates low handicappers from high handicappers. Statistics show that nearly 65% of all strokes occur within 100 yards of the hole—mastering this area of your game will have the biggest impact on your scores.
Understanding the Short Game
The short game encompasses all shots played from approximately 100 yards and in, including:
- Putting: Shots played on the green with the putter
- Chipping: Low-running shots from just off the green
- Pitching: Higher, softer shots that land and stop quickly
- Bunker Shots: Sand play from greenside bunkers
Let's dive into specific drills that will transform each area of your short game.
Putting Drills
Putting is often called "the game within a game." Even the best ball strikers will struggle to score if they can't convert their opportunities on the green.
Purpose: Improve putting accuracy and start line
Setup: Place two tees slightly wider than your putter head about 6 inches in front of your ball, creating a "gate."
Execution: Practice stroking putts through the gate without touching either tee. Start with 3-foot putts and gradually move back.
Goal: Make 10 consecutive putts through the gate from each distance before moving back.
Purpose: Build confidence from short range and learn to handle pressure
Setup: Place 4-8 balls in a circle around the hole, each about 3 feet away (like numbers on a clock).
Execution: Work your way around the clock, making each putt. If you miss, start over from the beginning.
Goal: Complete the entire clock without missing. Increase difficulty by moving to 4 feet, then 5 feet.
Purpose: Develop feel for distance on longer putts
Setup: Place targets (tees or markers) at 10, 20, 30, and 40 feet from your starting position.
Execution: Putt one ball to each target, trying to stop as close as possible without hitting the marker. Work up the ladder, then back down.
Goal: Stop each ball within 3 feet of its target consistently.
Speed control is more important than line on most putts. A putt with perfect line but wrong speed will miss. A putt with imperfect line but proper speed can still find the hole.
Chipping Drills
A good chip shot minimizes air time and maximizes ground time, using the contours of the green to get the ball close to the hole.
Purpose: Develop consistent contact and landing spot awareness
Setup: Place a towel or hula hoop on the green about 3-4 feet onto the putting surface.
Execution: From various positions around the green, chip balls trying to land them on the towel. Let the ball release naturally to the hole.
Goal: Land 7 out of 10 balls on the target. Move the target as you work different positions.
Purpose: Develop creativity and feel with a single club
Setup: Take only your pitching wedge (or preferred chipping club) to the practice green.
Execution: From various lies and distances, figure out how to get the ball close using only this one club. Adjust ball position, face angle, and swing length to create different shots.
Goal: Get 5 consecutive chips to finish within 6 feet of the hole from different locations.
Purpose: Simulate on-course pressure and scoring situations
Setup: Pick 9 different chip shots around the practice green. Each location is a "hole" where par is 2 (chip + putt).
Execution: Play all 9 holes, keeping score. Chip and putt out from each position.
Goal: Shoot even par (18) or better. Track your scores over time to measure improvement.
Pitching Drills
Pitching requires more air time than chipping and is used when you need to carry the ball over a bunker or rough, or when you need the ball to stop quickly on the green.
Purpose: Establish consistent yardages with each wedge
Setup: Set up targets at 30, 50, 75, and 100 yards.
Execution: Hit shots to each target with your sand wedge, gap wedge, and pitching wedge. Note which club and swing length produces each distance consistently.
Goal: Create a personal "yardage chart" that you can rely on during rounds.
Purpose: Learn to control ball flight for different situations
Setup: Use alignment sticks or pool noodles to create "windows" at different heights.
Execution: Practice hitting pitch shots through different windows—low (under the bottom stick), medium (through the middle), and high (over the top stick).
Goal: Be able to produce each trajectory on command with consistent landing distances.
"There is no similarity between golf and putting; they are two different games, one played in the air and one on the ground." — Ben Hogan
Creating Your Practice Routine
Effective short game practice requires structure. Here's a sample 45-minute practice session:
- Warm-up (5 minutes): Roll some long lag putts to get a feel for speed
- Putting (15 minutes): Gate drill (5 min), Clock drill (5 min), Ladder drill (5 min)
- Chipping (15 minutes): Landing zone drill (7 min), One-club challenge (8 min)
- Competition (10 minutes): Par-18 game or similar scoring challenge
Practice Tips
- Quality over quantity: 30 focused minutes beats 2 hours of mindless repetition
- Create pressure: Always end with a competitive game or challenge
- Practice from bad lies: Include tight lies, uphill/downhill, and rough
- Track your stats: Keep records of your drill results to monitor improvement
Common Short Game Mistakes
Chipping Errors
- Trying to lift the ball: Trust the loft of the club; hit down and through
- Decelerating: Keep the stroke accelerating through impact
- Wrong club selection: When in doubt, use less loft and let the ball run
Putting Errors
- Focusing on outcome: Process over results—commit to your line and speed
- Rushing: Take time to read the green properly
- Grip pressure changes: Maintain consistent, light pressure throughout
Conclusion
A great short game can compensate for imperfect ball striking, turning bogeys into pars and pars into birdies. The drills in this article provide a roadmap for improvement, but remember that consistency comes from regular, focused practice.
Challenge yourself to spend at least 50% of your practice time on shots from 100 yards and in. Your scores will thank you. Start with the drills that address your weakest areas, and gradually work through all of them to build a complete short game arsenal.
