If you’re leaving shots around the green and watching your score balloon, you’re not alone. The short game accounts for roughly 60% of all shots in a typical round, yet it’s where most amateurs practice the least. That’s the fastest way to sabotage your scorecard.
Here’s the good news: your short game is also the fastest area to improve. Unlike the full swing, which requires coordination, flexibility, and timing, chipping and pitching rely more on technique and feel you can develop in a few focused practice sessions. Let’s break down exactly what separates tour-level short game execution from the frustrating inconsistency most players struggle with.
Why the Short Game Is Your Fastest Path to Lower Scores
PGA Tour players hit about 65% of greens in regulation. That means even the best players in the world miss 6-7 greens per round and rely heavily on their wedge game. Strokes gained data shows that elite short game play can save 2-4 strokes per round compared to average recreational golfers.
Think about your last round. How many times did you hit a decent tee shot and approach, only to leave yourself 15 feet away after a poor chip? Or skull one across the green from the fringe? Those wasted strokes add up faster than any other part of your game.
The short game is also the most forgiving area to practice. You don’t need perfect weather, a driving range, or even much time. Twenty minutes on a practice green with purposeful drills beats an hour mindlessly hitting balls on the range.
Chipping Fundamentals: Setup and Ball Position
Proper chipping starts before you swing the club. Your setup determines contact quality more than any swing thought you’ll try to remember mid-shot.
Start with a narrow stance, feet close together, with about 70% of your weight on your front foot. Ball position should be slightly back of center, closer to your trail foot. This pre-sets the descending strike you need for clean contact.
Your hands should be ahead of the ball at address, creating forward shaft lean. This is critical - if your hands are behind or even with the ball, you’ll likely scoop and blade shots across the green. Think of maintaining that forward lean through impact, not trying to help the ball up.
Keep your setup simple and consistent. The same stance, ball position, and posture for every basic chip eliminates variables and builds reliable muscle memory.
Danny Maude demonstrates exactly why most golfers struggle with chipping and the simple adjustment that fixes it. The key insight here is understanding how your setup position directly affects strike quality. Watch how he emphasizes weight forward and hands ahead - those aren’t optional preferences, they’re requirements for consistent contact.
The Bump-and-Run vs. The Flop Shot
Not every chip shot requires the same technique. Knowing when to use a bump-and-run versus a higher flop shot can save several strokes per round.
The bump-and-run is your default short game shot. Use it whenever you have green to work with between your ball and the hole. Take a lower lofted club (7-9 iron, or even a hybrid), make a putting-style stroke, and let the ball run out to the hole. This shot has the lowest margin for error because the ball spends more time on the ground where you can predict the roll.
The flop shot is for emergencies only. When you’re short-sided with no green to work with, or need to carry a bunker, a high soft shot with your most lofted wedge becomes necessary. Open your stance, open the face, position the ball forward, and make a fuller swing. Just know this shot requires much more precision and practice.
Most amateurs try to hit flop shots when a simple bump-and-run would work better. If you have 30 feet of green between you and the hole, running the ball is almost always the smarter play.
Pitching Technique: Distance Control and Feel
Pitching covers those awkward 30-80 yard shots where you’re too close for a full swing but too far to chip. Distance control here separates good players from great ones.
The clock system gives you a reliable framework for pitching distance. Think of your arms as clock hands - a 9 o’clock backswing produces one distance, 10 o’clock produces another. Practice these specific positions until you know exactly how far each clock position carries the ball.
Your pitching setup differs slightly from chipping. Use a slightly wider stance for stability, position the ball center or slightly forward, and maintain a consistent tempo. The key is letting the club’s loft do the work rather than trying to scoop the ball up.
Focus on matching your backswing length to your follow-through length. A 9 o’clock backswing should produce a 9 o’clock follow-through. This symmetry creates the consistent strike and distance control you need.
This breakdown of pitching from 30-80 yards shows you the exact technique differences between distance ranges. Pay special attention to how the instructor maintains consistent rhythm regardless of distance. The length changes, but the tempo stays the same.
Practice Drills That Actually Work
Random practice won’t improve your short game. You need specific drills with clear feedback to build reliable skills under pressure.
The ladder drill develops distance control. Drop five balls at different distances - 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 yards. Hit each one trying to land it at the specific yardage. This forces you to make deliberate adjustments rather than mindlessly hitting balls.
The circle drill builds confidence from around the green. Place tees in a circle 3 feet from the hole. Chip balls from various lies trying to stop each one inside the circle. Track your success rate and try to improve it each session.
The up-and-down challenge simulates real course pressure. Drop a ball in different spots around the practice green - tight lies, rough, uphill, downhill. You get two shots total to hole out. Track how many you make out of 10 attempts. This drill trains both technique and decision-making.
Common Short Game Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake is scooping - trying to help the ball into the air by flipping your wrists through impact. This creates inconsistent contact and usually results in either fat or thin shots.
Trust the loft of your wedge to get the ball airborne. Your job is to strike down and through the ball, not lift it. Keep your hands ahead of the ball through impact and let physics handle the trajectory.
Decelerating through impact is another killer. Many players make a long backswing and then slow down coming into the ball, usually because they’re worried about hitting it too far. This creates inconsistent strikes and poor distance control.
Make a shorter backswing and accelerate through impact. A firm, committed stroke beats a tentative one every time. If you’re hitting it too far, shorten your backswing - don’t decelerate.
Wrong club selection costs strokes too. Most amateurs default to their sand wedge for every chip, even when a less lofted club would work better. Experiment with different clubs and learn which produces the most consistent results for various situations.
These five simple pitching tips from top instructors show exactly what tour pros focus on for tight distance control. The emphasis on body rotation through impact is particularly important - most amateurs get too handsy and lose consistency.
How Tour Pros Practice Their Short Game
Professional golfers don’t just hit hundreds of chips randomly. They structure practice around specific skills and constantly challenge themselves with competitive drills.
Most tour pros spend time on distance control first. They’ll hit chips to different targets, focusing on landing spots rather than just trying to get close. This develops the precise feel needed for tight pin positions.
They also practice variety extensively. Instead of hitting from one spot repeatedly, they move around the green hitting from different lies, slopes, and distances. This builds adaptability for course conditions.
Pressure practice is critical at the tour level. Many pros create games or challenges with consequences (making a certain number before they can leave, or competing against a practice partner). This simulates the nerves you’ll feel in actual rounds.
Your Action Plan for Better Short Game
Start by spending 15-20 minutes after each range session working on your short game. That’s all it takes to see dramatic improvement within a few weeks.
Practice the ladder drill once per week to dial in distance control. Track your results and watch your consistency improve. Also work the circle drill, trying to beat your previous success rate each session.
On course, commit to smarter shot selection. When in doubt, choose the lower-risk bump-and-run over the high-risk flop shot. Your scorecard will thank you even if the shot looks less impressive.
Film your setup position occasionally to verify your weight is forward and hands are ahead at address. These fundamentals drift over time without reinforcement, so periodic checks keep you honest.
Remember that short game improvement doesn’t require natural talent or perfect athleticism. It requires smart practice, solid fundamentals, and trusting technique over trying to manipulate shots with your hands. Put in focused work around the greens and you’ll save more strokes faster than improving any other part of your game.
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