Learn to score by getting up and down. Your short game is the great equalizer: whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned golfer, finesse around the green turns bogeys into pars and pars into birdies.
“The hole doesn’t care how, only how many.”
Why the Short Game Matters
- More than half of your strokes happen within 100 yards of the hole; mastering this zone saves strokes immediately.
- A sharp short game takes pressure off your long game, letting you swing driver and irons more freely.
- Control around the green builds confidence: knowing you can recover encourages strategic aggression from the tee.
Chipping: Touch and Technique
- Set your weight slightly forward and keep your hands ahead of the ball to promote a descending strike.
- Maintain soft wrists; use a simple body turn to brush the grass without scooping.
- Pick a landing spot and choose the club that will let the ball roll to the hole; experiment with wedges through mid‑irons.
Putting: Feel and Focus
- Hold the putter lightly and make a pendulum stroke from your shoulders; avoid wristy jabs.
- Keep your eyes over the ball and your head still until after the ball has left the face.
- Read the green from different angles and trust your line; a consistent pre‑putt routine settles nerves.
Practice Habits: Build a Solid Short Game
- Devote at least half of your practice time to chipping, pitching, and putting.
- Challenge yourself: chip from tight lies, rough, and slopes; putt to small targets at varying distances.
- Use alignment sticks or chalk lines to check your stroke path and face alignment.
- Keep a short game journal noting drills, feels, and results to track progress.
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