How to Improve Your Golf Short Game

Introduction

Over 60% of golf shots are played within 100 yards of the hole. Despite this, most amateur golfers spend more time practicing long shots and neglect their short game. If you're serious about lowering your scores, improving your short game is the fastest path to success.

The Importance of Wedges in the Short Game

Proper Wedge Gapping and Club Selection Having the right wedge gapping is crucial. Ideally, your wedges should be spaced about 10-15 yards apart in distance coverage to avoid awkward gaps during play.

Distance Control Drills for Wedges Try the "ladder drill" — hit shots at targets set 30, 50, 70, and 90 yards away. This will help you develop a feel for each distance and improve your consistency under pressure.

Common Short Game Mistakes to Avoid

• Decelerating through impact: Always accelerate through the ball.
• Scooping the ball: Avoid flipping your wrists. Keep proper shaft lean.
• Poor contact: Focus on hitting down on the ball for crisp, clean shots.

Chipping and Pitching Fundamentals

How to Choose the Right Club Around the Green Club selection is key. For most situations, a lower-lofted club like a pitching wedge or 9-iron works best for a bump-and-run. Save the lob wedge for when you really need to get the ball high quickly.

Proper Technique: Ball Position, Weight Forward, and Follow-Through Position the ball slightly back in your stance with weight forward. Commit to your shot with a confident follow-through to avoid chunking or blading the ball.

At-Home Chipping Drills for Consistency Set up a chipping net or landing target in your backyard. Practice different trajectories and focus on landing the ball on your chosen spot. Repetition builds muscle memory.

Bunker Play Basics — Conquer the Sand

Focus on Technique, Not Power Bunker shots require precision, not brute strength. Open your stance, open your clubface, and splash the sand a couple of inches behind the ball.

Visualizing Successful Bunker Shots Picture the ball floating out on a cushion of sand. Visualization helps you stay confident and relaxed over the shot.

Practice Tips for Confident Sand Play Practice with different sand conditions — wet, dry, fluffy — to build versatility. Prioritize contact with the sand, not the ball.

Putting — Where the Strokes Add Up

Mastering Lag Putting to Eliminate 3-Putts Work on your distance control with long putts. The goal is to get inside a 3-foot circle around the hole.

Short Putt Drills for Building Confidence Practice 3 to 5-foot putts daily. Set up tees or coins around the hole and knock them down one by one.

Tools to Improve Alignment and Accuracy Use putting mats, laser alignment tools, and mirrors to build consistency and train proper eye position and stroke mechanics.

Recommended Short Game Training Aids to Practice Smarter

• Laser Putting Guides: Improve alignment and path.
• Chipping Nets: Great for backyard practice.
• Impact Bags and Tempo Trainers: Build better rhythm and contact.

Bonus Tips for Short Game Improvement

• Use video analysis: Spot technical flaws in your chipping and putting.
• Track your up and down stats: Identify where you lose strokes.
• Simulate pressure: Play short game challenges with friends.

Mental Approach — Confidence in the Short Game

• Visualize successful shots.
• Stay positive after mistakes.
• Stick to your routine under pressure.

Short Game Mistakes to Stop Making Now

• Relying too much on your lob wedge.
• Ignoring speed control on putts.
• Only practicing from perfect lies.
• Conclusion — Lower Scores Start with a Better Short Game

The fastest way to lower your golf scores is by improving your short game. Mastering wedges, chipping, pitching, bunkers, and putting will give you more confidence and better results every round.