Master Your Short Game: 10 Essential Drills Every Golfer Should Practice
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Introduction to the Importance of the Short Game
If you’re serious about lowering your golf scores, mastering the short game is non-negotiable. Statistically, nearly 60% of golf shots occur within 100 yards of the hole. That means your chipping, pitching, bunker play, and putting often determine whether you break 90, 80, or even 70.
Unlike the full swing, which requires strength and speed, the short game is all about precision, touch, and confidence. Dialing in these shots builds the foundation for consistent scoring, regardless of your skill level. Improving your short game is the quickest path to shaving strokes off your scorecard and outplaying your buddies.
Benefits of Practicing Short Game Drills Regularly
Practicing short game drills consistently brings several critical benefits:
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Increased Consistency: Repetition of structured drills helps you develop muscle memory for various short shots. This reduces mishits and flubbed chips, especially under pressure.
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Greater Confidence: As your skills improve, so does your mental game. You’ll approach greenside shots with the belief you can execute.
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Lower Scores: Improved chipping, pitching, and putting mean fewer wasted strokes. Saving pars from tricky spots becomes routine instead of rare.
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Better Transition to the Course: Effective practice bridges the gap between the range and the course, ensuring your short game holds up in real rounds.
Golfers who dedicate practice time to their short game often experience faster overall improvement. The short game rewards smart effort, not just hours spent hitting drivers.
Chipping Drills to Improve Control and Precision
1. The Ladder Drill for Distance Control
Set up targets at 5-yard intervals starting 10 yards from your chipping spot. Using one club (such as your pitching wedge), chip to the first target, then the next, moving further back each time. The goal is to land the ball close to each target consistently.
Why it works: This drill teaches you to control your carry distance and roll-out, which is essential when chipping around greens with various pin positions.
2. Landing Spot Drill to Improve Accuracy
Pick a specific landing spot (use a towel or alignment stick) and try to land 10 consecutive chips within that zone. Vary distances and clubs to simulate different green conditions and lies.
Why it works: Focusing on where the ball lands instead of just the hole improves accuracy and control—vital for getting up-and-down.
3. One-Club Challenge Drill for Versatility
Choose a single club—like a 9-iron or gap wedge—and play a series of chip shots from different lies, angles, and distances. Try bump-and-runs, high floaters, and low runners—all with one club.
Why it works: This drill enhances your creativity and teaches you how to manipulate ball flight and spin without switching clubs—a great skill under pressure.
Visualize your swing as a clock face. Take half, three-quarter, and full swings to understand how different swing lengths affect distance. Start with your pitching wedge and hit to specific targets.
Why it works: This drill builds feel and helps you develop precise distance control—crucial for approach shots within 100 yards.
2. Pitch-and-Stop Drill for Spin Control
Use a lofted wedge and aim to pitch the ball onto the green with minimal roll. Focus on striking the ball with a descending blow and creating backspin.
Why it works: This drill helps you generate spin and control roll-out, allowing you to attack tight pin positions confidently.
Draw a line in the sand and practice swinging to enter the sand at the line consistently without focusing on a ball. After a few reps, place a ball just in front of the line and repeat.
Why it works: This builds the habit of striking the sand in the correct spot, which is essential for escaping bunkers cleanly.
2. Splash Drill to Control Bunker Shot Distance
Hit multiple bunker shots with the goal of controlling how far the ball flies. Adjust your follow-through length to change distances while keeping your setup consistent.
Why it works: You’ll learn how to control distance from the sand without decelerating, boosting confidence in all bunker scenarios.
Set two tees just wider than your putter head a few feet from the hole. Roll putts through the “gate” to ensure a straight stroke.
Why it works: It trains your face alignment and stroke path—key fundamentals for sinking short putts.
2. Ladder Putting Drill for Lag Control
Place markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 feet from the hole. Putt to each marker in sequence, focusing on stopping the ball near the target distance.
Why it works: Lag putting practice reduces three-putts and improves distance control on longer putts.
3. Circle Drill for Pressure Putting
Place 6-8 balls in a three-foot circle around the hole. Sink all putts in a row. Restart if you miss.
Why it works: This builds confidence under pressure and sharpens your ability to finish holes strong.
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Chipping Nets: Great for target practice and feedback on your accuracy.
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Putting Mats: Ideal for working on stroke mechanics and distance control indoors.
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Ball Markers and Alignment Tools: Help you refine aim, green reading, and start lines.
Tip: Use these tools to simulate real on-course situations during practice sessions for the best results.
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Decelerating the Club: Always accelerate through chips and pitches. Slowing down mid-swing leads to fat or thin shots.
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Poor Club Selection: Choose the right club based on lie, green speed, and distance. Don’t default to your favorite wedge.
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Misreading Greens: Take your time reading break and speed. Underestimating break causes missed putts and extra strokes.
Awareness and corrective practice can quickly fix these costly mistakes.
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Day 1: 30 minutes chipping (ladder drill & landing spot drill)
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Day 2: 30 minutes pitching (clock face & pitch-and-stop drills)
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Day 3: 30 minutes putting (gate drill & circle drill)
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Day 4: Bunker practice (line-in-the-sand & splash drills)
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Day 5: Mixed session using training aids
Tip: Track your progress weekly to stay motivated and identify areas needing extra attention.
Mental Game Tips for Short Game Success
Your mental approach is just as important as your physical technique in the short game. Try these mental tips:
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Visualize Success: Before every chip, pitch, or putt, visualize the perfect shot. See the ball landing exactly where you want and rolling out to the hole.
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Stay Present: Avoid dwelling on missed shots or worrying about score. Focus only on the shot in front of you.
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Routine is Key: Stick to a consistent pre-shot routine to build confidence and reduce nerves, especially in pressure situations.
Mastering these mental skills will help you execute shots calmly and confidently when it matters most.
Tracking Progress: How to Measure Your Short Game Improvements
Tracking performance is essential for improvement. Focus on these metrics:
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Up-and-Down Percentage: How often you save par or bogey after missing the green.
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Sand Saves: Percentage of successful escapes from bunkers leading to par or better.
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Three-Putt Avoidance: Track how often you three-putt and work to reduce it.
Consider using golf apps or a simple notebook to record stats after each round. This keeps you accountable and highlights where to focus future practice.
Conclusion: Commit to Short Game Mastery
The fastest way to improve your golf game—and lower your scores—is to commit to short game mastery. With structured drills, smart practice routines, and the right mental approach, you’ll build confidence around the greens and start saving strokes every round.
Every chip, pitch, bunker shot, and putt you practice moves you closer to shooting your personal best. Start your short game journey today and watch your scores drop.