The Short Game
Entry posted by Erin B in The Short Game
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Hello again, friends! Ever heard the saying, “Drive for show, putt for dough”? There’s definitely some truth to it. While getting off the tee is crucial—I’ve even written about the importance of the tee shot—let’s not forget the significance of the short game. It’s the safety net for all those less-than-perfect shots that land us near the green.
Our trusty Google AI “Gemini” describes the short game as the part of golf where precision and control over limited distances are key. Within 50 yards, the short game can make or break your round. So, how do we master it? Just like every other aspect of golf: practice. But are we practicing the right way? Let’s find out.
Ask yourself: what exactly are you practicing when you work on your short game? Does your practice facility have the space and resources for it? Many municipal courses lack dedicated areas for short game practice. By that, I mean, does the course have bunkers for you to practice in? Does it have a separate pitching and chipping green? Does it have its own putting green with elevation changes that mimic the course greens? While most courses have a putting green, not all offer a comprehensive short game practice area.
Many golfers end up working on their short game at the driving range. But guess what’s missing? Sand and rough. Sure, there’s rough on the driving range, but most ranges are primarily dedicated to tee areas. This leads to a practice deficiency!
Here’s a little secret: the country club where I live has a fantastic short game practice area, and I sneak in about once a month to work on my wedge shots—don’t tell anyone! For those of us without such facilities, practicing on the course might be our only option. So, how many of you take practice rounds? Although not ideal, practicing your short game on the course might be the only way to improve.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: How And What Are You Practicing To Become Better At The Short Game?
The first thing we need to focus on is consistency. We need to be fundamentally sound. What do I mean by that? We must master the basics. Every shot in golf requires a solid, balanced stance, and short game shots are no different. Alignment and grip are just as crucial. Developing these fundamentals will lead to more successful shots.
For grip, ensure you’re not choking the club and that your hands are working together. Everyone has some variance in their grip; it’s up to each individual to perfect theirs. The same goes for stance—solid and balanced. Some prefer a narrow stance, while others don’t. Whatever your preference, make sure you are comfortable and confident.
Then there’s alignment. Everyone is different, but wherever your alignment is pointed, make sure your whole body is in tune. Hips, feet, and shoulders should all be working together, both pointed and parallel. A good foundation, one that you are comfortable and confident with, leads to successful short game shots.
Now, let’s look at some tips to get our short game in order. These tips have helped me and are generally agreed upon by many sources. There are countless tips out there for a reason—every golfer is different, every swing is different, and every thought process is different. So, without further ado, here are the tips I believe will help you succeed in your short game.
Pitch and Chip
Disclaimer: Everyone is different and there are some who may disagree with this next sentence and that doesn't make them wrong, but in my research and experience I have had the best success on wedge shots doing the following; Every aspect of my research emphasizes this crucial tip: Hands Forward. This means your hands should lead the club and clubface, positioning them in front of the ball at impact to help compress it. You’ll need to fine-tune your hand position, but remember, hands lead the club.
Next up is backswing length—this is HUGE! You’ve probably seen players take a massive backswing only to decelerate through the ball, resulting in chunked shots, bladed shots, or just plain short hits. Let your backswing dictate your shot distance to avoid deceleration and ensure solid contact.
Your stance should be narrower than for a normal iron shot. Why? A narrower stance and gripping down on the club make it easier to execute a smaller swing without decelerating. Along with stance, lean into it. Put more weight on your lead foot and side, and maintain that lean through the shot. This promotes hitting down on the ball, but don’t overdo it—balance is still key. Too much lean, and you’ll be out of position.
Disclaimer: Everyone is different and there are some who may disagree with this next sentence and that doesn't make them wrong, but in my research and experience I have had the best success on wedge shots doing the following; You want to compress the ball, making it the object between the clubface and the ground. Many amateurs mistakenly try to scoop the ball, losing spin and distance control. Scooping often leads to leaning back through the shot. Instead, hit down and make a divot.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different clubs for pitching or chipping. Sometimes a bump and run is the right shot. In practice, try hitting the same distance with various clubs. Switch from a wedge to an iron for a bump and run, or even try a hybrid or wood. This helps teach distance control, which is often needed when you’re stuck under a tree or need the ball to run a distance on the green. The key is to be creative, assess the situation, and master distance control.
Now, let’s dive into some tips to refine your short game. These tips have helped me and are widely recommended. Remember, every golfer is different, so find what works best for you. Here are the tips I believe will enhance your short game success.
Flop Shot
This shot is a bit different from pitch and chip shots. You’ll want to use a high-lofted club, like a 56 or 60-degree wedge, which typically has the right bounce and can be opened up without lifting the leading edge off the ground. Keep your weight forward, but widen your stance for stability since you’ll be taking a bigger swing than with a chip or pitch. Ensure the club stays flat through ball impact for as long as possible. Disclaimer: Everyone is different and there are some who may disagree with this next sentence and that doesn't make them wrong, there is more than one way to skin a cat. You want to use the bounce of the club more so than compressing the ball. Hands are important and need to be less in front but still able to lead the club to make solid contact with the ball. Flop shots are an art in themselves, practice these shots, they’ll come in handy. The key is finding out what works for you.
Bunker Shot
Similar to the flop shot, bunker shots differ from pitch and chip shots, with distance being a key factor in your approach. For greenside bunkers, set up differently than for a 40-yard bunker shot. The 40-yard shots are more like pitch shots, while greenside bunker shots resemble flop shots. Sand consistency also matters—heavy, wet sand is dense and may not allow the club to dig as desired.
For a greenside bunker shot, open your stance and use a wider stance for stability. Open your clubface and use a high-lofted club like a 56 or 60-degree wedge, aiming the open face at your target. Take a fuller swing and maintain consistent speed. Aim to hit the sand before the ball, imagining the ball sitting on a dollar bill—you want to take that dollar bill with you when you hit the shot. Another way to think about it is to imagine your wedge as a matchstick; you want to strike that match while hitting the ball to achieve the necessary elevation.
For fairway bunker shots, your stance should be squarer, similar to a fairway shot, but still slightly wider. Aim the clubface at the target. Depending on the distance, hit the ball or the sand closer to the ball than in a greenside bunker. This will make the ball spin more and fly farther since the club has more contact with the ball than with the sand. Also, adjust the club loft based on distance—a 50-yard shot might require a pitching wedge or 9-iron, while a 25-yard shot might need a 56 or 60-degree wedge. Whatever bunker shot you’re taking, adjust accordingly.
Putting
Putting is precise and challenging, with distance control being the most crucial aspect. I could write an entire article on putting alone, covering grip types, putter types, and putting stroke types. But let’s stick to the basics: posture, stance alignment, grip, reading the green, muscle memory, and repetition are all key to mastering the flat stick.
Posture and stance alignment go hand in hand. You should be comfortable yet stable in your posture and stance, aligning yourself to the line you want your ball to take. Ensure your grip allows your hands to work together with a soft touch, using major muscle groups and shoulders to putt.
Muscle memory and repetition are essential. Putting can take up most of your practice time, and that’s perfectly fine. If you can keep your putts to 36 or fewer per round, you’re doing well. Remember, speed is crucial—the closer you can get the ball to the hole, the better your score will be.
Equipment makes a significant difference. Wedges vary in bounce and loft, and putters come in many options with advanced technology. Not getting fit for wedges and putters is a big mistake. Every golfer is different, with unique tendencies, so using the best equipment for you is essential.
Practice is irreplaceable. Move around the practice green to learn how to hit different shots. Every practice area has something to teach if you spend enough time there. To keep practice interesting, make a game of it. For putting, try “Around the World” (playing from hole to hole in a circle) or “7-Up” (a stroke award game where you get 2 points for sinking a putt, 1 for closest to the pin, 0 for putt in regulation, and -1 for a three-putt). For chipping, adapt the same games. The goal is to work on your game from different areas and break up the monotony of practice.
There are many tips out there that might work for you, so expand your knowledge in the practice world. However, nothing beats time on the course. Good luck and happy birdie hunting!
Resources: Golf.com, Kellie Stenzel, Derek Escam @Derek Eskam, Google AI, Jordan Puente @Puente37, Chris Proulx @Preeway
Edited by Erin B
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