Perfect Your Short Game: Essential Training Tips for Chipping and Putting

A strong short game is essential for improving your golf scores, as chipping and putting can make or break your performance. Here are key tips to help you sharpen these critical skills, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced golfer.

Why the Short Game Matters

The short game refers to any shot taken near or on the green, including chipping, putting, and pitching. Statistically, the majority of strokes in golf are taken near the green. This means your ability to finish strong on each hole can significantly impact your score. A strong short game provides the consistency and reliability needed to perform under pressure.

Mastering these skills won’t just lower your scores; it will boost your confidence on the course, too.

Chipping Tips to Get You Closer to the Pin

Chipping is all about precision and control. Here’s how you can improve:

1. Master Your Setup

A solid chip starts with the right setup.

• Stance: Keep your feet close together. Balance your weight slightly on your front foot to control the downward strike.
• Grip Position: Choke down slightly on the club for better control.
• Ball Position: Position the ball just behind the center of your stance for most chips.

By mastering this setup, you ensure clean, controlled contact between the club and the ball.

2. Choose the Right Club

Not all chips are created equal. For higher loft and shorter roll, use clubs like a sand wedge or lob wedge. For lower loft and more roll, a pitching wedge or 9-iron might be your club of choice. Practice swapping clubs to get a feel for the different flight paths.

3. Focus on Consistent Contact

One of the most common mistakes with chipping is hitting the ball too thin or chunking it. To ensure solid contact:

• Keep your hands slightly ahead of the ball at impact.
• Maintain a steady tempo throughout your backswing and follow-through.
• Avoid scooping the ball; instead, focus on letting the loft of the club do the work.

4. Practice Bump-and-Run Shots

The bump-and-run can be your best friend on certain lies. Instead of trying to lift the ball, aim to keep the ball low and rolling like a putt. Experiment on different surfaces so you can execute this technique with confidence.

Putting Tips to Drain More Putts

Putting makes up nearly half your strokes on an average round, so it’s critical to have your technique dialed in.

1. Prioritize Your Alignment

• Eyes Over the Ball: Make sure your eyes are directly above the ball.
• Clubface Alignment: Be meticulous about aiming the clubface square to your intended target line.
• Use alignment aids (on the ball or putter) to keep your setup consistent.

2. Develop a Smooth Stroke

The key to great putting is a smooth, controlled stroke that produces a consistent roll.

• Focus on keeping your wrists steady and avoid breaking them during the stroke.
• Aim for an even tempo, keeping your backswing and follow-through symmetrical for short putts.

3. Master Distance Control

Distance control, or lag putting, is crucial to avoid three-putts. Here are some tips:

• Putt to a Target: Rather than aiming solely at the hole, practice putting to intermediate targets such as a towel or tee placed halfway to the hole.
• Feel Practice: Use drills where you focus solely on the speed of your putts, without worrying about accuracy.

4. Read the Green Like a Pro

Reading greens is both an art and a science.

• Observe the slope and grain. Most putts break toward the lowest point of the green.
• Walk around your putt to gauge the contours from multiple angles.
• If in doubt, trust your first instinct after a quick glimpse.

Remember, even the best green readers benefit from experience and trial and error, so practice diligently.

Drills to Hone Your Chipping and Putting Skills

Consistent practice is critical to mastering your short game. Incorporate these drills during your next practice session:

The Ladder Drill (Putting)

• Place four balls at increasing distances (e.g., 3, 6, 9, 12 feet) from the hole.
• Putt each ball with the goal of making every putt the right distance. Stop only when you’ve sunk all four consecutively.

The Clock Drill (Putting)

• Place six balls around the hole at equal distances to form a “clock.”
• Aim to sink each putt. Incorporates pressure by requiring precision from all angles.

The Towel Drill (Chipping)

• Place a towel a few feet in front of you and aim to land your chip shots directly on the towel. This improves your accuracy and helps with learning distance control.

Alternate Club Practice (Chipping)

• Pick a spot and use different clubs (e.g., 7-iron, pitching wedge, and gap wedge) to practice different short-game scenarios. In home golf simulators, this is a great way to work on versatility with your club selection.

Conclusion

There are no shortcuts in golf, but a strong short game requires a combination of technique, consistency, and practice. Commit to refining both your chipping and putting skills, and you’ll start seeing a tangible difference in your scores.