Short Game Mastery
Master the scoring zone - shots within 100 yards of the pin where tournaments are won and lost
Short Game Fundamentals
The Scoring Zone Philosophy
65%
Of shots played within 100 yards
80%
Of score improvement comes from short game
2.5
Stroke average improvement potential
Chipping
Low trajectory shots around greens
- • 5-30 yard shots
- • Minimal air time
- • Maximum roll
- • Multiple club options
Pitching
Higher trajectory with spin control
- • 20-80 yard shots
- • More air time than roll
- • Spin control important
- • Wedge-focused shots
Bunker Play
Sand shots requiring special technique
- • Greenside bunkers
- • Fairway bunkers
- • Various sand types
- • Different lies
Specialty Shots
Trouble shots and creativity
- • Flop shots
- • Punch shots
- • Uneven lies
- • Recovery situations
Chipping Technique & Strategy
Setup Fundamentals
Address Position
- • Ball position back of center
- • Weight favoring front foot (60-70%)
- • Hands ahead of ball at address
- • Narrow stance with open alignment
- • Eyes over or slightly inside ball
Swing Motion
- • Shoulder-controlled motion
- • Minimal wrist hinge
- • Descending blow through impact
- • Accelerate through the ball
- • Low, controlled follow-through
Club Selection Strategy
The Ratio System
- • 7-iron: 1/3 air, 2/3 roll
- • 9-iron: 1/2 air, 1/2 roll
- • Pitching wedge: 2/3 air, 1/3 roll
- • Sand wedge: 3/4 air, 1/4 roll
- • Choose based on green conditions
Situational Factors
- • Distance to pin placement
- • Green firmness and speed
- • Slope between ball and hole
- • Obstacles to carry
- • Comfort level with each club
Chipping Practice Drills
Coin Drill
Place coin under ball, try to hit coin after ball for proper contact
Landing Spot Drill
Pick specific landing spot, practice hitting it consistently
Clock Drill
Chip to targets at 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock positions around hole
Pitching & Wedge Play
Distance Control System
Clock Method
- • 9 o'clock: 1/4 distance
- • 10 o'clock: 1/2 distance
- • 11 o'clock: 3/4 distance
- • 12 o'clock: Full distance
- • Practice each position religiously
Wedge Gapping
- • Know exact distances for each wedge
- • 4-6 degree loft gaps between wedges
- • Practice all swing lengths
- • Account for different conditions
- • Build distance matrix chart
Spin Control Techniques
Backspin Generation
- • Clean ball and club face
- • Steep angle of attack
- • Ball-first contact
- • Accelerating through impact
- • Fresh grooves on wedges
Trajectory Control
- • Ball position affects launch angle
- • Shaft lean controls trajectory
- • Face angle at impact
- • Swing plane adjustments
- • Follow-through length variations
48°
Pitching Wedge
110-125 yards
52°
Gap Wedge
95-110 yards
56°
Sand Wedge
80-95 yards
60°
Lob Wedge
65-80 yards
Bunker Play Mastery
Greenside Bunker Technique
Setup Fundamentals
- • Wide, stable stance in sand
- • Open clubface and stance
- • Ball position forward in stance
- • Weight slightly favoring front foot
- • Dig feet into sand for stability
Swing Technique
- • Swing through sand, not ball
- • Enter sand 1-2 inches behind ball
- • Accelerate through impact
- • Full, high follow-through
- • Trust the loft and bounce
Fairway Bunker Strategy
Club Selection
- • Take one more club than normal
- • Consider lie and sand depth
- • Factor in bunker lip height
- • Choose safety over aggression
- • Ensure clean contact first
Execution Keys
- • Minimal lower body movement
- • Pick the ball clean
- • Smooth, controlled tempo
- • Balance throughout swing
- • Commit to the shot fully
Sand Condition Adjustments
Soft/Deep Sand
- • More aggressive swing needed
- • Enter sand further behind ball
- • Higher, more complete follow-through
- • Use bounce of club effectively
Firm/Shallow Sand
- • More controlled swing
- • Less sand displacement
- • Square clubface slightly
- • Focus on clean contact
Wet Sand
- • Treat more like fairway shot
- • Less aggressive swing
- • Pick ball cleaner
- • Expect more roll
Specialty Shots & Creative Solutions
Advanced Shot Types
Flop Shot
- • Wide open clubface (60° wedge)
- • Ball position well forward
- • Long, aggressive swing
- • High, soft landing
- • Use only when necessary
Bellied Wedge
- • Hit ball with leading edge
- • Ball rolls like putt
- • Useful from tight lies
- • Around bunkers to hole
- • Predictable distance control
Punch Shot
- • Ball back in stance
- • Hands well ahead at impact
- • Low, penetrating flight
- • Minimal follow-through
- • Good for windy conditions
Uneven Lie Adjustments
Uphill Lies
- • Ball position slightly forward
- • Aim right of target
- • Club will hit higher
- • Match spine to slope
- • Expect draw ball flight
Downhill Lies
- • Ball position back in stance
- • Aim left of target
- • Club will hit lower
- • Stay balanced and controlled
- • Expect fade ball flight
Sidehill Lies
- • Ball above feet: aim right
- • Ball below feet: aim left
- • Choke down for ball below feet
- • Stay balanced throughout
- • Make smooth, controlled swing
Short Game Practice System
Structured Practice Plan
15-Minute Routine
- • 5 minutes: Chipping to various targets
- • 5 minutes: Pitching distance control
- • 5 minutes: Bunker shots or putting
- • Focus on quality over quantity
- • Track successful attempts
Progressive Difficulty
- • Start with basic shots
- • Add complexity gradually
- • Practice from various lies
- • Include pressure situations
- • Simulate on-course scenarios
Performance Tracking
Key Metrics
- • Up-and-down percentage
- • Proximity to hole averages
- • Sand save percentage
- • Short-side recovery rate
- • Scrambling statistics
Improvement Goals
- • 50%+ up-and-down rate
- • Average within 6 feet of hole
- • 70%+ sand save percentage
- • Consistent distance control
- • Reduce big misses
Game-Like Practice Drills
Up-and-Down Challenge
Play 9 different short game shots, track successful up-and-downs
Progressive Distance
Start at 10 yards, move back 5 yards after successful shot to target
Worst Ball
Hit 3 shots, take worst result, forces focus on consistency