Practice These Short Game Drills to Become Better at Golf

The short game is where golfers truly save strokes. While driving and iron play are important, it’s the ability to recover around the green and sink critical putts that separates good players from great ones. A strong short game can turn missed greens into saved pars and lower your overall score significantly.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced golfer, honing your short game is one of the fastest ways to improve. This guide provides practical drills designed to sharpen your putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker play.

By practicing these drills with purpose, you’ll build the confidence and consistency needed to recover from tough lies and save par under pressure.

Let’s start with putting, the final and most important step in saving strokes on the green.

Putting Drills

Simulation Putting Drill (4–6 Feet)

Putting is the heart of the short game, and most putts that save par come from within six feet. The Simulation Putting Drill recreates the pressure of these short but crucial putts, helping you stay calm and confident during your rounds.

1. Set Up: Place three golf balls at distances of 4, 5, and 6 feet from the hole in a straight line.
2. Objective: Sink all three putts consecutively. If you miss any, restart the drill from the beginning.
3. Focus: Concentrate on a smooth, consistent stroke and proper alignment. Visualize the ball rolling into the hole before you putt.

This drill builds mental toughness and improves your ability to handle high-pressure situations on the green. Once you’ve mastered the straight putts, try setting up the drill with slight breaks to challenge your green-reading skills.

Lag Putting Drill

While short putts are crucial for saving par, good lag putting ensures you avoid unnecessary three-putts. This drill helps you improve distance control and confidence with long putts.

1. Set Up: Choose a target at least 20–30 feet away. Place a circle or marker around the target, about three feet in diameter.
2. Objective: Putt the ball so that it stops within the circle. Track how many attempts it takes to consistently land all balls inside the target zone.
3. Focus: Work on your tempo and speed control. Aim to match the length of your backswing and follow-through for consistent results.

Lag putting drills not only improve your long-distance touch but also help you avoid costly mistakes that lead to bogeys or worse.

The Pressure Putt Drill

This drill simulates the pressure of saving par during a real round, forcing you to focus under stress.

1. Set Up: Place a single ball at a challenging but realistic distance, such as 5 feet from the hole.
2. Objective: Sink the putt with only one attempt. If you miss, simulate the consequences by stepping away and resetting before trying again.
3. Focus: Stick to your pre-putt routine and trust your line. The goal is to replicate the mental pressure of an on-course par save.

Practicing with this kind of intensity ensures that when it’s time to save par during your round, you’ll feel prepared and confident.

Key Takeaway

Consistent putting practice is the foundation of a strong short game. By focusing on drills that mimic real-course scenarios, you’ll not only sharpen your mechanics but also build the confidence needed to sink crucial putts when it matters most.

In the next section, we’ll move on to chipping drills, which are essential for setting up those makeable par-saving putts.

Chipping Drills

Chipping is an essential skill for recovering from missed greens and setting up easy putts to save par. A solid chip shot can turn a challenging situation into an opportunity, leaving you with a realistic chance to sink the putt. These chipping drills are designed to improve your accuracy, touch, and confidence around the greens.

Chipping Drill: 100 Chips x 3 Holes

This drill emphasizes repetition and accuracy, helping you develop consistency in your chipping motion while simulating on-course scenarios.

1. Set Up: Choose three different holes or targets around the practice green. Place yourself at varying distances and lies for each target, such as tight lies, rough, or uphill slopes.
2. Objective: Hit 100 chips total, divided among the three holes. Focus on getting each chip as close to the hole as possible, aiming to leave the ball within a three-foot radius.
3. Track Your Progress: Count how many chips land inside the target zone for each hole and work to improve your percentage over time.

This drill builds muscle memory and prepares you for the unpredictable lies and conditions you’ll face during a round.

Up-and-Down Challenge

This game-like drill teaches you to recover quickly by simulating the pressure of getting up and down to save par.

1. Set Up: Drop a ball off the green in various locations, such as bunkers, rough, or fringe.
2. Objective: Chip the ball onto the green and putt out in two strokes or less. If you don’t succeed, add a point to your score.
3. Goal: Keep your total score as low as possible over 9 or 18 practice “holes.”

This drill mimics real-course pressure, forcing you to focus on precision and touch with every chip.

Hula Hoop Target Drill

This simple but effective drill improves your ability to control distance and land chips in a specific target area.

1. Set Up: Place a hula hoop or mark a circle on the green, about 3–5 feet in diameter.
2. Objective: Practice chipping from various distances, aiming to land the ball inside the target zone. Adjust the circle size and distances as you improve.
3. Focus: Work on clean contact and consistent trajectory. Experiment with different clubs to understand how loft affects roll-out.

This drill sharpens your precision and ensures your chips leave you with makeable putts.

One-Club Challenge

Learning to adapt with a single club enhances your creativity and confidence in unpredictable situations.

1. Set Up: Choose one club—such as a pitching wedge or 8-iron—for all your chip shots during the drill.
2. Objective: Use this club to chip from various lies and distances, adjusting your technique to achieve different trajectories and roll-outs.
3. Goal: Develop a feel for controlling spin, loft, and distance with one versatile club.

By mastering one club for multiple scenarios, you’ll build the adaptability needed to handle any short-game challenge.

Key Takeaway

Consistent, purposeful chipping practice is essential for lowering your scores and saving par. By focusing on drills that replicate real-course conditions, you’ll develop the touch and accuracy required to recover from tough lies and set up high-percentage putts.

In the next section, we’ll move on to pitching drills, which are crucial for those tricky 20–50 yard shots that can make or break your round.

Pitching Drills

Pitch shots are vital for covering distances between 20 and 50 yards with precision and control. Whether you’re trying to get close from a tricky lie or setting up a putt after a lay-up, pitching demands touch, trajectory control, and confidence. These drills will help you master the art of pitching and consistently save par.

Golf Pitching Practice Drill

This drill focuses on distance control and accuracy for medium-range shots, helping you dial in your pitches and reduce mishits.

1. Set Up: Mark three distances from your practice area, such as 20, 40, and 60 yards. Use alignment sticks or cones to designate each target.
2. Objective: Hit five balls to each distance, focusing on clean contact and proper trajectory. Record how many shots land within a 10-foot radius of the target.
3. Progression: As your accuracy improves, shrink the target radius to 5 feet to challenge yourself.

This drill builds consistency in your pitching mechanics and improves your ability to judge carry and rollout.

Trajectory Control Drill

Pitching requires the ability to adjust trajectory depending on the lie and the shot at hand. This drill teaches you to control ball flight by varying clubface angles and swing length.

1. Set Up: Choose a 30-yard target. Practice hitting low, medium, and high trajectory shots to the same target.
2. Technique:
   • Low Trajectory: Close the clubface slightly and shorten your follow-through.
   • Medium Trajectory: Keep the clubface neutral and maintain a balanced swing.
   • High Trajectory: Open the clubface slightly and finish with a higher follow-through.
3. Objective: Land the ball consistently at the target, adjusting your setup and swing to create the desired trajectory.

This drill improves your versatility and helps you handle different course conditions with ease.

Clock Drill for Distance Control

This drill improves your ability to hit pitch shots at specific distances by varying your backswing length.

1. Set Up: Choose a 40-yard target. Use your pitching wedge or sand wedge.
2. Objective: Imagine your swing as a clock, where:
   • 9 o’clock represents a three-quarter backswing.
   • 7 o’clock represents a half-swing.
3. Practice: Hit shots using the different swing lengths, noting how far each one carries the ball. Repeat with other targets to refine your distance control.

This drill helps you develop a reliable sense of how far each swing length carries the ball, making it easier to execute precise pitches on the course.

Random Pitching Drill

Golf is unpredictable, and this drill trains you to adapt to varying lies and distances.

1. Set Up: Randomly select targets around the practice area, ranging from 20 to 50 yards.
2. Objective: Hit one ball to each target without repeating the same shot twice. Focus on clean contact and proper trajectory.
3. Challenge: Simulate real-course conditions by practicing from uneven lies, rough, or sand.

This drill builds confidence and adaptability, preparing you for the dynamic nature of pitching during a round.

Key Takeaway

Pitching requires a combination of precision, distance control, and versatility. By practicing these drills, you’ll improve your ability to handle medium-range shots and set up easy putts for par or better. Mastering these skills will give you a significant edge in your short game.

In the next section, we’ll tackle sand bunker drills to help you escape trouble spots and save crucial strokes around the green.

Sand Bunker Drill

Escaping greenside bunkers with precision and control is a critical part of a strong short game. Poor bunker play can turn a bogey into a double or triple bogey, while a solid sand save can salvage par or even set up a birdie. These drills are designed to help you master the mechanics and confidence needed to excel in the sand.

The Splash Drill

The Splash Drill is the foundation for consistent bunker shots, teaching you to hit the sand correctly and control the ball’s trajectory.

1. Set Up: Draw a line in the sand about two inches behind your ball. Address the ball with an open clubface and stance.
2. Objective: Practice striking the sand at the line, without focusing on the ball. The goal is to “splash” the sand out of the bunker, carrying the ball along with it.
3. Focus: Maintain an aggressive swing with a high follow-through, allowing the sand to lift the ball onto the green.

This drill reinforces the proper entry point for bunker shots and helps you develop a consistent strike.

Distance Control Drill

In bunkers, controlling the distance is just as important as escaping. This drill helps you adjust your swing length for varying distances.

1. Set Up: Place three targets at different distances—short, medium, and long—on the green.
2. Objective: Practice hitting bunker shots to each target by varying your backswing length. Use a shorter backswing for closer targets and a fuller swing for longer ones.
3. Challenge: Track how many balls you land within a three-foot radius of each target.

This drill sharpens your feel for distance and ensures you can confidently escape bunkers with precision.

Consistency Drill

The consistency drill helps you build confidence by practicing from various bunker conditions, such as soft sand, firm sand, or uphill/downhill lies.

1. Set Up: Select different spots within the bunker that replicate a variety of course conditions.
2. Objective: Hit 10 shots from each condition, focusing on clean contact and consistent ball flight.
3. Key Tip: For firm sand, use a square clubface and make a shallower swing. For soft sand, use an open face and swing more steeply.

This drill prepares you for the unpredictable nature of greenside bunkers during a round.

Hula Hoop Target Drill

This drill improves your accuracy by focusing on landing the ball in a specific area on the green.

1. Set Up: Place a hula hoop or mark a circle on the green beyond the bunker.
2. Objective: Hit bunker shots, aiming to land the ball within the target zone. Track how many attempts are successful.
3. Progression: Shrink the target area as your accuracy improves, simulating high-pressure scenarios.

This drill helps you develop precision and confidence when escaping bunkers.

Key Takeaway

Mastering bunker play requires a combination of proper technique, distance control, and adaptability. By consistently practicing these drills, you’ll build the skills and confidence needed to escape bunkers effectively and save par. With repetition, bunker shots will become less intimidating and more of an opportunity to recover and shine.

In the next section, we’ll cover tips for effective short-game practice to ensure you’re maximizing your time and effort.

Tips for Effective Practice

Practicing your short game is about more than just repetition—it’s about practicing with intention and simulating real-course conditions. Effective practice not only sharpens your skills but also builds confidence for when it matters most. These tips will help you maximize your time on the practice green and make meaningful improvements to your short game.

1. Practice with Purpose

Mindless practice often leads to wasted time and minimal improvement. Instead, approach every session with a clear goal in mind, such as improving your chipping accuracy or refining your bunker play.

• Set Specific Goals: Decide what you want to achieve during each session, like landing 80% of chips within a three-foot radius or making three consecutive sand saves.
• Track Your Progress: Keep a log of your practice results to monitor improvement over time. This helps you stay motivated and focused on areas that need work.

2. Simulate Real Scenarios

Recreate the pressure and unpredictability of the golf course during practice. This makes your drills more engaging and prepares you for on-course challenges.

• Create Game-Like Drills: For example, drop your ball in random spots around the green and attempt to chip and putt out in two strokes or less.
• Practice Recovery Shots: Deliberately place your ball in tough lies, such as thick rough, uneven ground, or plugged sand, and work on getting out of trouble.

3. Avoid Blind Repetition

While repetition is essential, practicing the same shot over and over can lead to boredom and diminish focus. Instead, vary your drills and add new challenges to keep your practice dynamic.

• Mix Up Distances: Alternate between short chips, medium pitches, and long bunker shots to work on a variety of skills.
• Switch Clubs: Use different wedges or even non-traditional clubs to learn how to adapt your technique for various lies.

4. Focus on Quality Over Quantity

It’s better to hit 10 purposeful shots than 100 rushed ones. Take your time with each shot, paying attention to your setup, swing, and contact.

• Reset Between Shots: Treat each shot as if you’re on the course. Go through your pre-shot routine, visualize the result, and execute with intention.
• Take Breaks: Short breaks during practice allow you to reset mentally and avoid fatigue, ensuring every shot is of high quality.

5. Embrace Pressure Drills

Adding pressure to your practice helps simulate the intensity of saving par during a real round. This builds mental toughness and prepares you for high-stakes situations.

• Challenge Yourself: Set specific goals, such as making three consecutive putts from 5 feet, and start over if you miss.
• Compete with a Friend: Turn your drills into friendly competitions to add an extra layer of intensity and fun.

6. Reflect and Adjust

After each practice session, take a moment to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Identifying patterns and areas for improvement will help you refine your approach.

• Ask Questions: Did you struggle with distance control? Were your chips consistently short or long? Use these observations to tailor your next practice session.
• Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge small victories, like improving your up-and-down percentage or hitting more accurate pitches. Positive reinforcement keeps you motivated.

Key Takeaway

Effective short-game practice is about quality, variety, and purpose. By simulating real scenarios, focusing on high-quality shots, and embracing challenges, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to consistently save par. With dedicated and intentional practice, your short game will become a reliable strength.

In the final section, we’ll summarize the key points and encourage you to put these drills and tips into action.

Conclusion

A strong short game is the key to saving strokes and lowering your scores. Whether you’re chipping from the rough, pitching over a hazard, or escaping a bunker, the ability to recover and save par can transform your round. By focusing on purposeful practice and mastering the drills in this guide, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to handle any challenge around the greens.

From the Simulation Putting Drill to the Splash Drill for bunkers, each exercise is designed to target specific aspects of your short game. Practicing these drills consistently and with intention will help you make measurable improvements. Remember, the goal is not just to hit better shots during practice but to carry those skills confidently onto the course.

Don’t forget the importance of simulating real-game conditions. Recreating the pressure and unpredictability of the course during practice ensures you’re ready for high-stakes situations. Whether it’s making a clutch putt or chipping close from an awkward lie, your preparation will give you the edge.

Finally, commit to tracking your progress and celebrating small victories along the way. Improvement takes time, but with focus and dedication, your short game will become a reliable weapon for saving par and achieving your golfing goals.

For more structured drills and practice plans, check out our Golf Practice System. With expert guidance and proven strategies, you’ll have everything you need to refine your short game and take your performance to the next level.

Now it’s time to hit the practice green and put these tips into action. The more you practice with purpose, the more confident you’ll feel, and the fewer strokes you’ll leave on the course. Let your short game shine!