Golf Short Game Practice Tips for the Beginners

The majority of your golf score occurs within 100 yards of the cup.聽 This is why the short game is the most critical aspect of your game to achieve to achieve a lower score.聽 You should try to dedicate half or more of your practice time to the short game practice including chipping, pitching, bunker shots and putting.

Below are several short game practice tips and drills to help you rapidly improve your short game!

Chip to Target Drill

This short game practice drill promotes distance control for short game chip shots.

1. Place one or more targets (e.g., towel) on the green between you and the cup.
2. From the fringe, chip to each target and land your chip shots within the targets.
3. Vary placement of your targets on the green and your chipping position off the green.

Bunker Splash Drill

This short game practice drill helps instill proper bunker shot technique into your short game.

1. Assume bunker shot address without ball.
2. 鈥淪plash鈥?the sand out of bunker onto green taking long, narrow sand divot.
3. Repeat drill 3 to 5 times, then execute shot with ball.

Pitch Shot Crisp Contact Drill

This short game practice drill encourages a descending blow for crisper golf pitch shots.

1. Place two tees 2 inches behind ball with top of tees visible.
2. Practice descending blow on ball making crisp contact while avoiding contact with tees.

Putting Alignment and Contact Drill

This short game practice drill helps ensure proper alignment and solid golf ball contact when putting.

1. Lay down two irons just wider than putter parallel to putting line. Practice 6 foot putts emphasizing smooth, square stroke.
2. Place two tees very close to toe and heel of putter making a 鈥済ate鈥?and place ball in middle.
3. Hit putts swinging through gate.

Designed by top PGA instructors for on-course play and off-course preparation, Golf Genie鈩?provides easy-to-absorb golf instruction, golf tips, golf practice drills and golf training aids to accelerate your development and rapidly lower your score.