Tips for improving your short game

The short game of golf can be a tricky one to master and it is often crucial in helping you score par or under on a hole. It is all well and good being able to hit the ball as close to the green from the tee - that’s the easier part. But when it really matters is when you need to pitch your ball up the green and put your ball into the hole without throwing shots away. That’s why we’ve collected a few tips on how to improve your short game.

Firstly, what is your short game? It’s the shots you take that are shorter shots, including chips, pitches and putting.

Contact points

It is important to remember there are two contact points that will help improve your shot; where your club head touches the ball and where your club head hits the ground. To help improve your short shot, you need to utilise and enhance both of these together to help create that perfect shot.

Stance

If you square up to your short shot this will cause more of an abrupt swing and contribute to the wrong type of swing necessary for a successful shot. You do not want to stand too close or too far from the ball; getting the right distance between you and ball is crucial in helping you to provide the right swing and power behind your shot. There isn’t a standard rule of thumb when it comes to the “correct distance” as it is person specific, due to everyone being different and having different swings etc. Generally, golf coaches suggest to stand where you can find the middle of the club face.

Face and angle

Depending on the distance of your shot will determine how much face needs to be shown. For example, if you need to pitch your shot above a raise in the ground, or you’re in the bunker near the green, then you need to get your ball out of its current situation and placed firmly on the green.

Possessing more of an open face will result in your shot going further up in the air, helping you to get the necessary height to clear any obstacles you may have, but won’t cover much in the way of distance. You won’t need to worry about overshooting the green as this alone will not possess that sort of power; unless that is, you provide the power through your swing.

Having the club head at the right angle is also vitally important in these types of shots. If you angle your club head in the wrong direction, coupled with the wrong amount of face on the clubhead on show, then this will place your ball in the wrong location. This will then force you to take an extra shot which you would not necessarily need to take.

Swing

When taking a shorter shot you do not want to have a huge, powerful swing. If you want to pitch your ball onto the green then a mid swing (raising the club no higher than your waist) would be sufficient, although don’t get too carried away - these can still pack a punch in power and see you overshooting the green.

If you’re putting, you definitely do not want to be using a full or mid swing. You want to gently push the ball, guiding and gliding it along the green and into the hole.

Hopefully with these helpful tips and practice, you’ll be able to help improve your short game and aim towards lowering your handicap too.

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