Hello, fellow Duffer! Sarah Chen here, your Golf Instruction Editor, ready to talk about one of the fastest ways to shave strokes off your game: the short game. You know, those delicate chips and pitches around the green that can turn a potential bogey into a confident par. It’s an area where I see remarkable improvement in my students, from high-level amateurs to seasoned pros, and I truly believe anyone can master it with the right approach.
The truth is, even the greatest players don’t hit every green in regulation. As the article points out, “Tour players that you watch on television only average 13 to 14 greens hit per round.” This means they’re frequently relying on their short game magic to save par or even make birdie. If they weren’t getting up and down the vast majority of the time, they wouldn’t be playing for US Opens! This highlights just how crucial these shots are.
Many instructors, myself included, often say that if you want to lower your scores quickly, start with the “low hanging fruit.” For most golfers, that’s exactly what chipping and pitching are. Let’s dive into how you can improve your touch around the greens.
Mastering Your Setup for Chips and Pitches
A solid foundation is everything. Your setup for chipping and pitching is distinct from your full swing, designed to promote clean contact and control. Here’s what you need to focus on:
- Footwork: For chip shots, keep your feet close together, perhaps a clubhead’s width apart. This limits excessive body movement and encourages a more arm-and-shoulder-driven swing. For pitch shots, you can widen your stance a little bit to accommodate a slightly larger swing.
- Weight Distribution: This is critical! For both chips and pitches, you want to feel a significant portion of your weight, about 60-70%, on your lead foot. This forward pressure helps you hit down on the ball, ensuring clean contact before the turf.
- Ball Position: With chip shots, place the ball slightly back of center. This again encourages a downward strike and a crisp contact. For pitch shots, the ball can be pretty much centered in your stance.
- Hands Ahead: “Depending upon the lie you will usually have the hands slightly ahead of the ball.” This forward press helps de-loft the club slightly, promoting a lower trajectory and more consistent contact.
Here’s a quick summary of the setup basics mentioned in the source for easy reference:
Setup basics for chips and pitches:
1. Feet close together for chips; a little further apart for pitches.
2. Have 60-70% of your weight on your lead foot for every short game shot.
3. Ball position slightly back of center with chips; pretty much centered with pitches.
4. Hands slightly ahead of the ball.
5. Shirt buttons vertical with pitch shots and tilted toward target with chips.
Let’s talk about that last point on shirt buttons. When you set up for short game shots, imagine your shirt buttons forming a line. For chips, you want this line tilted slightly towards the target. This shifts your upper body slightly forward, reinforcing that crucial ball-first contact by moving the low point of your swing ahead of the ball. For pitches, keeping those buttons more vertical helps maintain a controlled, rhythmic motion.
The “Y” and “L” for Consistent Strikes
When it comes to the motion itself, let’s simplify it with some easy-to-visualize shapes:
- For Chip Shots: The “Y” Principle: In your setup, your arms and the club shaft should form the letter “Y”. The key with chipping is to maintain this “Y” throughout the swing. This means minimizing wrist hinge and using your shoulders to rock the club back and through. It’s a putting-like stroke with a slight elevation for loft.
- For Pitch Shots: The “L” Principle: Pitch shots require a bit more swing. As you take the club back, your lead arm and the club shaft should form an “L” at the top of your abbreviated backswing. You then replicate this “L” on the follow-through. The goal is to have the backswing and through-swing lengths be the same, ensuring balance and control.
Rotation and Club Selection
One common mistake I see is a stalling of the chest rotation on the downswing, leading to a “scooping” motion. This is the short game equivalent of casting in a full swing. Even on a short chip, your chest needs to rotate through the impact zone for solid contact. Think about rotating your chest towards the target as you swing through, allowing the club to work naturally down and through the ball.
When it comes to club selection, remember this golden rule: “the less loft you use the less risk you take.” If you have green to work with, consider a less-lofted club like an 8-iron or even a hybrid. Many of my students are surprised by how effective chipping with a hybrid can be. It’s “pretty much risk proof” compared to trying to flop a lob wedge off a tight lie!
Actionable Drills for Practice
As the article wisely states, “No one has ever gotten good at the short game (or any element of golf) without practice.” And it also reminds us, “Always make practice challenging so that shots on the golf course are easier.” Here are a few drills you can start using today:
Drill 1: The “Y” Maintainer (Chipping)
Try this: Set up for a chip shot, making sure your arms and club form a perfect “Y”. Place a headcover or a small alignment stick under your trail armpit and try to keep it snug there throughout your swing. This prevents excessive wrist hinge and encourages the shoulder rock that maintains that “Y” shape. Focus on keeping your weight forward and making a crisp, downward strike. Start with short chips of 5-10 yards and gradually increase the distance as you gain confidence.
Drill 2: The “L” to “L” Calibrator (Pitching)
Here’s a drill for pitching distance control: Take two alignment sticks and place them on the ground, forming a 90-degree angle. Stand over the ball with your lead foot next to the horizontal stick. Practice your pitch swing, making sure your lead arm creates an “L” with the club shaft on the backswing, reaching to about the 9 o’clock position (where your hands are level with your waist). Then, stop your follow-through when your lead arm again forms an “L” at the same height. Hit a series of balls with this specific swing length and note the average distance. This gives you a consistent baseline. Then, experiment with slightly longer swings (9:30, 10:00) and calibrate those distances. This method, using your lead arm to dial in distance, is incredibly effective, but remember, it “only works if you are making solid contact.”
Drill 3: The Chest-Rotation Finisher
To ensure you’re rotating through the ball, practice this: Set up for a chip or pitch. As you swing through impact, visualize your shirt buttons finishing pointing directly at your target. A great checkpoint is to have your chest facing the target and your belt buckle facing the target after you hit the ball. This prevents stalling and promotes a fluid, powerful motion that avoids the dreaded scoop. Focus on small, controlled movements where your body turns with the club.
Working on your short game is incredibly rewarding. It builds confidence and can truly transform your scores. Stick with these fundamentals, practice with purpose, and I promise you’ll start seeing those up-and-downs become a regular part of your game!
