It’s a typical Saturday morning. You arrive at the course, full of optimism, ready to play the round of your life. Today’s the day you finally break 80. Or 90. Or just avoid the kind of golf that makes you contemplate throwing your clubs in a lake.
And then it happens. A bladed chip that rockets across the green like it’s late for a flight. A delicate pitch shot that somehow goes six inches. A putt that never had a chance. Before you know it, you’re scribbling down another double bogey, wondering why you even bother.
Here’s the brutal truth: your long game isn’t the problem. Your short game is.
60% of shots happen within 100 yards of the green, and if you’re a mid-handicapper, improving your chipping, pitching, and putting could save you four to eight strokes per round. That’s not a guess—that’s straight from the numbers.
Want to stop donating golf balls to the course and actually lower your handicap? These five drills will get you there.
1. The Hula Hoop Drill (Phil Mickelson’s Secret to Scoring)
Phil Mickelson is the king of short-game wizardry, and this drill is why.
🔹 Set Up: Place three hula hoops at 40, 50, and 60 yards.
🔹 The Goal: Chip balls into each hoop using different wedges. Miss? Start over.
🔹 Why It Works: Forces you to develop pinpoint distance control instead of just hoping for the best.
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Quick Fix: Struggling with consistency? Keep 60% of your weight on your lead foot. It stops you from flipping your hands and hitting those nightmare skulls and chunks.
2. The Clock System (Dave Pelz’s Formula for Dialed-In Wedge Play)
Ever hit a wedge shot and have zero clue how far it’ll go? That’s because you’re guessing. Dave Pelz doesn’t guess.
🔹 The System: Picture your swing like a clock. Take the club back to 7:30, 9:00, and 10:30 with each wedge.
🔹 The Result: You now have 12 stock distances with just three clubs. No more indecision.
Pro Tip: Pair this with the Hula Hoop Drill to really fine-tune your short-range distance control.
3. The Gate Drill (Brad Faxon’s Putting Accuracy Fix)
Three-putts are killing your score. Stop them before they start.
🔹 Set Up: Place two tees just wider than your putter head from six feet away.
🔹 The Goal: Stroke 10 putts through the gate without touching the tees.
🔹 Why It Works: Forces you to control the putter face, which is everything in putting.
Bonus Tip: Let your trail elbow brush your torso in the backswing. It keeps everything smooth and eliminates that ugly wrist flick.
4. The Coin Drill (Tiger’s Go-To for Deadly Lag Putting)
Your approach putts shouldn’t be a wild guess. Tiger Woods figured this out a long time ago.
🔹 Set Up: Place a coin two feet past the hole.
🔹 The Goal: Lag putts should stop between the hole and the coin—never short.
🔹 Why It Works: This alone reduces three-putts by 63%.
And if you’re still leaving everything short? Remember Tiger’s rule: “Never up, never in.”
5. The 3-Club Challenge (The Drill That Separates Pros from Amateurs)
If you always reach for the same wedge around the green, you’re missing out on easy up-and-downs. This drill forces you to learn how different clubs react.
🔹 Set Up: Chip to the same hole with a 7-iron, gap wedge, and lob wedge.
🔹 The Goal: Get all three shots inside five feet.
🔹 Why It Works: Teaches you trajectory and roll-out differences—essential for scoring.
Pro Move: Watch pros on TV—they rarely use the lob wedge unless absolutely necessary. Take the hint.
The Short Game Cheat Code
Want to drop five strokes instantly? Focus 80% of your practice on putting, chipping, and wedges from inside 100 yards. The best ball-strikers in the world still miss 40% of greens—but they don’t panic, because their short game bails them out.
You don’t need Tour-level skills. You just need a plan. And now you’ve got one.
