So much of good scoring comes from hitting short game shot close to the stake. From both personal experience and working with students, I’ve seen how common it is to leave these shots short, making the putt much more difficult to convert.
Here are some common reasons why this happens and how to fix it.
1. Using your higher club
It’s easy to assume that the higher club should always be used around the green, but this often leads to short shots. The higher the club, the greater the swing required to get the ball to the pin. Especially when there is more green to work with or a longer overall distance, consider using a club with a lower height.
2. Inconsistent contact
High and high shots require strong technique and confidence. The right attitude and grip play a large role in making lasting contact.
Because shooting at height often requires a greater swing, it is important to maintain good posture by bending forward from the hips and allowing the arms to hang naturally. This helps send the club into the ground properly and promotes center-to-face contact.
3. The wedges lack sufficient inflation
Bounce is the rounded heel in a wedge that helps the club slide through the ground instead of digging into it. When the club interacts with the ground properly, you can swing with more confidence and hit the ball more consistently.
If a wedge has enough bounce, even light contact with the ground before the ball can still produce a respectable swing because the club continues to slide rather than dig.
When players occasionally overswing because the club digs in too much, they are often reluctant to take a full enough swing, which can lead to consistently short shots.
4. Pitching when you should be chipping
This may be the simplest adjustment you can make to get the ball to the pin.
When there is more room to spin than the required carry, it is usually safer and more efficient to hit a lower velocity chip shot instead of a high pitch shot. Because the movement is smaller, even slightly imperfect contact can give a very good result.
5. Not using clubs with lower height
The smaller the stroke, the smaller the chance for error. Using a club with a lower height – such as an 8 or 9 iron – can be a smart option when you have a lot of green to work with and a back pin location.
Let your club selection help the ball travel the distance instead of trying to force a longer swing. Lowering your scores can be as simple as calibrating your short game, including scratching and pitching.
