Many golfers believe they have a good short game. They expect to hit relatively close wedge shots, recover fairly often when greens are missed, and limit damage with hard touch around the green.
These expectations are understandable. Short shots feel controllable compared to big swings with the driver from the top.
The swings are smaller. The target is closer. The margin of error seems larger.
However, seeing Shooting range Short game performance data from five, 15 and 25 handicappers, a clear pattern emerges: there is plenty of room for improvement.
“I have a wedge. Close it.”
From 50 to 100 yards, the expectation is simple: put the ball within 15 feet and give yourself a real chance to score.
In practice, this expectation rarely holds. Even when the shot feels solid, most wedge shots end up far enough to shift the focus from making shots to simply trying to save the putter and get out of there.
Wedge range from 50-100 yards
| Handicap | Average proximity | Within 15 meters | 30 feet out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 32–39 feet | 11% | 40% |
| 15 | 42–53 feet | 7% | 59% |
| 25 | 47–67 feet | 6% | 72% |
“I barely missed the green. That’s good.”
Missing a green is common for players at any level. When the ball ends up close to the putting surface, it is often assumed that the recovery will be simple.
Even from within 25 yards, raising and lowering is not automatic. For most players, the success rate remains below 50 percent. Many recovery shots fail to finish close enough to take the pressure off the ensuing putt.
Rates up and down
| Handicap | In general | Under 25 meters | 25-50 meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 47% | 56% | 25% |
| 15 | 34% | 43% | 16% |
| 25 | 25% | 35% | 9% |
“This is a simple chip.”
Shots inside 25 meters still have unpredictable results. For a five-handicap golfer, the average approach is 10 feet, and 15 percent of shots end up outside 20 feet. From 10 feet, the same player makes the putt less than half the time.
As your handicap decreases, these close chip shots end up closer to the hole, but no one guarantees themselves a par.
Chip shots under 25 yards
| Handicap | Average proximity | Within 5 feet | Outside 20 meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10 feet | 45% | 15% |
| 15 | 13 feet | 37% | 23% |
| 25 | 15 feet | 31% | 27% |
“At least I have a good shot.”
A short game shot that lands within 15 feet often feels successful. However, most shots from this range miss. A golfer with a 25 handicap makes only 12 percent of his putts from 12 to 18 feet. This stat should put some extra emphasis on the importance of your wedge shot proximity. From the six- to nine-foot range, the percentage gain nearly triples.
To me, this is one of the most important ways when looking at what to practice and how to apply this information. Hitting the green isn’t enough and getting it within 15 feet still isn’t enough. To improve, you have to approach it.
Setting prices made
| Distance | 5 Handicap | 15 Handicap | 25 Handicap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-9 feet | 44% | 36% | 30% |
| 9-12 feet | 34% | 22% | 17% |
| 12-18 feet | 19% | 16% | 12% |
My take on how to apply this knowledge to your practice
Improving your short game starts with adjusting your expectations and practicing to match reality. Now that you have a better idea of ​​where some of these weaknesses or misconceptions may lie, here’s a good way to target this type of practice.
- Practice landing zones, not hole locations: Choose a landing spot and adjust the speed and slope of the green instead of aiming directly for the pin.
- Alternate between the two targets when you practice: Change landing zones or fix any other shots to better simulate on-course decision making.
- Judge the practice by your average score: Ignore the chip and the one flying over the green. Hit 10 to 20 balls and focus on how close most of them land.
- Track the length of your first shot on each hole: You don’t need exact numbers. A general feel for whether you’re facing more eight-footers or 35-footers will tell you what to practice.
- Practice shooting with shots from the distances you face: For some golfers it means checking distance from 50 feet; for others, it means learning to convert more shots with a putt under 15 feet.
- Build a short game technique that is simple and repeatable: Aim is a move that holds up under pressure, not something that works every now and then. When you build it, you’ll start to notice more consistency in your stats and have even more insight into what will help you improve.
Final thoughts
I’ve made a lot of these assumptions on the course, expecting an easy chip to lead to an up-and-down routine. It doesn’t always work that way. The most effective practice for me has been focusing on distance control on shorter shots. When I check the landing zone, the results come much closer to my expectations.
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