Short Game
The short game comprises all shots around the green and from short distance — chip, pitch, bunker shot and putt.
This area is called the short game. It begins where the full swing ends, roughly speaking within about 100 metres in front of the flag, and ends with holing out. From the chip via the pitch to the putt the largest part of all shots in a round arises here. Even good players hit only a portion of greens in regulation; the rest of the score is decided in the short game. That is why it is considered the fastest lever for a better handicap — far more effective than ten metres more driving distance.
In practice it looks like this: your approach shot finishes ten metres left of the green in the semi-rough, the flag stands in the middle. Instead of building another bad shot out of frustration, you calmly chip the ball to one metre at the flag and hole the putt — par saved, even though nothing went to plan. You train exactly these saves best on the chipping area or the practice green of your facility, with fixed exercises instead of aimless ball bashing. Scrambling, that is, saving pars from bad positions, also belongs entirely in this area.
The biggest misconception concerns practice time. Most amateurs spend almost the entire practice session on the driving range, even though only a fraction of their shots arises there. Professionals turn the ratio around and work predominantly on the short game. Second error: that the short game is a matter of feel and cannot be trained. In truth, chip distance control, bunker technique and putting over short distances respond extremely well to regular repetition. Whoever invests half an hour twice a week sees the results after just a few rounds on the scorecard.
FAQ
What improves my handicap fastest?
The short game, not more driving distance. The largest part of your shots arises within 100 metres in front of the flag, and here most mistakes are made — or saved. Whoever regularly practises chip, pitch and putt sees the effect after just a few rounds on the scorecard.
How often should I practise the short game?
Turn the usual ratio around: instead of spending the whole practice session on the driving range, invest at least half of the time in the chipping area and the practice green. Even two half hours per week with fixed exercises achieve more than aimless ball bashing. The short game is not feel, it is repetition.
What exactly counts as part of the short game?
Everything that comes after the full swing: the chip from short distance, the higher pitch over obstacles, the bunker shot around the green and the putting on the green. Saving pars from bad positions also belongs completely to it. In short: wherever precision is more important than distance.