Saving strokes on your scorecard isn’t about booming 300-yard drives, it’s about what you do in the crucial 100 yards leading up to the hole. This area is called the short game, and it's where scores are made and broken. This guide will walk you through exactly what the short game is, breaking down the core shots - putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker play - so you can understand not just how to hit them, but more importantly, when to hit them.
In simple terms, the short game encompasses all the shots you play from roughly 100 yards and closer to the green. It’s the art of finesse, control, and strategy. You've probably heard the old saying, “drive for show, putt for dough,” and there’s a ton of truth to it. While a long drive feels fantastic, the average amateur golfer wastes the most strokes around the greens.
Mastering your short game means you can salvage a good score even on a bad ball-striking day. A poor tee shot followed by a solid short game recovery can still lead to a par. That’s the power of these shots. The ultimate goal is to get "up and down" - which means getting your ball from off the green into the hole in just two strokes (one shot onto the green, followed by one putt).
To do that effectively, you need to understand the four fundamental pillars of any great short game:
Let's look at each of these so you can build a more reliable game around the greens.
Think of these four shots as different tools in your toolkit. Using the right tool for the job makes everything easier. Learning the unique technique for each is the first step toward shooting lower scores.
More than 40% of all golf shots are hit with a putter. If you want to make an immediate impact on your score, this is the place to start. The goal? Make everything inside of five feet and eliminate stressful three-putts from your game.
A consistent setup creates a consistent stroke. Here are a few simple checkpoints:
The best putting strokes are powered by the large muscles, not the small, twitchy ones in your hands and wrists. Think of your arms and shoulders forming a triangle. The goal is to move this triangle back and forth like a pendulum, rocking your shoulders.
Avoid any conscious effort to "hit" the ball or "flick" it with your wrists. A smooth, simple rock of the shoulders will send the putter head back and through on a consistent path, allowing the ball to roll purely off the face. The length of your backswing dictates the distance, a longer putt requires a longer, smoother pendulum swing. A short putt needs a short, compact swing.
Chipping is your high-percentage shot when you’re just off the green. The idea is to hit a low-flying shot that lands on the green as soon as possible and rolls the rest of the way to the hole, just like a putt.
Use a chip shot when there are no obstacles (like a bunker or thick rough) between you and the hole, and you have a good amount of green to work with. Think "less air time, more roll time."
The chipping motion feels very similar to a putting stroke, but with a different club and setup.
Pitching is for when you need to get the ball airborne. It's a higher, softer shot that’s used to fly over hazards or to stop the ball quickly on the green when you have less green to work with.
Use a pitch when an obstacle lies between you and the pin, or when the hole is cut close to the edge of the green and you need the ball to land softly. It's a shot with more air time and less roll time.
A pitch shot is essentially a miniature version of your full golf swing.
Greenside bunker shots can be intimidating, but they are surprisingly simple once you understand the basic concept: you don't actually hit the golf ball. Instead, you swing the club a couple of inches behind the ball with the intention of hitting the sand. The sand will splash and cushion as it pushes the ball out and onto the green.
The #1 rule is to Commit and Swing! Hesitation is a killer in the sand.
The secret is to aim for a spot about two inches behind the ball. Take a full swing, but instead of hitting the ball, your target is the sand. You must fully accelerate all the way through the sand as you follow through. Remember, the sand moves the ball, so your only goal is to make a confident swing and just splash the ball out on a cushion of sand.
Knowing how to hit each shot is only half the picture - knowing when to hit what shot and picking the right shot for the situation is most important. To keep this as simple as possible, just follow this easy decision-making process whenever you approach a shot from around the green:
Improving your scores in golf isn’t about some hidden secret, it's about building a strong, reliable game closer to the hole. Consistently getting up and down - by understanding the purpose for each type of shot and choosing the right one for the situations at hand - is the most direct way to see your handicap dropping.
Building that confidence and trust in your ability comes from good practice and smart decisions on the course itself. So if you are ever standing over a shot - undecided between whether to chip or pitch - or looking at a nasty lie in the bunker, it can help to consult our Caddie AI. You can ask us detailed questions any time, such as the real differences between different short game shots, to build your knowledge of the course. We're here to take the guesswork out of the game and allow you to play with confidence and enjoyment.
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