Golf 101: The Short Game

In the game of golf, players are always looking for the next big thing that can help them shave a few strokes off their score. Players might consider spending money on new equipment but the quickest way to success is to practice the short game. The short game consists of chipping and putting and is the key to improving the game.

Some practical ways to improve the short game is to train using two techniques:  blocked and random practice. During a blocked practice, the golfer should focus on the technique of either the chip shot or the putting stroke. Working on the technique provides consistency of club to ball contact and decreases errors. During random practice, the golfer will emphasize ‘touch’ and ball placement on and around the green. Random practice will also better equip a golfer for a game-like situation. During a random chipping practice session, a golfer might place several piles of balls in various areas around the green and hit one shot from each area rotating until all balls have been hit. Similarly, a random putting session would involve the golfer placing a tee in the ground at various distances from the pin (3ft, 6ft, and 9ft) and then alternate putts from those areas.

Combining blocked and random practice will help you shave off those unwanted strokes. Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.