Foundation 04
The short game
Chipping, pitching, and bunkers. Roughly 60% of your shots happen inside 100 yards — this is where beginners improve fastest.
2 min read
If you want to lower your scores quickly, ignore the driver for a while and learn to get the ball up and down from around the green. Most amateurs spend about 60% of their strokes inside 100 yards — yet practice almost none of it.
The basic chip
A chip is a small shot that spends most of its life rolling like a putt:
- Narrow stance, ball back of center, weight favoring your lead foot.
- Hands slightly ahead of the ball; lean the shaft toward the target.
- Make a quiet, putting-like stroke — the loft of the club does the lifting.
Pick your landing spot
Don't aim at the hole — aim at a spot on the green where you want the ball to land, then let it roll out. Reading that roll is the real skill of chipping.
Pitching and bunkers
- Pitch shots (higher, more carry) use a longer swing and more wrist hinge, with a sand or lob wedge. Same idea: accelerate smoothly through the ball.
- Greenside bunkers scare beginners, but the trick is simple: hit the sand about two inches behind the ball and keep swinging through. The sand throws the ball out — you never strike it directly.
You'll hear
The short game is for later — first learn to crush your driver.
What's true
The short game is where beginners save the most strokes and gain the most confidence. An hour chipping helps your score far more than an hour bombing drivers.
Key takeaways
- Around 60% of shots happen inside 100 yards — practice accordingly.
- Chip with a putting-like stroke and let loft do the work.
- Aim at a landing spot, not the hole; plan the roll.
- In bunkers, hit the sand behind the ball and swing through.