The short game in golf can be the most challenging aspect of the sport for many players. While hitting long drives off the tee may seem impressive, it's the finesse and precision required for chipping and putting that can truly make or break a golfer's game. Mastering the short game demands a great deal of skill, touch, and concentration. 

Unlike the full swing, which allows for some margin of error, the short game requires a high level of consistency and control. Ultimately, success in golf often comes down to proficiency in the short game, and those who can excel in this area are likely to see significant improvements in their overall performance on the course.

And when done well, the short game can be golf’s most satisfying aspect. Successfully executing a delicate chip shot to get the ball close to the pin or sinking a long putt can bring about a sense of achievement that is hard to replicate in other aspects of the game. The short game also offers opportunities for creativity, as players can employ various techniques and strategies to navigate around hazards and onto the green. 

Additionally, the short game often plays a crucial role in determining a player's overall score, making every successful chip, pitch, or putt feel like a significant accomplishment.

All of which is to say that it’s worthwhile to try and improve your short game. And online golfing coach legend Gary Wiren is here to help you do so. 

Coach Wiren is a member of six Golf Halls of Fame, including the PGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame, and has honorary memberships or distinguished service recognition from Sweden, Italy, New Zealand, and Japan. Wiren was a collegiate conference champion, won the South Florida Seniors PGA title, and the South Florida long-driving championship, played in the USGA Senior Open and the PGA Senior Championship and has won the World Hickory Championship. 

Coach Wiren’s ‘Great Golf Drills Vol. 2 - The Short Game featuring Dr. Gary Wiren’ course will teach you which shots to play in different situations, how to develop the touch necessary for a great short game, and will help you to learn the correct principles of practicing the short game and dramatically lower your scoring average.

Dialing For Distance

Getting into golf can be quite daunting for several reasons. First, mastering the sport demands unwavering dedication and a willingness to invest time and effort in honing your skills. Secondly, navigating the multitude of equipment options can be overwhelming for beginners.

Plus, the cost of golfing (particularly when factoring in green fees and equipment expenses) can be a deterrent for many. Understanding the intricate rules and etiquette of the game (and getting into a proper golf mindset) might also be difficult for newcomers to comprehend. 

Despite these obstacles, the gratification and enjoyment that golf offers make overcoming these challenges well worth the effort, proven by golf becoming the preferred hobby for countless people worldwide. It's a sport that can be enjoyed at any age, making it a lifelong pursuit that offers opportunities for continued growth and improvement. And the beauty of golf courses and the sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering a difficult shot all make the experience incredibly fulfilling.

All of this is to say that overcoming the initial struggles of getting into golf is incredibly worthwhile if you decide to stick with it. And with a few fundamental golfing tips, you can get over your rookie woes and fall in love with this magical sport even sooner. 

And Kathy Whitworth has a few tips that will speed up your path to golfing expertise. 

With 88 career wins, Kathy Whitworth holds the all-time record for both men's and women's U.S. Golf Tours. She also finished in second place in 95 tournaments. Kathy's professional golfing career spanned 32 years, from 1959 to 1991. She is the first woman to earn a million dollars in LPGA tournament play. Kathy Whitworth is a seven-time LPGA Player of the Year and has won six Major Championships. She was the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1965 and 1967 and was inducted into the LPGA's Hall of Fame in 1975.

With her professional career now behind her, Coach Whitworth now spends her time passing her decades of elite gold knowledge on to future generations of players. And her ‘Golf Tips and Techniques Featuring Kathy Whitworth’ course is a gold mine of information about how you can boost your golf skills.

How to Aim

Golf is a game that requires a combination of a few different skills. The first is the ability to put the ball in play with a tee shot. The next is the approach shot to the green. The last step, and most important, is the short game. The short game is a combination of pitching, chipping, bunker shots, and putting.

Why is short game so important?

A golfer’s short game is a part of golf that is often overlooked. Many golfers neglect their short game because they want to be able to hit long drives. Golfers think they will play well because they hit the ball further than others. This is a common misconception. The majority of shots are played on or around the green. This is why it is instrumental to have a sharp short game.

Types of short game shots

Pitching: Mastering the pitching technique is essential for achieving accurate and controlled shots around the green. Focus on maintaining a consistent tempo, using the proper club selection, and executing a smooth, controlled swing. Develop a reliable short backswing and follow through with a downward strike to generate optimal height and spin.

Chipping: Chipping requires precision and touch. Use a variety of clubs, such as a pitching wedge, sand wedge, or even a hybrid, to execute a range of chip shots depending on the lie and desired trajectory. Practice distance control by varying the length of your backswing and focusing on the rhythm of your swing. Experiment with different landing spots to develop versatility in approaching the green.

Bunker Shots: Bunker shots can be intimidating but with proper technique, they can be mastered. Start by opening the clubface and aiming slightly left of your target. Position the ball slightly forward in your stance and focus on making a shallow, controlled swing. Use the sand to your advantage by entering the sand a couple of inches before striking the ball, allowing the club to slide underneath it.

Putting: Arguably the most crucial aspect of the short game, putting demands precision and consistency. Develop a consistent putting routine, focusing on alignment, grip, and a smooth pendulum-like stroke. Practice lag putting to improve distance control, and dedicate time to mastering short putts to ensure confidence under pressure.

Putting in golf can be incredibly frustrating. The delicate nature of judging the green, coupled with the pressure to execute a flawless stroke, often leads to intense frustration when putts don't go as planned. Even the smallest mishaps in alignment or speed can result in a missed putt, making it a source of frustration for golfers at all levels.

Putting is difficult for several reasons. Firstly, reading the greens accurately to determine the break and speed of the putt is a highly challenging task. Additionally, maintaining a smooth and consistent putting stroke, especially under pressure, is crucial for success. The smallest error in alignment or pace can result in the ball missing the hole, making it a mentally and physically demanding aspect of the game. And because putting can seem so hopeless for even the most seasoned golfers, the failure to perform on the putting green can ruin an otherwise great day at the course. 

There are plenty of putting lessons online where you can glean some solid tips on how to improve various aspects of your game. But there is only one Geoff Mangum. 

Coach Geoff Mangum has spent over 25 years researching and studying everything there is to know about putting. He is recognized as the world's top expert in how the brain and vision work when targeting and making movements in putting. His unique approach combines traditional knowledge with modern science. 

Mangum is one of the top putting coaches in the world and has a very successful website called puttingzone.com, where Mangum has been investigating the science of how the brain and body operate to perform the “skills” of putting for the first (and still the only time) in golf history, revolutionizing the game that has long only taught ad hoc tips and drills mostly for stroke alone, but without teaching how perceptions form and guide movements and how “brains do ‘physics’  predicting and executing reading, aiming, stroke, and touch”.

Coach Mangum’s ‘Reading Greens and Making Putts’ course discloses many tips that only someone who has dedicated their life to putting can glean. Regardless of where on your golf journey you are right now, the following bits of advice from Coach Mangum are guaranteed to improve your game on the green. 

Lag Putting