5 Short Game Drills That Will Instantly Save You Strokes

If you’re looking for a quick way to chop a few shots off your scorecard, start around the greens. The numbers don’t lie—65% of shots happen inside 100 yards. And according to the latest coaching insights for 2024–2025, the fastest improvements don’t come from smashing drivers—they come from mastering the little shots that feel way bigger once you’re sweating over a par save.

The good news? You don’t need a full swing overhaul or a new wedge that costs more than your first car. These five short game drills, pulled straight from PGA professionals and Tour-proven systems, will help you tighten things up fast—and maybe even make up for that tee shot you just hooked into the trees.

1. The Four-Shot Chipping System

Danny Maude, one of the sharpest short game minds out there, updated his 2025 chipping method with a system that feels almost too simple. It’s built around four basic shots:

• Putt with Loft: A basic chip that feels like a putting stroke, but gets a little airborne.
• Hinge & Hold: Adds a bit of wrist hinge to create spin and stop the ball quickly.
• The Fish’s Tail: Perfect for those awkward lies when you need a soft pop.
• The Parachute Shot: A high, soft-landing lob when you absolutely need the ball to behave.

Each shot builds on the next, giving you options instead of panic when you miss a green. Because let’s be honest—you’re going to miss greens. It’s golf.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck between bumping a shot or trying (and failing) a hero flop, this system gives you a reliable roadmap, not a guessing game.

2. The Line Drill

Most amateurs treat chipping like a mini golf swing. Arms-only, no body movement, hoping for a miracle. That’s where the Line Drill steps in.

Here’s how it works:

• Stand naturally and let your arms hang—notice the slight bend.
• Keep that relaxed connection between your triceps and your ribs.
• Swing while maintaining that connection—no flying elbows, no overactive hands.

It’s weirdly satisfying to feel your body moving as one unit. Plus, it makes clean, crisp contact way more repeatable. Next time you’re tempted to stab at a chip, remember: smooth swings win short games.

3. The Three-Club Drill

Variety isn’t just the spice of life—it’s the secret to a reliable short game. This drill teaches you how different clubs react without changing your swing.

Grab a:

• 7-iron
• 9-iron
• 52° wedge

Pick one landing spot and hit it with all three clubs. You’ll quickly see how trajectory and roll-out change, even if your motion stays the same.

This simple trick saves you from pulling the wrong club when the pressure’s on. Because nobody wants to skull a 60-degree wedge trying to chase it across the green.

4. Extended Shaft Pitch Drill

Pitch shots can get ugly fast when the wrists take over. If you’re chunking half your pitches or blading them across the green, it’s time to quiet the hands.

Here’s what you do:

• Stick an alignment stick (or an old shaft) into the butt end of your grip.
• Let it extend past your lead side.
• Hit pitch shots without letting the stick jab you in the ribs.

It sounds a little barbaric—and yeah, it kind of is—but you’ll instantly know if you flip your wrists. Keeping the hands stable through impact leads to better distance control, more spin, and fewer wedge tantrums.

5. Hoola-Hoop Ladder Drill

Distance control separates decent short games from great ones. And no, “just hit it softer” isn’t a real plan.

The Hoola-Hoop Ladder Drill dials in your feel by working through small incremental distances:

• Place an umbrella or target 5–10 feet away.
• Start hitting short pitch shots toward it.
• Gradually back up a few feet after every successful hit.

It’s sneaky hard—and incredibly effective. You’ll stop hammering 20-footers 15 feet past the hole and start giving yourself tap-ins for par. Which, let’s face it, is the dream.

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Golf isn’t fair. But mastering these short game drills makes it a whole lot less cruel. Next time you chunk a chip or leave a pitch short, just remember: improvement doesn’t come from luck. It comes from better habits, built one small shot at a time.

If you’re ready to take your short game even further, check out the official PGA tips on improving your chipping and pitching straight from the pros.