Such a big part of scoring comes from hitting the short game shot near the pin. From both personal experience and working with students, I have seen how often it is to leave these shots short, making the putt more difficult to convert.
Here are some common reasons why this happens and how you can improve.
1. Using your highest club
It’s easy to think that the highest club should always be used on the green, but this often leads to shots that come up short. The higher the club, the more swing it takes to get the ball to the pin. Especially if there are more greens to work with or a longer overall distance, consider using a club with a lower deck instead.
2. Inconsistent communication
High, high shots require strong technique and confidence. Proper posture and grip play a large role in making consistent contact.
Because pitch shots often require a larger swing, it’s important to maintain good posture by bending forward from the hips and letting the arms hang naturally. This helps bring the club down correctly and promotes mid-face contact.
3. Wedges don’t have enough bounce
Bounce is a rounded sole in the wedge that helps the club melt into the cool surface rather than digging into it. If the club meets the ground well, you can swing with confidence and hit the ball more consistently.
If the wedge has enough bounce, even a slight contact with the turf before the ball can still produce a decent shot because the club continues to slide instead of digging.
If players sometimes miss the shot because the club is too loose, they tend to hesitate to make a full enough swing, which can lead to frequent close shots.
4. To throw where you have to click
This may be the easiest adjustment you can make to get the ball to the pin.
If there is more roll space than the required carry, it is usually safer and more efficient to hit a low speed chip shot instead of a high pitch shot. Because the movement is small, even imperfect contact can still produce a great effect.
5. Not using low floor clubs
The smaller the stroke, the less chance of error. Using a club with a lower deck — like an 8- or 9-iron — can be a smart option if you have a lot of green to work with and room for the back pin.
Let the club choice help the ball travel the distance rather than trying to force a big swing. Lowering your scores can be as simple as balancing your short game, which includes both chipping and pitching.
