How to Perfect Your Short Game: Putting and Chipping Tips

When it comes to lowering your golf scores, it’s not just about smashing drives down the fairway. In fact, the magic often happens within 100 yards of the green. Your short game—putting and chipping in particular—is where rounds are won (or saved), and where confidence on the course really takes shape.

Putting Tips: Turning Three Putts into One Putt

Master Your Distance Control

Speed is everything. If you’re constantly leaving putts short or racing them past the hole, your pace needs attention. A great drill is to practice putting to the fringe from varying distances—not aiming for the hole, just trying to get it close to the edge. It builds feel quickly.

Read the Green Properly

Instead of standing behind your ball for just a few seconds, take your time. Walk around your putt and look at it from the low side. Greens aren’t flat—let your eyes do the work before your stroke even begins.

Keep It Simple

Fiddling with your grip, stance, or stroke mid-round usually leads to trouble. Find a comfortable, repeatable setup and stick with it. Consistency is key.

Chipping Tips: Getting Up and Down Like a Pro

Use the Bump and Run More Often

Not every chip shot needs a high, spinning trajectory. The bump and run—where the ball lands just on the green and rolls out like a putt—is reliable and low-risk. Try using an 8- or 9-iron and focus on a putting-like motion.

Set Up with Intent

A solid chip starts with a good setup. Feet close together, weight slightly forward, and hands ahead of the ball. Keep your wrists quiet and let the shoulders control the motion.

Avoid the Fluff

Chunked chips? It could be because you’re trying to lift the ball. Instead, think “strike the ground,” not “scoop the ball.” Trust the loft of the club to do the work.

Practice Smarter, Not Longer

You don’t need to spend hours grinding away. Even 15-20 minutes of focused chipping and putting a few times a week will work wonders. Mix it up—challenge yourself with different lies, slopes, and distances.

Improving your short game doesn’t just lead to better scores—it builds confidence. There’s nothing quite like saving par from a tough spot or sinking a clutch putt after a shaky hole.

If you’re planning a golf trip or looking for expert advice to sharpen your game on tour, we’d love to help. Contact us via email at [email protected], give us a call at +44 28 7032 6707, or let’s get on a Zoom Call to discuss it further by clicking HERE.