AU coaches have spent over 15 years evaluating amateur golfers, and there is one universal trap almost every high-handicapper falls into: spending an hour smashing a driver at the range and only five minutes tapping putts before heading to the first tee. When athletes ask about short game versus long game training and where they should focus, the answer usually hurts their ego. Hitting a 280-yard drive straight down the middle feels incredible, but if it takes you four more shots to get the ball in the hole from 50 yards away, that beautiful drive is completely wasted.
Many athletes hit a scoring plateau because they prioritize aesthetics over efficiency. A great long game gets you to the green, but an elite short game actually puts the score on the card. Proper, structured coaching balances both disciplines. Knowing how to allocate your practice time effectively is the absolute fastest way to drop your handicap, save par from the rough, and finally break 90, 80, or even 70.
Why the Short Game Dictates Golfer Development
Statistics do not lie. For the average amateur golfer, over 60 percent of all shots in a round occur inside of 100 yards. You only hit your driver 12 to 14 times a round, but you will use your putter 30 to 40 times. Developing elite short game skills—like distance control on lag putts, crisp wedge contact, and bunker proficiency—translates directly to erasing mistakes.
When a golfer trusts their short game, the pressure on their long game completely disappears. If you know you can confidently get up-and-down from the fringe, you stop nervously trying to hit perfect, pinpoint iron shots into every green. In-game performance improves because the athlete plays with freedom rather than fear. For long-term development, building a foundation around the green teaches the exact same kinetic sequencing and impact positions required for the full swing, making your long game naturally more consistent.
Best Drills to Balance Your Short and Long Game
If an athlete wants to see their scores plummet, they must stop blindly beating drivers and start practicing with intention. A top-tier AU coach will implement a balanced practice plan that sharpens both ends of the bag. Here are foundational drills to master both the short and long game:
- The Leapfrog Drill (Short Game: Distance Control)
- How to perform: Starting 10 yards from the fringe, the athlete pitches a ball that lands just onto the green. The next pitch must land past the first ball, but as close to it as possible. The goal is to see how many balls you can fit between the fringe and the hole without going long.
- Why it works: The short game is entirely about distance control, not direction. This drill builds incredible touch and calibrates the brain to understand exactly how big a swing corresponds to a specific carry distance.
- Coaching tip: Keep the swing tempo identical on every shot; simply lengthen the backswing for farther distances.
- Common mistake: Trying to hit the ball harder with the wrists to gain distance instead of simply taking a longer, smooth swing.
- The Clock Drill (Short Game: Pressure Putting)
- How to perform: Place four to six golf balls in a circle around the hole, exactly three feet away (like numbers on a clock). The athlete must sink every single putt consecutively. If they miss one, they must start the entire circle over.
- Why it works: Three-foot putts are where rounds are saved or ruined. This drill adds genuine mental pressure to practice, forcing the golfer to commit to their line and stroke under stress.
- Coaching tip: Keep the head completely still and listen for the ball to drop into the cup rather than looking up to watch it.
- Common mistake: Peeking up early, which pushes the shoulders open and causes a missed putt to the right.
- The Feet Together Drill (Long Game: Balance and Rhythm)
- How to perform: The athlete takes their normal stance but places their feet completely touching each other. They hit 7-irons at 75 percent effort, focusing purely on rotating their torso.
- Why it works: A wildly inconsistent long game usually stems from swaying laterally off the golf ball. With the feet together, any lateral sway will cause the golfer to lose balance and fall over. It forces pure, centered rotation.
- Coaching tip: Focus on brushing the grass gently to create solid contact, not digging a massive divot.
- Common mistake: Trying to swing at 100 percent speed, which instantly destroys balance.
- The Impact Bag Drill (Long Game: Compression)
- How to perform: Using a heavy, padded impact bag (or an old duffel bag filled with towels), the athlete takes their downswing and strikes the bag, freezing at the exact moment of impact.
- Why it works: Many amateurs cast their hands, flipping the clubhead past their wrists before impact, resulting in weak, floating shots. Hitting the heavy bag trains the hands to stay ahead of the clubhead, compressing the ball for maximum distance.
- Coaching tip: At impact, the hips should be rotated open toward the target, and the hands should be pressed forward.
- Common mistake: Letting the wrists break down and scoop upward into the bag.
Connect with a Private Golf Coach: https://athletesuntapped.com/browse/golf/
Common Mistakes Golfers Make in Training
Even the most dedicated golfers will plateau if their practice ratio is completely flawed. A great AU coach will identify and fix these common training mistakes immediately:
- The 90/10 Range Trap: Most amateurs spend 90 percent of their practice time hitting full shots and 10 percent putting. Elite players flip that ratio. You should spend the majority of your time practicing from 100 yards and in.
- Hitting Without a Target: Smashing a 7-iron straight out into an open field builds zero course strategy. Every single practice swing—whether a drive, a chip, or a putt—must be aimed at a specific, measurable target to build actual alignment skills.
- Scooping the Chips: When amateur golfers get around the green, they often try to help the ball into the air by flicking their wrists upward. The club has loft built into it for a reason. You must hit down on the ball to make it go up.
- Ignoring the Pre-Shot Routine: Amateurs often rake a ball over and hit it within two seconds. On the course, you only get one chance. You must practice your full pre-shot routine—standing behind the ball, picking a line, taking a deep breath—on the driving range to make it a habit.
How Private Coaching Optimizes Your Practice Plan
Going to the practice facility without a plan is just expensive exercise. A generic YouTube video cannot tell you if you are losing strokes because of a poor driving angle or a bad putting grip. This is exactly where a private golf coach accelerates your improvement.
In a one-on-one setting, an AU coach acts as an objective evaluator of your entire game. They will analyze your scorecards, identify exactly where you are bleeding strokes, and create a customized 60/40 practice plan. If your driver is costing you penalty strokes, they will fix your swing path on the range. If you are three-putting every green, they will recalibrate your stroke on the putting green. This targeted, detail-oriented training builds immense confidence and guarantees that every minute you spend practicing translates directly to lower scores.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Training
How Much Time Should I Spend on the Short Game vs the Long Game?
AU coaches highly recommend a 60/40 or even 70/30 split in favor of the short game. If you have an hour to practice, spend at least 35 to 40 minutes chipping, pitching, and putting, and use the remaining 20 minutes to hit irons and drivers.
What Exactly is Considered the “Short Game”?
The short game generally encompasses any shot taken from 100 yards and in. This includes pitching from the fairway, chipping from the rough or fringe, escaping greenside sand bunkers, and all putting.
Should a Beginner Focus on Driving or Putting First?
Beginners should always learn golf from the green backward to the tee. Learning to putt and chip teaches the fundamental mechanics of grip, posture, and impact. Once you can consistently make solid contact on a 20-yard pitch, scaling up to a full driver swing is significantly easier.
How Do I Stop Chunking My Chip Shots?
Chunking a chip (hitting the ground heavily before the ball) usually happens because your weight falls onto your back foot. Ensure that 70 percent of your weight is resting on your lead leg (the one closest to the target) and keep your hands slightly ahead of the ball through impact.
Can I Practice My Short Game at Home?
Absolutely. You can practice your putting stroke on your living room carpet using a simple target, like a coffee mug. You can also practice chipping mechanics in your backyard by hitting plastic wiffle golf balls into a laundry basket. Daily short game repetition builds incredible touch.
Find a Private Golf Coach: https://athletesuntapped.com/browse/golf/
Conclusion
Deciding where to focus between your short game and your long game is not about choosing one over the other; it is about recognizing how they work together to produce a score. Golfers need an instructor who will build a powerful, repeating full swing while demanding absolute precision around the greens. When athletes swallow their pride, step away from the driver, and commit to mastering their wedges and putter, they see their handicap drop faster than they ever thought possible. Trust your stroke, balance your practice, and save your pars.
About Athletes Untapped
Athletes Untapped connects athletes of all sports with experienced private coaches who specialize in mental performance, sports psychology concepts, and competitive mindset training. Through personalized instruction and structured training plans, AU coaches help athletes eliminate performance anxiety, master their internal dialogue, and completely dictate their emotional response to adversity.
Find an experienced coach near you: https://athletesuntapped.com
Learn from our very best AU coaches!
