How can golfers improve their short game accuracy?

Improving short-game accuracy starts with understanding why those shots matter and what commonly causes inconsistency. Mark Broadie at Columbia University uses strokes-gained analysis to show that shots around the green and putting carry outsized influence on scoring; when players struggle inside 100 yards they lose more strokes than poor drives. Dave Pelz of Pelz Golf has documented through on-course coaching that poor distance control and face-angle management are the two leading causes of missed short shots. The consequence is not only higher scores but increased mental pressure, altered course strategy, and less enjoyment of the game—factors that drive many players to over-practice full swings while neglecting the most score-sensitive area of play.

Technique: setup, alignment and stroke
Accurate short play requires a repeatable base: stance width, weight distribution, and clubface control. Greg Rose at the Titleist Performance Institute emphasizes that limited, efficient body motion and consistent wrist hinge reduce variability. For chips and bump-and-runs, a slightly narrower stance with weight favoring the lead foot and a square clubface produces predictable contact. For pitch shots, controlling the length of arc rather than forcing wrist flicks improves distance consistency. Putting accuracy is similarly rooted in setup—eyes over the ball, stable lower body, and a pendulum-like stroke. Coaches at the PGA of America recommend a pre-shot routine to stabilize setup and reduce anxiety, which often causes rushed or decentered strikes.

Practice: deliberate, measured, and contextual
Deliberate practice informed by measurement beats hours of unfocused repetition. Pelz recommends distance-control drills that break the green into zones and require players to stop the ball inside target areas. Using simple feedback—counting how many shots land in a two-yard circle—or technology such as a launch monitor gives objective measures of dispersion and spin. Broadie’s analytics-driven approach suggests practicing the shots you face most often on your course, because context-specific practice transfers better to scoring situations. Environmental nuance matters: links-style courses with firm turf reward bump-and-run shots, while wet, coastal conditions demand higher, landing shots; adapting technique to turf and weather reduces error.

Course management and cultural considerations
Short-game accuracy influences how a player approaches holes and how courses are preserved. Accurate chips reduce run-off into native areas, protecting sensitive turf and habitat on municipal links and resort courses. In regions where short grass is scarce or greens run fast, local playing cultures favor conservative, ground-based shots; learning these traditions improves both performance and social integration on the course. Conversely, overreliance on high-risk techniques can lead to repeated recovery shots, greater wear on greens, and strained relationships with course staff.

Mental skills and equipment choices
Confidence in the short game comes from reliable routines, realistic expectations, and equipment matched to your turf and swing speed. Wedge bounce and grind choices affect contact in sandy or soft conditions; getting fitting advice from a club fitter or a PGA professional reduces mismatches that create mishits. Combining biomechanical attention from sources such as Greg Rose at the Titleist Performance Institute, targeted drills from Dave Pelz of Pelz Golf, and the scoring perspective of Mark Broadie at Columbia University creates a balanced approach that lowers scores, preserves course resources, and makes golf more enjoyable.