Mastering Your Short Game

It’s Thursday and you’ve got this coming,

⛳️ Today we are talking about saving your short game!

For many, the short game is where rounds are won or lost. If you're having a good round, you'll still have several times where you will miss a green and you want to get close to the hole. If you're not hitting it well, the only way you're going to save your score is by having a really good short game. Let’s talk about two big mistakes I see all the time—and how you can fix them to improve your short game.

We’re next up on the tee, let’s go!

ONE IMPORTANT REMINDER

ONE TIP
Stop those two common misconceptions!

If you want to watch my breakdown of this tip, check it out here!

Please keep in mind I am talking about “standard” short game shots. Certain shots around the greens in very tricky situations require different setups. My hope today is we get better at the easy ones

Mistake 1: Too Much Forward Shaft Lean

A lot of golfers think leaning the hands way forward is the key to solid contact, but this actually causes the club to dig into the ground, leading to fat shots. The best players in the world don’t lean the shaft excessively. Instead, they keep it in a more neutral position, letting their body guide the club to do the work.

Mistake 2: Weight Shift Problems

Golfers often set their weight too far forward, hoping to guarantee a clean strike. But this often leads to swaying during the backswing, which throws off their balance and timing. The result? Either hitting behind the ball or flipping the wrists at impact—both killers to a consistent short game.

How to Fix These Mistakes

The linked video has great visuals of me going through and hitting the shots I am talking about.

Now that we know the problems, let's focus on how to fix them. Simple tweaks to your setup and movement can make a huge difference in your pitching and chipping.

Step 1: Go Neutral

Start with a neutral stance. You want your weight evenly distributed to give yourself a solid, stable base. This keeps you from falling into the traps of too much forward shaft lean or weight shift.

Step 2: Shift Weight Correctly

As you start your backswing, allow your weight to move into your lead side. This gives you the stability and control you need for a solid strike without swaying away from the ball. The best players rarely try to “stay on there lead side” they move into it in the backswing

Step 3: Let the Club Do Its Job

Through impact, let the club release naturally—don’t try to hold an angle. Letting the club head pass your hands will help you make better contact and use the bounce of the club properly.

How to Put It Into Practice

1. Setup: Get into a neutral stance with your weight evenly distributed.

2. Backswing: Shift your weight into your lead side.

3. Release: Let the club release through impact.

Here are the main takeaways:

1. Keep your setup neutral.

2. Shift your weight into your lead side during the backswing.

3. Let the club release naturally through impact.

Wrapping It Up

Improving your short game is one of the quickest ways to lower your scores. By addressing common issues like excessive shaft lean and weight shift, you’ll see a big difference in how you pitch and chip. Keep your setup neutral, shift your weight properly, and let the club do its job. With some dedicated practice, you’ll start to feel more confident and sharp around the greens. Now go own that short grass!

Remember, if you want the full breakdown video, you can click here

🎙️ Have you checked out my Podcast? Find it here
You can watch it below, or if you are a podcast listener,
Listen to hit here!

Hope you enjoy today’s tip, you can let me know what you thought at the bottom of this email!