Instruction
Can anyone learn to be a short-game legend?
From time to time we have all marveled at the shot-making ability of golf’s short-game legends: Paul Runyon, Raymond Floyd, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paul Azinger and of course, Seve Ballesteros. What they did in the primes of their careers rivaled magic in a superhuman demonstration of raw talent… or was it? Was their talent innate and special to them or was it learned? And if it was learned, can anyone learn it?
Paul Azinger, who wanted so desperately to be as good as he could possibly be at golf, discovered that it wasn’t imagination and talent that separated the best from the rest; it was choices. The best looked at the pending shot through the prism of alternatives. They could see that there were at least five different shots, three of which were “pitch shots” and two of which were versions of different “chip shots,” and each could be used from the lie and situation they were facing. All that was required was to decide which one to use, set up correctly and then execute the one chosen.
The short answer to the question, “Can anyone become really good at the short game,” is YES! The how is really simple and straightforward. Learn as many short-game shots as possible and then get really good at them.
One of the things I highly recommend serious golfers do is to program the DVR to record every televised golf tournament. Go back, stop the action and then study every relevant shot in slow motion.
For example, let’s look at how Hideki Matsuyama executes a Phil Rodgers basic pitch shot using a lofted wedge. His setup is slightly open, ball centered, hands centered and weight is centered to maybe slightly back. There isn’t a divot so the attack angle is shallow, the bounce is engaged, club face remains open, hips rotate to the left and the hands never get above the belt line. The ball flies low, but softly onto the green. It checks on the second bounce then dribbles to the pin.
Since Matsuyama is in contention what seems like every week, I have witnessed this same shot a dozen times from different lies and under many different circumstances. Skip to 44 seconds in the video below to watch him in action at the 2016 Hero World Challenge.
Using the DVR, I have identified five separate and distinctive chip shots, three different and distinctive ways to play a standard bunker shot, three basic ways to pitch the ball and any number of lobs and flops. I simply watched what the best players in the world do and then copy each shot exactly as played. On the flip side, I also saw what was attempted and didn’t work.
Another thing I have my coaching clients do is to chart each and every round they play using a special game-improvement scorecard that I developed many years ago. This scorecard asks the questions why and how shots were lost or dropped. This form of charting reveals patterns, identifies weaknesses and puts a spotlight on what needs improvement. I will be happy to share this scorecard with you if you write to me at edmyersgolf@gmail.com.
Earlier, I stated that developing a really good short game was simple and straightforward, but it isn’t easy. To be great requires dedication, discipline and an awful lot of specialized practice. I use a process I call “Perfect Practice,” which consists of individual segments I label as Remedial, Practice, Drills and Rehearsals.
Remedial is basic learning used to develop a particular skill or shot, which is best done step by step in slow motion or in a static mode. For example, you want to learn the firm-wristed, basic chip shot as taught by Hank Haney. You would learn the pieces of the basic setup: slightly open stance, feet close together but not close to touching, hands forward, weight forward and ball back. You would then learn the correct way to move the club and strike the ball. The emphasis in this segment is learning correct positions, stations, angles and locations, not on speed.
Practice by definition is repetition to improve skill. Skills are improved by moving the club and striking the ball correctly hundreds, if not thousands of times. The emphasis is placed on correctly improving speed and fluidity. Correct movement develops “muscle memory,” implicit memory, motor skills and motor programs. As the motor programs are developed, refined and habitualized they begin a process known as “feel.”
Eventually each motor program, or shot, will have its own individual feel. Once the ability to demonstrate smoothly, correctly and repetitively a particular shot set-up a “Practice Book” and move into drills. I will be happy to share a practice book in what I call “Hogan Lifetime Format,” again by email. Just ask and I will send it out as an attachment.
Drilling is the process concerned and focused on results. As the feel for each shot is developing, it becomes necessary to refine the action to determine the effectiveness of our “Repetitive Practice.” I use a system known as “Deliberate Practice” to establish a baseline and then track improvement in objective and quantitative terms.
“Deliberate Practice is an activity that’s explicitly intended to improve performance by reaching for objectives just beyond your level of competence, while providing objective feedback on results involving high levels of repetition,” says Dr. K Anders Ericsson, a renowned “expert on experts.”
If a shot is to be effectively used during play, the success parameters must be known. Can I land the ball where I want? Does the ball check or release as required? In my system, drilling is the essence of the scoring process and forms the foundation for training and preparation.
Rehearsals are simulations of play where pressure, stress and consequences are introduced. This is much more than playing golf or practicing. The object, as it is in a dress rehearsal for a Broadway show, is to see what works. Just as important is to see what doesn’t work in particular situations. You’ve learned a shot, you’ve practiced and drilled it. Now, can you do it when it matters?
By the controlling of circumstances and the resulting consequences, every shot can be put to the test in a simulated pressure cooker. Rehearsing is time efficient and has proven to be a more effective training method over time than actually playing in tournaments. Failure in rehearsal results in enlightenment and then more practice and drills. Failure in competition results in severe consequences such as higher scores, embarrassment and self-loathing.
As Bobby Jones once said: “The secret of golf is to turn three shots into two.” To paraphrase, “The secret of the short game is to never turn two shots into three.” So, unless you hit 100 percent of the greens in regulation, you need a dependable, multifaceted short game.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Mbwa Kali Sana
Mar 7, 2017 at 12:55 pm
The best short game player ever was SEVE BALLETEROS .What Butch says ,and also the well advised commentators OF this blog ,fits well with what SEVE said and wrote .Just go over what hé describes in his not so many books .Réview also THE films OF how hé ridiculed THE best players in THE world at THE various ( very difficult ) BRITISH OPENS hé won ,by the virtue OF his miraculous short game and putting .Like another GREAT short game player Phil MICKELSON ,his long game was really lousy ,but his outstanding recoveries and short game made up for his shortcomings in his driving .
M’y advice is to keep THE Ball as low as possible ,and make it run .Forget THE high parachute shots ” a la MICKELSON” ,there are easy to miss .I saw SEVE missing Some OF them as well as sand shots hé wanted to spin too much .Évén GOD CAN make mistakes !
David Ober
Mar 7, 2017 at 9:57 am
Fantastic article and somewhat of a crusade of mine as well.
Lately I’ve been telling my low handicap buddies:
1) Assess the lie
2) Assess whether you can spin the ball or not
3) Assess whether you can elevate the ball or not
4) Assess the pin and where it sits on the green
5) Take info from the steps 1 – 3 and apply to step 6)
6) Choose a shot that fits your current lie and the current pin
Sometimes there will be multiple options. You just need to pick one and commit to it. Sometimes there will only be one or two options. The key, though, is to go through the first few steps, which most golfers do not do every time. And you need to do it every time, or you will have blow-up short game holes.
TheCityGame
Mar 8, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Great comment, as alwasy, Obee.
Dave R
Mar 7, 2017 at 12:32 am
By far best article I’ve read on this site.
knoofah
Mar 6, 2017 at 4:46 pm
Excellent article! Thanks for the downloadable material as well. It’s something I will definitely put into practice.
Thomas Cannon
Mar 6, 2017 at 9:56 am
I think that there is pretty clearly some inherent abilities that the first golfers named in the article do have. I do like that the article discusses the shots that the better players see when they are faced with these shots, though. I think the biggest take away for the average golfer would be that they need to see more than one way of executing a shot within 100 yards or around the greens, and out of “trouble” around the greens. Do I believe that you can learn to be like Phil? No, not exactly, and I think the biggest difference is the mental aspect, and the fact that he sees these shots, and many, many more when he steps over the ball, and that part is inherent, BUT, if a golfer can have 4-5 ways to hit a given shot, they will save themselves plenty of strokes. Next is learning to use them appropriately in a given situation.
TheCityGame
Mar 6, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Phil Mickelson had “inherent abilities”?
Maybe the inherent ability of his parents to build a short game area in his back yard.
ButchT
Mar 6, 2017 at 9:44 am
Very helpful article! Thanks, Butch.
Radim Pavlicek
Mar 6, 2017 at 6:44 am
Excellent article. I want to know more about Rehearsals.
rymail00
Mar 4, 2017 at 3:03 pm
Awesome article!!!
Thanks!
Ryan
Philip
Mar 4, 2017 at 11:23 am
Really – “Failure in competition results in severe consequences such as higher scores, embarrassment and self-loathing” – I guess what you and I define as severe are slightly different. I enjoy golf, thus embarrassment and self-loathing are not a consequence of higher scores from spending a day outside with friends or competitors. The article has many good points though and myself, I have learned quite a lot from re-watching recorded shots from the tours. I find there is a tendancy (for me) to think the shots are more complicated than they really are. Watching the tours helps me to clarify what I visually want to happen in my mind before attempting or practicing a shot. It will be a fun season this year.
rymail00
Mar 4, 2017 at 10:41 pm
Ed,
I tried to email you through the email posted in the 2ND paragraph, but I keep getting “invalid” email address.
My question was what do you do mentally to make the “rehearsal” more important mentally vs. say running the short-game “drills”, or a normal day to day short game practice session. How do you get into the mind frame of tournament conditions (or pressure sencario) on the practice green, hope that makes sense?
Also is there a place we can find that “short game scorecard”, and how to score it?
Ed Myers
Mar 5, 2017 at 8:36 am
Sorry for the link, it has been reported. To answer your question, I use an escalating system that “controls the circumstances” and delivers severe and certain consequences for failure. I outline that process in Hogan’s Ghost.