Around the Green

Your short game - shots from 50 to 75 yards - often determines your score. If we break down the numbers, it’s clear where most of your practice time should be spent. Consider these greens in regulation (GIR) averages: 

• PGA TOUR: 12 GIR 
• Scratch Golfer: 11 GIR 
• 5-Handicap: 8 GIR 
• 10-Handicap: 6 GIR 
• 15-Handicap: 4 GIR 
• 20-Handicap: 3 GIR 

While estimates may vary slightly, the trend is undeniable - most golfers miss more greens than they hit. 

A common question: How can a tour player hit roughly the same number of greens as a scratch golfer? The answer is simple: course difficulty and tournament pressure. On a typical tour setup, professionals could easily give a scratch golfer four to five shots per side. But regardless of level, scoring happens around the green. 

There are four basic shots to play near the green: chips, pitches, bunker shots, and putts. Putting is its own conversation, but let’s break down the other three with three fundamental rules: 

1. Putt whenever possible – It produces the most predictable results. 
2. Chip if you can’t putt – The second most reliable option. 
3. Pitch only when necessary – The least predictable and most difficult shot. 

These priorities are based on years of experience and observation. Now, let’s talk about practice. 

Why the Short Game Matters More Than You Think 

If a swing change helps you hit one or two more greens per round, that’s great—but you’re still missing 12 or 13. What you do with those missed greens will determine whether your handicap drops or stays the same. The ability to get up and down consistently is what separates good players from great ones. 

Yet, go to any driving range, and you’ll see nine out of ten golfers hitting full shots. Maybe one is practicing short game. Where’s the logic in that? 

Watching the Players Championship recently, I was struck by how often tour players saved par, even in brutal conditions. They’ve spent a lifetime honing their craft, but the lesson is clear: saving strokes around the green is a skill that can be learned. 

Feel vs. Mechanics in the Short Game 

The short game comes down to two things: mechanics and feel. The biggest reason golfers struggle isn’t feel - it’s mechanics. You can’t develop feel if you’re unsure about your technique. 

If you stand over a 50-yard pitch thinking about your swing, ball position, or clubface, your chances of hitting it close are slim. You need to be so confident in your mechanics that getting up and down feels routine. 

How to Improve Your Short Game 

Get your mechanics checked by a coach.

Use a launch monitor (like Track Man) to analyze key factors:  

• Face angle 
• Swing path 
• Contact point 
• Attack angle 
• Centered strikes (heel and toe hits ruin short shots) 

Prioritize short game practice. Spend twice as much time on short shots as you do on your full swing. 

Shift your mindset. The only thing you should be thinking about is distance control, not mechanics