18 Sep How to improve accuracy in your short game
An experienced golfer knows this well: the difference between a good round and a truly memorable one is not measured in yards off the tee, but in inches around the green. It is in those tense moments, when the ball rests on the closely mown grass and the hole seems to watch you in silence, that the scorecard is truly decided.
Picture the scene. You reach the 16th hole, a par 4 you have played with strategy in mind. The ball lies some 40 yards short of the green – a comfortable distance. Your playing partner has just sent a long but erratic shot into the rough, and now the pressure is on you. Leave your ball within two metres of the flag and you have a clear birdie chance. Miss by five or six, and you will likely be fighting to save par – or worse, drop a bogey that spoils the round. That is the power of the short game: the art of turning opportunities into results.
Short game, golf’s great differentiator
The statistics are undeniable: in a full 18-hole round, over 60% of strokes are played from short range. Yet so many golfers devote countless hours to the driver, while their approach shots and chips get only a fraction of that attention. The outcome is predictable: players who hit powerfully off the tee but throw away strokes in the final yards.
Mastering the short game is the quickest path to lowering your handicap. It is the part of golf where improvement comes fastest – and where precision becomes a true art.
Technical foundations: accuracy begins at setup
No short shot can succeed without solid fundamentals. Before thinking about spin, flight or strategy, you must first focus on posture.
- Stability: feet slightly apart, with around 60% of your weight on the front foot.
- Hands ahead: positioned just in front of the ball, creating a firm angle through impact.
- Compact swing: the shorter and more controlled the movement, the easier it is to repeat consistently.
The goal is not power, but confidence. A reliable short-game swing should feel like your signature: compact, familiar and repeatable.
Club selection: building your repertoire
One of the most common mistakes is assuming wedges are the only option for the short game. In reality, a skilled golfer adapts the club to the lie and the situation:
- Pitching wedge: for medium, controlled trajectories.
- Gap wedge: perfect for those 70–90 yard shots when you need a full but precise strike.
- Sand wedge: the go-to for bunker escapes or high shots with a soft landing.
- 9-iron: surprisingly effective for bump-and-run shots when you want more roll than flight.
The key is to practise the same shot with different clubs. That way, you learn not just distance, but how the ball reacts on landing.
The art of visualising the shot
The best players in the world all agree: before they swing, they see the shot in their mind. They picture the landing spot, the bounce, the roll, the finish. That mental image is as vital as the mechanics themselves.
At Vistabella Golf, many players discover that developing this ability to imagine the ball’s path helps them connect more naturally with the strike. Golf, after all, is not just mechanics – it is also intuition.
Drills to sharpen accuracy
If you want to take your short game to another level, simply hitting random balls on the practice ground will not suffice. You need specific, structured exercises:
- The circle of trust: place several tees around the hole to form a circle one metre in diameter. Aim to leave eight out of ten balls inside it. Over time, reduce the circle to increase difficulty.
- Variable distances: alternate shots from 30, 50 and 70 yards, never twice from the same spot. This builds adaptability and prepares you for the realities of the course.
- One club, three shots: take a single club – for example, a sand wedge – and practise hitting high, medium and low trajectories. This enhances feel and versatility.
- Chip & putt in sequence: after every chip, complete the putt. This simulates on-course pressure and trains continuity.
The mental factor: calm under pressure
Short shots demand as much from the mind as from the body. Most errors are not down to poor technique, but to tension. That fear of failure that makes you rush the swing or lift your head too early.
The antidote is routine. Breathe, set up, pick your landing spot, and execute. Nothing more. Treating each shot as a simple ritual will help you stay composed even in the most decisive moments.
Training your short game at Vistabella Golf
At Vistabella Golf, everything is designed to help you refine your accuracy from close range. Our putting green beside the Clubhouse and dedicated practice bunker provide the perfect setting to fine-tune your repertoire of shots. The outstanding course maintenance ensures consistent surfaces where every bounce and roll behaves predictably – just as they do on the world’s top courses.
Coupled with the expertise of our professionals and the breadth of our facilities, you can enjoy tailored practice sessions that take your short game further. Here you don’t just practise – you evolve as a golfer.
Picture a late afternoon in the heart of the Costa Blanca. The sun casts golden tones across the course, the silence broken only by the crisp sound of ball meeting green, and with each strike you edge closer to that feeling of absolute control. That is the essence of golf we want you to experience at Vistabella Golf.
The luxury of precision
Improving your short game is not only about lowering your handicap. Above all, it is about enjoying the sport to its fullest. Few sensations compare to leaving your ball a metre from the flag after a 40-yard pitch. That blend of technique, concentration and satisfaction is what makes golf unique.
In a world full of noise and distraction, the short game offers a rare luxury: control. That moment when the shot comes off exactly as you imagined, and everything feels perfectly aligned.
Book your tee time at Vistabella Golf
The next step towards mastering accuracy begins here. Come and discover a course designed by world champion Manuel Piñero, where every detail is considered to deliver a truly exceptional experience. Practise in our short-game areas, learn from first-class professionals, and watch your golf reach a new level of excellence.
Book your tee time at Vistabella Golf today and experience the difference of playing one of the Costa Blanca’s finest courses.