HOW TO SAVE STROKES AROUND THE GREEN

Let's face it - we've all been there. You hit a decent drive, followed by an approach that just misses the green. Then, the nightmare begins. A chunked chip, a skulled flop shot, or three nervous putts later, and you've just thrown away 2-3 strokes in the blink of an eye. Are you ready to put an end to this frustration?

Here's the dirty little secret that tour pros don't want you to know: saving strokes around the green doesn't require crazy talent or hours of practice. What it does require is a simple, repeatable approach that works for weekend warriors like us.

Weekend golfer practicing simple chipping techniqueA simple, repeatable chipping technique can save you multiple strokes per round.

THE LOW-RISK APPROACH TO SAVING STROKES

Have you ever noticed how the best players in your weekend group seem to get up and down with boring, simple shots? Meanwhile, you're attempting flop shots that would make Phil Mickelson sweat, only to skull them across the green.

According to data from Shot Scope, the average 15-handicap golfer takes 2.78 shots to hole out from within 50 yards, while scratch players need only 2.45 shots. That difference might not seem like much, but it adds up to at least 6 strokes over 18 holes!

The solution isn't fancy techniques or expensive equipment—it's adopting a low-risk approach that focuses on consistency and smart decision-making.

Choose The Right Shot For The Situation

When I first started taking my golf game seriously, I'd try to hit high, spinning pitch shots around every green. Boy, was that a mistake! After countless chunked chips and bladed wedges, I learned a vital lesson: always choose the shot with the lowest possible risk.

Here's my simple hierarchy of short game shots, from lowest to highest risk:

  1. Putting (even from off the green)
  2. Bump-and-run with 7-9 iron
  3. Basic chip shot with pitching or gap wedge
  4. Pitch shot with sand or lob wedge
  5. Flop shot (absolute last resort!)

🎯 Shot Selection Strategy

  • ⭐ Always opt for the shot with the least risk that will get the job done
  • 🔍 Keep the ball low whenever possible—minimum air time, maximum ground time
  • ❌ Save flop shots for when there is absolutely no other option

Sarah Bennett, a PGA Specialist Coach, confirms this approach on Golf Monthly, demonstrating that simple techniques like the hybrid chip can help amateur golfers prevent shot leakage around the greens.

MASTER THE BUMP-AND-RUN

If there's one short game shot that will save you the most strokes, it's the bump-and-run. This shot is like a putt with a flying start—minimum air time, maximum ground time.

Last month, during a casual round with my buddies, I was struggling with my chipping. On the 12th hole, faced with a tight lie and about 15 feet of green to work with, I pulled out my 8-iron instead of my usual sand wedge. I played the ball back in my stance, hands forward, and made a putting stroke. The result? The ball bumped onto the green, rolled like a putt, and finished 2 feet from the hole. Easy par, and my buddies were impressed with my "skills."

Here's how to execute this shot:

  1. Choose a 7, 8, or 9 iron (or even a hybrid for longer shots)
  2. Set up like you're putting—narrow stance, ball slightly back of center
  3. Hands slightly ahead of the ball
  4. Make a putting stroke—no wrist action!
  5. Let the loft of the club get the ball just over the fringe, then let it roll like a putt

🎯 Bump-and-Run Technique

  • 🧠 Visualize a 747 airplane landing—touch down and roll to the cup
  • 🏌️ Keep your body quiet and use your shoulders to power the stroke
  • ✅ Maintain firm wrists throughout the stroke to ensure solid contact

According to golf instructor Brian Moose on Women's Golf, "It is easier to control distance if you get the ball rolling quickly. Try it, put a ball in your hand and roll it towards the hole, and then throw the ball up in the air and try to stop it near the hole. You will find it is easier to roll the ball and get it to stop near the hole."

THE HYBRID CHIP SHOT SAVIOR

Many weekend golfers struggle with traditional chipping because the sharp leading edge of wedges can dig into the turf. That's why the hybrid chip has become my secret weapon for saving strokes.

I first discovered this shot when I was playing at a course with thick rough around the greens. My usual chip shots were getting caught in the grass, leading to inconsistent results. On a whim, I tried using my 5-hybrid, and the result was eye-opening—clean contact and a predictable roll, every time.

Here's how to execute the hybrid chip:

  1. Set up as if you're putting, with the hybrid positioned like a putter
  2. Stand slightly further away due to the longer club length
  3. Grip down on the club for better control
  4. Make a simple putting stroke—no wrist hinge!
  5. The hybrid's curved sole will glide through the grass, eliminating fat and thin shots

This shot is particularly effective from:

  • Light rough around the green
  • Tight lies where you fear blading the ball
  • Fringes where the grass is slightly thicker
  • Areas where you need a predictable, low-trajectory shot

Golf simulators can be a great way to practice this shot during the winter months, allowing you to develop confidence without weather constraints.

READING THE GREEN BEFORE CHIPPING

One of the biggest mistakes weekend golfers make is focusing only on the chip itself, without considering how the ball will react once it's on the green. This oversight costs countless strokes.

Last summer, I watched my friend Mark hit a perfect chip that landed exactly where he aimed—only to roll 8 feet past the hole because he hadn't accounted for the slope. His three-putt from there cost him a double bogey on an otherwise well-played hole.

Before hitting any chip or pitch shot, I always:

  1. Walk onto the green and look at the terrain from behind the hole
  2. Identify any slopes, tiers, or subtle breaks
  3. Determine how these features will affect my ball once it starts rolling
  4. Adjust my landing spot accordingly

🎯 Green Reading Strategy

  • ⛳ Treat your chip like a putt—read the green before deciding on your landing spot
  • 🧠 Visualize the ball's entire journey, not just the landing spot
  • 💡 When in doubt, leave yourself an uphill putt

Bradley Turner, Director of Online Golf Instruction at Keiser University College of Golf, emphasizes in his course management article that "the general rule of golf course strategy is to keep the ball below the hole on fast greens... Putting uphill on fast greens allows a player to be a bit more aggressive, while putting downhill puts golfers on the defensive."

MASTERING THE BASIC CHIP SHOT

While the bump-and-run and hybrid chip are great options, there will be times when you need to execute a basic chip shot with a wedge. The key is keeping it simple and repeatable.

I've found that many weekend golfers struggle with chipping because they overcomplicate things. They try to manipulate the clubface, flip their wrists, or add unnecessary body movement. This leads to inconsistent contact and poor results.

Here's my simple approach to chipping that has saved me countless strokes:

  1. Choose the right club—typically a pitching wedge or gap wedge
  2. Narrow stance, feet slightly open to the target
  3. Ball position slightly back of center
  4. Weight favoring the front foot (60-70%)
  5. Hands ahead of the ball, maintaining the club's natural loft
  6. Use a simple pendulum motion powered by the shoulders
  7. Maintain firm wrists through impact
  8. Ensure your follow-through is slightly longer than your backswing

The biggest mistake I see among my weekend golf buddies is decelerating through impact. This causes chunks, skulls, and all manner of short game disasters. The solution is simple: make a shorter backswing and accelerate through the ball.

🎯 Basic Chipping Fundamentals

  • ⚠️ Never decelerate through impact—make a shorter backswing instead
  • ✅ Keep your lower body stable—chip with your shoulders, not your hands
  • 🔍 Focus on solid contact rather than trying to get fancy

THE DREADED BUNKER SHOT MADE SIMPLE

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a weekend golfer quite like a bunker shot. But it doesn't have to be this way. With a simple, repeatable technique, you can turn bunkers from a nightmare into a non-issue.

Last year, I was playing with a scratch golfer who got up and down from every bunker he found himself in. His secret? He had one simple bunker technique that he could replicate every time. He didn't try different fancy shots—he just executed the same basic technique with minor adjustments for distance.

Here's the simple bunker technique that has transformed my sand game:

  1. Open your stance significantly (feet aimed left of target for right-handed golfers)
  2. Dig your feet into the sand for stability
  3. Open the clubface slightly
  4. Position the ball forward in your stance
  5. Aim to hit the sand about 2 inches behind the ball
  6. Swing along your foot line (left of target for right-handers)
  7. Follow through fully—the sand will slow your club down naturally

One thing I've learned: bunker shots require commitment. Tentative swings lead to leaving the ball in the bunker or blading it over the green. Commit to hitting the sand with authority, and you'll see immediate improvements.

🎯 Bunker Success Keys

  • ⛱️ Dig your feet in—the more you dig, the lower you get, making it easier to slide under the ball
  • 💪 Commit to the shot—hesitation is your enemy in the sand
  • 👁️ Focus on a spot in the sand, not on the ball itself

PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE

You don't need hours of practice to improve your short game. What you need is purposeful practice that simulates real on-course situations.

I used to waste time hitting the same chip shot over and over from perfect lies. While this built some muscle memory, it didn't prepare me for the variety of situations I'd face on the course.

Now, I spend just 20 minutes a week on short game practice, but I make every minute count with these drills:

The Par-18 Drill

  1. Find a practice green and place 9 balls around it at varying distances and lies
  2. Your goal is to get up and down in no more than 2 shots (chip and putt) from each location
  3. Keep score, with par being 18 (two shots per station)
  4. Try to beat your previous best score each time

This drill simulates real on-course situations and adds a touch of pressure that helps prepare you for actual rounds.

The Three-Club Challenge

  1. Choose only three clubs for your short game practice (e.g., putter, 8-iron, sand wedge)
  2. Create different scenarios around the practice green
  3. Figure out how to use your limited club selection to handle each situation
  4. This forces creativity and helps you understand how different clubs can be used in various situations

Your golf training should include these practical drills to develop the skills that actually save strokes on the course.

MENTAL APPROACH AROUND THE GREENS

The biggest difference between good and poor short game players often isn't technique—it's mindset. The weekend golfers who save the most strokes around the green have a confident, decisive approach.

When I'm playing my best, I follow these mental keys:

  1. Commit fully to the shot and club selection—no second-guessing
  2. Focus on the landing spot, not the hazards or other trouble
  3. Keep expectations realistic—getting within 6 feet is a good result for most chip shots
  4. Have a short memory—don't let one bad short game shot affect the next one

Golf psychology plays a huge role in short game success. The pros aren't immune to short game nerves—they've just learned to manage them better than the rest of us.

🎯 Mental Game Keys

  • 🧠 Visualize the entire shot before you address the ball
  • ⏱️ Maintain a consistent pre-shot routine for all short game shots
  • 🏆 Focus on process over results—good process leads to good results over time

STOCK SHOTS VS. SPECIALTY SHOTS

The biggest mistake I see weekend golfers make is trying to hit specialty shots when a standard shot would do just fine. While it's fun to try and hit the high flop or the spinning pitch, these shots have a much lower success rate for non-professionals.

Instead, develop 2-3 "stock" shots that you can rely on in most situations:

  1. The bump-and-run with an 8-iron
  2. The standard chip with a pitching wedge
  3. The basic bunker shot with a sand wedge

Master these three shots, and you'll eliminate the majority of short game disasters from your game. Once you've perfected these basics, you can gradually add more specialized shots to your arsenal.

I was guilty of this myself until a humbling round where I tried to hit flop shots on three consecutive holes—all with disastrous results. Since then, I've stuck to my basic shots and seen my scores improve dramatically.

THE THREE-SHOT SHORT GAME SYSTEM

To simplify things even further, I've developed a three-shot system that covers virtually every short game situation:

Shot #1: The Hybrid Chip (When You Need Low and Running)

Perfect for:

  • Tight lies
  • Thick rough around the green
  • When there's plenty of green to work with

Shot #2: The Standard Chip (For Most Situations)

Perfect for:

  • Average lies around the green
  • When you need a bit more height than the hybrid chip
  • Most everyday short game situations

Shot #3: The High Soft Pitch (For Obstacles or Tight Pins)

Perfect for:

  • When you need to carry a bunker
  • Tight pin locations with little green to work with
  • Downhill chips where you need the ball to stop quickly

By categorizing your short game into these three options, you'll eliminate decision fatigue and develop greater consistency with each shot.

WHEN TO USE THE PUTTER FROM OFF THE GREEN

One of the biggest stroke-savers around the green is knowing when to use your putter from off the green. If there's a clean path between your ball and the putting surface, putting is often the lowest-risk option.

I've saved countless strokes by putting from 5-10 yards off the green when the situation allowed. The key is recognizing when this option is available and not being afraid to use it.

Consider putting when:

  • Your ball is on the fringe or just off the green
  • There's no significant rough or other obstacles between your ball and the green
  • You're on tight fairway-like grass
  • The green slopes away from you (making a chip shot more difficult to judge)

🎯 Off-Green Putting Strategy

  • ⛳ Remember: your worst putt is often better than your best chip
  • 🔍 Adjust your stroke strength to account for the slower grass off the green
  • 💡 Don't be afraid to putt from surprisingly far off the green if conditions allow

COURSE MANAGEMENT AROUND THE GREENS

Smart course management starts before you even hit your approach shot. Where you miss the green can be just as important as whether you hit it.

A concept called "short-siding" refers to missing the green on the same side as the pin, leaving yourself a difficult up-and-down. By avoiding short-side misses, you can give yourself much easier short game shots.

For example, if the pin is on the right side of the green, aim your approach toward the left-center. This way, if you miss, you'll likely miss left—giving yourself more green to work with on your chip shot.

When selecting your approach strategy, consider:

  1. Where is the safest miss that will give you the easiest up-and-down?
  2. Are there any hazards or slopes that make certain misses more problematic?
  3. What type of chip shot would you be most comfortable hitting from each potential miss location?

This forward-thinking approach has saved me countless strokes over the years. Sometimes, the best short game is avoiding difficult short game situations altogether!

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR SHORT GAME SUCCESS

The path to saving strokes around the green isn't complicated—it's about simplicity, consistency, and smart decision-making. Here are the key points to remember:

  1. Always choose the shot with the lowest possible risk that will get the job done
  2. Master a few "stock" shots rather than attempting a wide variety of specialty shots
  3. Keep the ball low and rolling whenever possible—this improves consistency
  4. Read the green before chipping to understand how the ball will react once it starts rolling
  5. Develop a simple, repeatable technique for bunker shots
  6. Practice with purpose, simulating real on-course situations
  7. Maintain a confident, decisive mental approach
  8. Use your putter from off the green whenever conditions allow
  9. Consider short game implications when planning your approach shots
  10. Remember: the goal is to get up and down, not to impress your buddies with spectacular shots

By following these principles, you'll see immediate improvements in your short game and save strokes on every round. The beauty of these techniques is that they don't require extraordinary skill or endless practice—just a smart, systematic approach that any weekend golfer can implement.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SAVING STROKES AROUND THE GREEN

What is the most important skill for saving strokes around the green?
The most important skill is choosing the right shot for each situation. Always opt for the shot with the lowest risk that can get the job done. For most situations, a simple bump-and-run or basic chip shot will be more effective than attempting a high-risk flop shot.

How can I improve my bunker play as a weekend golfer?
Focus on developing one simple, repeatable bunker technique rather than trying different fancy shots. Key elements include: opening your stance, digging your feet in for stability, positioning the ball forward in your stance, and committing to hitting the sand about 2 inches behind the ball. Commitment is crucial—tentative swings lead to poor results.

When should I use my putter from off the green?
Consider putting whenever there's a clean path between your ball and the green, especially when your ball is on the fringe or fairway-cut grass, when there are no significant obstacles between your ball and the green, or when the green slopes away from you. Remember that your worst putt is often better than your best chip.

What is the hybrid chip shot and when should I use it?
The hybrid chip is a versatile short game shot where you use a hybrid club with a putting-like stroke. It's particularly effective from light rough around the green, tight lies where you fear blading the ball, and areas where you need a predictable, low-trajectory shot. The hybrid's rounded sole helps the club glide through the grass without digging or catching.

How can I practice my short game effectively without spending hours at the practice facility?
Focus on quality over quantity with purposeful practice that simulates real on-course situations. Try the Par-18 Drill: place 9 balls around a practice green at varying distances and lies, then try to get up and down in 2 shots from each location. Another effective drill is the Three-Club Challenge, where you limit yourself to just three clubs for all short game shots, forcing creativity and versatility.

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SHORT GAME SECRETS FROM THE WEEKEND WARRIOR