The short game in golf: the complete guide to scoring around the green

What is the short game in golf?

The short game in golf refers to all shots played around the green, at a distance of a wedge or less (approximately 100 meters and under). It includes the chip shot, the pitch shot, the lob shot, the bunker shot, and the putting. Unlike the long game, it relies on precision, feel, and distance control, not power.

In other words, as soon as you shift your focus from "hitting the ball far" to "placing the ball close to the hole," you're in the short game. This is the most accessible area for improvement, as it requires neither exceptional physical condition nor a high swing speed. A beginner can reach a very good level with targeted repetition, whereas gaining distance off the tee would require months of technical work.

What are the short game shots in golf?

The game consists of five families of shots, to be chosen according to the distance, the lie of the ball and the obstacles to overcome:

• The roll (chip) approach : low trajectory, lots of roll, the safest move.
• The pitch approach : a little height to get over an obstacle, then a moderate roll.
• The lobbed approach : high ball that stops quickly, reserved for difficult situations.
• The bunker exit : a shot played in the sand, where you hit the sand and not the ball.
• Putting : the ball rolled on the green with the putter to the hole.

Each of these shots corresponds to a specific technique and situation. Here's what you need to know to distinguish them and when to use them.

The roll approach: your most reliable shot

As soon as you have a clear green in front of you and few obstacles, the bump and run is the safest choice. It requires less timing than a lift shot and offers much better distance control, as the ball spends most of its path on the ground. A 7, 8, or 9 iron, or a pitching wedge, is sufficient: the more closed the clubface, the more the ball rolls. The stroke resembles a long putt—compact and consistent, without straining your wrists. For detailed technique and drills, see our guide on the roll approach in golf.

The up-hand approach: the versatile shot

When you need to get past the edge of the green, a rough area, or a small obstacle, the pitch shot is the best compromise between safety and control. It's played with a wedge (often a pitching wedge, 52° or 54°), aims for a landing zone on the green rather than the pin, and tolerates a light roll. It's the "standard" short game shot for most amateurs. Discover how to make it consistent in our dedicated article. the approach shot in golf.

The lob approach: to be played only when necessary

The lob shot launches the ball very high to bring it to a complete stop, ideal when the flag is short or there's little green left. It's also the most demanding shot in the short game: played without the right lie and technique, it results in many thin shots and topspins. The coach's rule is simple: only lob if you absolutely must. Otherwise, opt for a bump and run or a lob. Our guide on the lob approach in golf details the role of the bounce and the mistakes to avoid.

The bunker exit: let the sand do its work

The bunker is impressive because it seems to demand a spectacular shot. In reality, the logic is reversed: you're not trying to hit the ball cleanly, but to get the club into the sand a few centimeters behind it, so the sand propels it towards the green. The sand wedge is the go-to club thanks to its loft and bounce. The primary objective: to get out in one shot and leave a playable putt. All the keys are in our article on bunker exit in golf.

Putting: the most played shot of all

Putting alone accounts for nearly 40 of the shots in a round. Two key factors immediately lower your score: distance control on long putts (finishing within a one-meter circle) and reliability on short, one-meter putts. A short, consistent routine mechanically reduces three-putts. To delve deeper into green reading and distance control, read our guide on putting in golf.

How far does the short game cover in golf?

The short game generally covers the area between 0 and 100 meters from the green. Below 20 meters, it's called a chip; between 10 and 40 meters, a pitch; and beyond that, a wedge shot. The common guideline is simple: any shot played within the distance of a wedge or less falls under the short game.

The choice of club depends on the desired ratio between flight and roll. A pitching wedge offers a versatile compromise, a sand wedge launches higher and rolls less, and a lob wedge launches very high but requires greater precision at impact. To refine these choices according to the situation, our guide explains Which club to use for a golf approach.

Chip or pitch: what's the difference?

The chip and the pitch are the two most common approach shots, and they are often confused. The difference lies in the trajectory: the chip is a low shot, with little flight and a lot of roll, played close to the green; the pitch rises higher, rolls less, and is used to clear an obstacle or stop the ball more quickly. A simple rule of thumb: if you can make the ball roll, chip; if you need to clear something or stop it short, pitch.

Why is the minigame so important for your score?

On a golf course, a large proportion of shots are played around the green. For amateurs, score losses almost always stem from the same "double errors": missing the green, then missing the approach shot, and finally three-putting. It's this chain of mistakes that transforms a bogey into a double bogey, not a ten-meter drive that falls short.

The good news is that this area offers the best return on investment in terms of time spent. You won't gain 30 meters off the tee in a season, but you can make your approach shots and putts significantly more consistent in just a few weeks.

Consider a classic scenario: you miss the green by 20 meters. A player aiming for the flag with a lift shot risks a thin shot or a topspin, and sometimes ends up having to chip again. A player who opts for a bump-and-run shot gets the ball onto the green almost every time, then only needs to two-putt. On a scorecard, this simple change in decision eliminates the majority of double bogeys.

How to choose the right shot around the green?

The golden rule of the short game can be summed up in one sentence: play the simplest shot possible. The longer the ball is on the ground, the less you depend on perfect timing, and the lower your risk of error. Here's a quick decision guide depending on the situation:

When in doubt between two options, always choose the one that's more grounded. This discipline alone saves several strokes per round without the slightest change in swing.

How to improve at the small game: the training method

The best short game training is the kind you can repeat weekly with measurable goals. Don't just hit balls randomly; each drill should have a specific target. A 30- to 45-minute session, twice a week, is more than enough to see tangible results on your scorecard.

Structure your session around three blocks. First the dosage Play a range of distances (5 shots at 20m, 5 at 30m, 5 at 40m with the same wedge) to establish reliable reference points while maintaining the same tempo. Then the drop-off point Place towels or hoops as landing zones at 5, 8, and 12 meters, and aim for the zone rather than the flag. Finally, the pressure The "up & down" exercise, where you hit ten balls around the green and count the number of pars saved (one approach shot + one putt). This exercise is the closest to real-life golf.

Always finish with short putts from one meter: missing one is more costly than an average drive. Record only one metric per session and look for improvement over four weeks. For a complete, ready-to-use exercise plan, see our golf approach drills, And for an overview of the entire sector, our A complete guide to golf approaches.

In practice, alternate between two typical sessions. The first, lasting 45 minutes, focuses on scoring around the green: 10 minutes of chip shots from three different positions, 15 minutes of simple pitch shots to a landing area, 10 minutes of bunker shots, and then 10 minutes of a one-ball approach shot followed by a putt and a complete routine. The second, lasting 30 minutes, tackles three-putts: 10 minutes of short putts to within one meter, 10 minutes of distance control between 6 and 12 meters, and 10 minutes of "nine-ball" drills (three distances, one attempt per ball). By maintaining the same exercises for four consecutive weeks, you'll see real progress rather than just an impression.

Working on your short game at the Belvédère Golf Course

Improving your short game requires a place to practice with real reference points. At Golf du Belvédère in Saint-Martin-Bellevue near Annecy, the 250-meter multi-level driving range and the practice green dedicated to approach shots and chipping allow you to work on your bump and run shots, pitches, and shots from the green under real course conditions. This is a decisive advantage: you immediately validate your shot on the course, not just on a mat.

Our state-certified instructors support every level, from beginners learning the art of chipping to ranked players looking to improve their putting under pressure. And because the club boasts a 9-hole course, you can follow up a short game session on the driving range with immediate application of your skills in real game situations—the best way to translate practice into strokes gained on the scorecard.