Short-Game Drills Every Golfer Should Practice At Home

Over the course of my nearly three decades in golf, I’ve watched countless golfers obsess over their driving distance while completely ignoring the shots that actually save strokes. They’ll spend hours at the range bombing drivers, then wonder why they can’t break 90.

“But coach, I crushed that drive 280 yards!”

Yeah, and then you took four shots to get down from 30 yards out.

Do you realize that, on average, 60 percent of golf shots happen within 100 yards of the pin? Yet players still chase distance like it’s the holy grail of golf improvement.

Meanwhile, the short-game skills that actually matter—the stuff that turns bogeys into pars and pars into birdies—get completely ignored. But here’s what really gets me: you don’t even need to leave your house to master these shots. Your living room, backyard, even your office, can become a short-game laboratory.

Here’s a truth bomb that I wish more golfers would really pay attention to: if you practice your short game more, even at home, you will improve faster than you would otherwise. But only if you practice with purpose instead of just rolling putts around randomly.

The mistake that’s costing you strokes

I’ve taught thousands of golfers of all different levels and the vast majority make the same error: they think short game is just “feel” that can’t be practiced systematically. This mindset runs so deep that players will spend hundreds on new drivers while their wedge play stays stuck in mediocrity.

Last week, I watched one of my students miss six putts inside eight feet during a round. Not one putt had consistent speed or line. No practice routine, no fundamentals, no improvement.

That putting cost him any chance of breaking 80.

Seven drills that will transform your short game at home

Drill #1: The carpet putting track

Lay two alignment sticks (or yardsticks) on your carpet, creating a narrow channel just wider than your putter head. Roll putts through this track for 10 minutes daily.

This drill, in all of its simplicity, forces you to start creating a more reliable and repeatable path. Those scary straight four-footers will thank you.

Drill #2: The coin drill progression

Place a coin on your carpet and putt balls over it from three feet, focusing on consistent roll. Start with five successful putts, then move to six feet, then nine feet. This builds distance control and teaches you to hit up on the ball.

Drill #3: The towel chipping setup

Spread a towel in your backyard and practice chipping balls onto it from various distances. Use different clubs—7-iron, 9-iron, wedge—to learn trajectory control. The towel gives you immediate feedback on accuracy and landing spot.

Drill #4: The wall putting stroke

Stand with your back against a wall and make putting strokes. Your shoulders and arms should move together without your body swaying. Hit 20 putts this way daily to groove a pendulum motion that stays consistent under pressure.

Drill #5: The one-handed chipping drill

Practice chipping with just your lead hand (left hand for righties). This forces you to use proper wrist hinge and prevents the dreaded “flip” that skulls and chunks shots. Start with short chips and gradually increase distance.

Drill #6: The speed ladder putting

Set up three targets at three, six and nine feet from a wall. Hit putts to each distance, focusing on dying the ball at each target. This builds the distance control that prevents three-putts from ruining good approach shots.

Drill #7: The pressure putting routine

Make five three-foot putts in a row. Miss one, start over. This drill builds the mental toughness and routine consistency you need when facing a crucial putt on the course.

The one thing that ruins home practice

You need to avoid the temptation to practice without specific goals when you have limited space. Even in your living room, every putt should have purpose. Random rolling builds bad habits faster than you think.

The smart approach? Set specific targets and track your results, even if you’re just putting into a coffee mug.

Why golfers stay frustrated with scoring

Short-game practice looks boring compared to crushing drivers and golfers assume any putting counts as improvement. The basic principle remains: focused practice beats mindless repetition every time. But golfers get addicted to the instant gratification of long drives.

My advice? Master these seven drills completely. They’re proven, systematic ways to build short-game skills that directly translate to lower scores. Stop wasting time on the range when your living room holds the key to better golf.

Your short game isn’t trying to trick you. It’s actually the fastest path to improvement when you practice it correctly. Take advantage of that opportunity.