Drill library · Short game

Short-Game Match Play

Short gameHandicap 5–3025 minrandom / pressurewedges & chippingputting

Why this drill

Nothing sharpens a scramble like an opponent — even an imaginary one. Nine up-and-down holes played as match play, against a partner or against "Old Man Up-and-Down" who converts every other hole, put tournament pressure on practice-green shots.

Setup

One ball each (or one ball and an imaginary opponent), wedges and putters, nine stations around the green chosen alternately — each player picks the other's poison.

The drill

Match play, hole by hole: up-and-in in two wins the hole, both converting halves it. Against the imaginary opponent, he converts stations 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 — beat him by converting those yourself and stealing the evens. Concede nothing. Play the eighteen-inch putts with full routine; matches are lost there and nowhere else. Log the result like a real match, because your nervous system files it as one — which is why the drill works.

One thought to take with you

Match play forgives nothing and forgets instantly — play the shot in front of you.