Why the Short Game Defines Scoring Potential

Professional golfers and amateurs alike share one common truth: the shots played within 100 yards of the green carry disproportionate weight on the scorecard. Data from the PGA Tour consistently shows that proximity to the hole from inside 100 yards correlates directly with scoring average. Max Homa, a six-time PGA Tour winner known for his precision around the greens, has built his reputation on a short game that delivers under pressure. His approach to practice is deliberate, repeatable, and accessible to golfers at any skill level.

Improving your short game does not require exceptional athleticism or expensive equipment. It requires focused repetition, sound fundamentals, and drills that train specific skills. The drills Homa favors target the three pillars of short game performance: distance control, contact quality, and stroke path consistency. When these elements align, golfers see immediate reductions in their scores.

Max Homa’s Philosophy on Short Game Practice

Homa has spoken openly about the importance of practicing with purpose. He does not advocate for hitting hundreds of chips or putts without a clear objective. Instead, each repetition should train a specific skill or simulate a real on-course scenario. His practice sessions are structured around drills that provide immediate feedback, allowing him to make adjustments in real time.

One core principle Homa emphasizes is the relationship between feel and mechanics. He believes that short game success requires a blend of sound technique and developed touch. Drills that isolate one variable, such as hand action or body rotation, help build the neuromuscular patterns needed for consistent performance. Homa also stresses that short game practice should occur under conditions that mimic actual play, including varying lies, slopes, and green speeds.

The Ladder Drill for Distance Control

The Ladder Drill is among Homa’s most recommended exercises because it directly addresses one of the biggest weaknesses in amateur short games: inconsistent distance control. Golfers who struggle to judge how far their chips and pitches will travel often leave themselves difficult putts or fail to get up and down entirely.

How to Set Up the Ladder Drill

Identify a flat area of the practice green with enough space to spread out shots ranging from 15 to 60 feet. Place four alignment rods or marked targets at 15-foot intervals, creating a ladder of increasing distances. Your goal is to land each consecutive shot on or near each target, starting with the closest and working backward. Homa recommends using the same club throughout the drill to isolate the variable of swing length and tempo, rather than changing clubs to cover different distances.

Key Coaching Points

Focus on maintaining consistent tempo across all distances. Many golfers make the mistake of swinging harder for longer shots and softer for shorter ones, which disrupts rhythm and contact quality. Instead, vary the length of your backswing and follow-through while keeping the same pace. Homa advises paying close attention to where the ball lands, not where it stops. Landing spot, not final position, is the primary feedback mechanism. Track your landing accuracy and adjust your swing length accordingly.

Progression and Scoring

To add pressure, Homa recommends assigning points for each successful landing within a one-club-length radius of each target. A perfect score is achieved by hitting all four targets in sequence. Repeat the drill from different lies, including tight fairway lies, light rough, and uphill or downhill slopes. This variation builds adaptability and prevents the drill from becoming a purely mechanical exercise.

The One-Handed Chip Drill for Feel and Control

The One-Handed Chip Drill is a deceptively challenging exercise that Homa uses to sharpen his feel for the clubface and his ability to control trajectory. By removing one hand from the equation, golfers are forced to rely on proper wrist action, body rotation, and strike quality rather than overpowering the shot with grip strength or arm tension.

Executing the One-Handed Chip

Begin with your lead hand only (left hand for right-handed golfers). Take a narrow stance with the ball positioned slightly back of center. Make a smooth, compact chipping motion, keeping the clubhead low to the ground through impact. The goal is to land the ball softly on the green and have it release toward the hole. Homa suggests starting from a distance of 15 to 20 feet and focusing on making clean contact with a descending strike.

Why This Drill Works

The one-handed chip eliminates the ability to manipulate the clubface with the trailing hand, which is a common source of mis-hits and inconsistent spin. Golfers quickly learn to let the body rotation control the swing arc, rather than relying on hands and wrists to square the face. Homa notes that this drill also improves awareness of the clubhead throughout the swing, leading to better strike quality on full shots as well.

Building Both Sides

After achieving competence with the lead hand, switch to the trailing hand. This builds ambidexterity and exposes any weaknesses in coordination or feel. Many golfers discover that their trailing hand control is significantly worse, which highlights areas for improvement. Homa recommends practicing 20 to 30 repetitions per hand per session, gradually increasing distance as control improves.

The Putting Gate Drill for Stroke Path Accuracy

Putting accounts for approximately 40 percent of all strokes in a typical round. Despite this, many golfers neglect structured putting practice in favor of hitting longer shots. Homa’s Putting Gate Drill is a proven method for building a square, repeatable stroke path and developing the ability to start putts on line consistently.

Setting Up the Gate

Place two tees in the ground slightly wider than the width of your putter head, approximately 3 to 4 inches apart depending on your putter size. Position the gate about 6 to 12 inches in front of the ball, aligned along your intended target line. Practice putting through the gate without allowing the putter head to contact either tee. This constraint forces you to deliver the putter face square to the target line at impact.

Training with the Gate

Homa advises starting with straight putts from 4 to 6 feet. Focus entirely on making solid contact and sending the ball through the center of the gate. Once you can hit 10 consecutive putts without touching the tees, move back to 8 feet, then 10 feet. Do not advance until you achieve consistency at each distance. The gate drill exposes stroke path flaws that are invisible on the practice green without feedback. If you consistently hit the left tee, you are likely cutting across the ball with an outside-to-in path. Hitting the right tee indicates an inside-to-out path.

Adding Distance and Break

As you gain confidence, introduce putts with slight left-to-right or right-to-left break. The gate remains positioned along your chosen start line, not the overall line to the hole. This trains your ability to commit to a line and deliver the putter face squarely along it, regardless of the break. Homa recommends using the gate for 60 percent of your putting practice time, with the remainder devoted to distance control and lag putting.

Additional Drills from Max Homa’s Practice Routine

Beyond the three core drills above, Homa incorporates several supplementary exercises into his training regimen. These drills address specific weaknesses and maintain sharpness across all short game disciplines.

The Towel Drill for Strike Quality

Place a folded towel on the ground approximately 6 to 8 inches behind the ball. Practice chipping and pitching without allowing the clubhead to contact the towel. This drill discourages fat shots and trains a downward strike angle. Homa uses this drill when he notices a pattern of hitting behind the ball, particularly from tighter lies.

The Three-Ball Putting Routine

Homa practices putting under pressure by playing a game of three balls. From a distance of 6 feet, attempt to hole all three balls in a row. If you miss any, restart. This builds focus and simulates the pressure of short putts that count on the course. He recommends performing this drill at the beginning of every putting session to establish a high standard for concentration.

The Trajectory Control Drill

Using a single club, practice hitting three different trajectory types: low, medium, and high. The low shot stays under tree branches and releases aggressively. The medium shot is a standard pitch that carries and checks. The high shot lands softly with minimal roll. Homa believes that trajectory control is an underappreciated skill that separates good short game players from great ones.

Building a Practice Schedule Around These Drills

Homa does not advocate for marathon practice sessions. Instead, he recommends shorter, focused blocks of time with clear objectives. A well-structured short game practice session might last 45 to 60 minutes and include three or four drills performed with full concentration.

Sample Short Game Practice Session

  • Warm-up (5 minutes): Light chipping and putting to establish rhythm and loosen the wrists.
  • Putting Gate Drill (15 minutes): Straight putts from 4, 6, 8, and 10 feet, emphasizing a square stroke path.
  • Ladder Drill (15 minutes): Distance control practice from 15 to 60 feet, using the same club throughout.
  • One-Handed Chip Drill (10 minutes): Lead hand and trailing hand reps from 15 to 30 feet.
  • Three-Ball Putting (5 minutes): Pressure test from 6 feet to reinforce focus and commitment.

Homa stresses that quality of repetition matters far more than quantity. Ten well-executed chips with clear intent produce more improvement than fifty mindless swings. Track your results, identify patterns of weakness, and adjust your drills accordingly.

Common Short Game Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Even elite players like Homa experience slumps in their short game. The difference lies in their ability to diagnose the problem and apply the correct fix. Below are the most common short game mistakes among amateur golfers, along with the drills that address them.

Inconsistent Contact

Fat shots and thin shots usually result from excessive body movement during the swing. The Towel Drill and the One-Handed Chip Drill both encourage a stable lower body and a crisp, descending strike. Focus on keeping your head still and your weight slightly forward throughout the swing.

Poor Distance Control

Golfers who consistently leave chips and pitches short or blast them past the hole suffer from poor distance control. The Ladder Drill is the direct antidote. Practice varying swing length while maintaining tempo, and learn to feel the difference between a 20-foot chip and a 40-foot chip with the same club.

Pushing or Pulling Putts

If your putts consistently miss to one side, your stroke path or face angle at impact is misaligned. The Putting Gate Drill provides immediate feedback and trains a square delivery. Pair this with a mirror or video analysis to confirm your setup and alignment.

Equipment Considerations for Short Game Practice

While drills and practice habits are the primary drivers of improvement, having the right equipment can accelerate progress. Homa plays with a wedge setup that includes a 48-degree pitching wedge, a 52-degree gap wedge, and a 56-degree sand wedge. He adjusts his bounce and grind selections based on the courses he plays and the turf conditions he faces.

For amateur golfers, Homa recommends getting fitted for wedges that match your swing and typical playing conditions. Bounce angle, sole grind, and shaft flex all affect how the club interacts with the turf and sand. A properly fitted wedge makes it easier to execute the kinds of shots these drills are designed to teach. Follow Max Homa’s career to see how his equipment choices evolve with course conditions.

Additionally, practicing with a consistent golf ball is important. Different balls spin and feel differently, so using the same model you play on the course ensures that the feedback from your drills transfers directly to your rounds. Reference the USGA equipment rules to confirm your gear conforms to regulations.

The Mental Side of Short Game Execution

Homa has spoken about the mental challenges that separate good short game players from great ones. The short game demands a high degree of trust and commitment. Unlike full swings, where athletes can sometimes recover from a miss, short game errors are often punitive. A poor chip or missed putt can turn a potential birdie into a bogey.

To develop mental toughness around the greens, Homa advocates for visualization before every shot. See the trajectory, the landing spot, and the roll out before you step in. Commit fully to your decision and execute without second-guessing. The drills above build technical competence, but they also build confidence. When you have proven to yourself through repetition that you can execute these shots, your mind is free to focus on the target rather than the mechanics.

Final Thoughts on Improving Your Short Game

The path to a better short game does not require complex techniques or hours of aimless practice. It requires deliberate, structured training that targets the specific skills that drive scoring. Max Homa’s favorite drills—the Ladder Drill, the One-Handed Chip, and the Putting Gate—form a comprehensive system for building distance control, feel, and stroke path accuracy.

Golfers who commit to these drills with consistency and patience will see measurable improvement in their ability to get up and down, save par, and convert birdie opportunities. The short game is the great equalizer in golf. Players with average ball-striking but exceptional short games consistently beat players who hit the ball longer but lack touch around the greens. Read more insights from Max Homa on Golf Digest to continue refining your approach.

Start with one drill. Master it before moving to the next. Build your practice around these foundations, and your scores will reflect the work. Watch Max Homa’s instructional content on YouTube for visual demonstrations of these techniques in action.