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Keep It Simple: It Really Comes Down to the Short Game

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

Hitting it longer off the tee is great, but for the majority of amateur golfers, their short-game ability is going to play a much more pivotal role in improving their scores.
What it comes down to with chipping and pitching and a golfer’s comfort executing these shots is this...you must keep it simple and try not to do too much.
Setup
For chipping, you will need to set your body up with the feet close together and ever so slightly open to your target line. You will need to lean into your lead leg, with your weight distribution around 60% - 40% favoring that lead leg. The ball will be positioned just back of center and I advised to use a less lofted club such as a pitching wedge, 9, or 8 iron. The idea here is a shot that has more run than rise, meaning it gets on the ground quickly and rolls out to your target.
For pitching, widen your stance a bit and open to your target line a little bit more. Your weight distribution will be more 50% - 50%. The ball position will be more towards center. In this scenario, your rise will be more than your run, meaning you are carrying the ball more towards your target. You should select a more lofted club such as a 52-, 56- or 60-degree wedge. That club selection all depends on the distance necessary to carry the ball to your intended landing point.
The Movement
For chipping, you will focus on moving the triangle that you create with your arms hanging down and your shoulders. Simply rock that triangle back and through at an even and consistent tempo. No manipulation of your wrists or hands is needed. You must stay very steady with your body as it maintains that 60-40 weight distribution. There is no body rotation, just the rocking of that triangle. Fight the urge to look up to see what the outcome is until a few seconds after impact. Looking up too early may cause the clubhead to move up as you look up and poor contact at impact will result.
For pitching around the green, you will use the rotation of the body, with the feeling of the arms, and club being very connected to the body, as the driver for the shot. You will rotate your body back and through to your finish. Your hands and club will exit slightly left as your body rotates towards your intended target.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

Meet Brendon

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