5 Drills to Improve Your Short Game from Home
The Best Ways to Practice Your Short Game at Home
We all know it: the short game is where scores are truly made or broken. Sure, hitting that 300-yard drive feels great, but it’s the chips, pitches, and putts that really matter when it comes to lowering your handicap.
Believe it or not, if you’re stuck at home, live in a wintry climate, or want to fine-tune your skills without hitting the range, there’s a ton you can do to practice your short game right from your living room or backyard.
In this home practice guide, we’ll break down some simple but effective short game drills you can do without ever leaving the house. Whether you’re working on your chipping, putting, or just need to up your game around the green, these drills will help you build confidence and polish your skills—so when you finally hit the course, you'll be ready to save par from anywhere.
Topics Covered in this Guide
1. Chipping with Household Items
If you're in the mood for some "Home Improvement" meets golf, this drill is up your alley. It’s simple, requires very little space, and is a great way to practice your chipping accuracy. You don’t need to spend money on a chipping net—just use what you have around the house.
Why Practice It?
You’ll work on your touch, trajectory, and accuracy—all key factors for making sure your chips don’t end up 20 feet away from the hole. Plus, it's easy to do while watching your favorite show.
How to Do It
Find a soft surface to work on, like a carpet, rug, or even a mat.
Set up a “target” area using household items like a small cup, an upside-down bowl, or a coffee mug. The idea is to give yourself something to aim at—just like you would on the course.
Take your pitching wedge or sand wedge (if you’re feeling fancy) and position the ball about a foot away from the target.
Chip the ball toward the target, focusing on making clean contact and landing the ball gently. Try to get it to stop as close to the target as possible.
Repeat this 10–15 times from different angles and distances around the “hole.”
 Pro Tip : If you want to add a little spice to this drill, use objects with different shapes and sizes as targets. The more varied your targets, the better you’ll get at adjusting your shots to different scenarios.
2. Putting with a Makeshift Hole
Putters are  the tool of the trade for low scores; you can always count on it to help you make that short, finishing stroke. But here’s the thing: putting is all about accuracy and consistency. And practicing your putting at home doesn’t require a fancy green—just a little bit of space and a target.
Why Practice It?
Practicing putts at home improves your distance control and ability to read breaks, even if there aren’t any hills to work with. Plus, it’s an easy way to work on your technique without leaving the house.
How to Do It:
Set up a target hole in your home. Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to install a real putting green in your living room. Just grab a cup, plastic bottle, or anything that resembles a hole.
Stand a few feet away from the target and make 10–15 putts with the goal of sinking each one.
Focus on your stroke mechanics—making sure your putter face is square and your grip is relaxed.
To simulate different putting distances, move further away from the target for each new round of putts.
 Pro Tip : For added realism, place some objects or books in a line to simulate breaks or obstacles. This will help you develop better line-reading skills for your putts.
3. Backyard Pitching Drill
Now, let’s get into some pitch shots. A well-executed pitch shot can be the difference between a simple up-and-down and a double bogey. If you’ve got a little space outside, you’re in luck. A backyard or patio is perfect for practicing pitch shots.
Why Practice It?
Pitching is all about precision. By practicing at home, you’ll develop better touch around the green, which will help you save strokes on the course. Plus, it’s a great drill to do with minimal equipment.
How to Do It:
Grab a pitching wedge or sand wedge (yes, the same one you use for chipping) and set up in your backyard or an open space.
Mark a target area with something small—like a bucket or a cone—about 10-15 yards away.
Focus on making smooth, controlled pitch shots with a lofted club. You don’t need to hit the ball as far as possible—just focus on accuracy and control.
Try to land the ball near your target area. Make sure your pitch shots have the right trajectory—neither too high nor too low.
Repeat this process from different distances or angles, and increase the difficulty by moving your target area around.
 Pro Tip : To simulate different lies, vary the type of grass or surface you’re pitching from (even a small patch of grass in your backyard works). Just like chipping, practicing from different conditions will give you a solid feel for pitch shots from all sorts of lies.
4. Flop Shot Practice with a Pillow or Soft Object
Ever seen the pros pull off a flop shot and thought, “I’d love to do that”? Well, here’s your chance. The flop shot is that high, soft shot used when you need to clear an obstacle or stop the ball quickly on the green. You don’t need to be at the course to practice it—just grab a pillow or soft object, and you’re good to go.
Why Practice It?
Flop shots require both finesse and technique. Practicing them at home will build your confidence in executing those high, soft shots when you're in tricky situations on the course.
How to Do It:
Place a pillow or any soft object on the ground to simulate an elevated lie.
Stand over the object with your lob wedge or sand wedge, and focus on making clean contact under the ball.
Swing with a steeper angle, focusing on lifting the ball in the air.
Practice landing the ball softly, aiming to get it to stop as quickly as possible after landing.
 Pro Tip : You don’t need a lot of room for this one. You can practice indoors or outdoors, just as long as you have a soft object to “clear.” This drill can also be useful for practicing delicate touch shots from rough lies.
5. Chipping with Different Clubs
Here’s a drill that doesn’t require a fancy setup. You can use your wedge, pitching wedge, or even a 7-iron to practice chipping from various distances. The idea is to get comfortable using different clubs around the green, depending on the lie and the shot you need to execute.
Why Practice It?
Mastering a variety of clubs for chipping gives you more flexibility and adaptability. By practicing with different clubs, you’ll be ready to handle any type of chip shot you face on the course.
How to Do It:
Set up several targets around your living room or backyard. Use a cup, a bucket, or any small object as your target.
Start with your sand wedge and practice chipping to the target.
After 10–15 chips, switch to your pitching wedge, 7-iron, and even a 5-iron to see how the ball reacts with different lofts.
Focus on controlling the distance and making solid contact with each shot.
 Pro Tip : The key is making clean contact with the ball, so focus on solid strikes, especially when using clubs with less loft. The more you practice, the better your versatility around the green will become.
Transform Your Short Game Without Stepping on the Green
Your short game doesn’t have to suffer just because you’re stuck at home. With these simple yet effective drills, you’ll be able to refine your chipping, pitching, and putting techniques without ever leaving your living room or backyard.
Roll up your sleeves, grab a few household items, and start practicing these drills today. Before you know it, you'll be draining putts and chipping with the precision of a pro ready to shock your golf buddies when the temperatures warm up again.
Thanks for stopping by, until next time.
To better golf,
Matt Stephens
Founder & Inventor, Pyramid Golf
