Now that summer the golf season in full swing, golfers throughout Lamorinda are spending more time on the course than they have in months. Whether you’re enjoying weekend rounds at local clubs, participating in tournaments, or simply trying to break a personal scoring milestone, this time of year often inspires golfers to look for ways to improve their game.
Most players immediately focus on hitting the ball farther or making swing changes. While those improvements can certainly help, the fastest path to lower scores is often found much closer to the hole.
At Sunday Swing, we regularly work with golfers of all skill levels, and one of the most common discoveries we make is that the greatest opportunities for improvement typically occur within 50 yards of the green.
The numbers tell the story.
According to PGA Tour statistics, even the world’s best players average approximately 28 putts per round. If putting plays such a significant role for professional golfers, its impact on amateur golfers is even greater. Most recreational players lose multiple strokes every round through three-putts, missed short putts, and inconsistent chipping.
Consider a golfer who typically shoots 90. If they eliminate just two three-putts and make two additional putts inside six feet, they’ve already saved four strokes. Without hitting a single extra fairway or green in regulation, their score drops from 90 to 86.
Chipping and pitching can have an equally dramatic effect on scoring. Every golfer misses greens during a round, but what happens next often determines whether they save par or make bogey. A player who consistently chips the ball within a few feet of the hole will convert far more up-and-down opportunities than someone leaving themselves a 15- or 20-foot putt.
Modern strokes-gained analysis has shown that performance around the greens is one of the biggest differences between lower- and higher-handicap golfers. The best players aren’t necessarily perfect ball strikers. They simply recover more effectively when they miss.
That’s encouraging news for amateur golfers because short-game skills can often improve much faster than full-swing mechanics.
Unlike adding 20 yards off the tee, becoming a better chipper and putter doesn’t require exceptional athletic ability or physical strength. It requires focused practice, consistency, and a willingness to spend time on the shots that have the greatest impact on scoring.
One of the biggest mistakes we see golfers make is spending nearly all of their practice time on the driving range. While full-swing practice has value, most shots during a round occur near the green. Yet that’s where many golfers spend the least amount of practice time.
At Sunday Swing, we encourage golfers to dedicate at least half of their practice sessions to putting, chipping, and pitching. Even 20 minutes spent working on short putts, distance control, and basic chip shots can produce noticeable improvements on the course.
The goal isn’t to hit more spectacular shots. It’s to eliminate unnecessary strokes.
One fewer three-putt. One additional up-and-down. One more made putt inside six feet. Those small victories may seem insignificant individually, but together they can save three to five strokes per round.
As the golf season heats up and scorecards start to matter a little more, remember that lower scores aren’t always found through major swing changes. More often, they’re earned through better execution around the green.
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