Why You're Always Hitting Your Approach Shots Short
You hit a decent shot… it feels solid… it’s on line…
And then it lands short of the green.
Again.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact:
👉 Most amateur golfers consistently miss short on approach shots.
Not occasionally. Consistently.
And here’s the surprising part:
It’s usually not because of a bad swing.
The hidden pattern: short is the most common miss
Watch a group of amateur golfers and you’ll notice a trend:
-
Shots land just short of the green
-
Balls get caught in front bunkers
-
Chips are played from below the putting surface
Meanwhile, better players tend to finish:
-
Pin-high
-
On the green
-
With makeable putts
So what’s causing the difference?
3 reasons you keep coming up short
1. You overestimate how far you hit the ball
Most golfers base their distances on their best shots, not their average.
You might think:
“My 7-iron goes 160.”
But in reality, your average carry might be closer to 150.
That 10-yard gap?
👉 That’s exactly why your ball keeps landing short.
2. You’re choosing the “comfortable” club
There’s a natural tendency to avoid going long.
So instead of taking enough club, you go with:
-
What feels safe
-
What you hope is enough
The problem?
👉 Golf punishes being short more than being slightly long.
Short usually means:
-
Bunkers
-
Water
-
Tough chips
3. You’re not adjusting for slope and conditions
Distance isn’t played on flat ground.
Factors like:
-
Uphill lies
-
Into-the-wind shots
-
Cooler temperatures
All reduce how far the ball travels.
For example:
-
150 yards uphill might actually play like 160
-
Into the wind? Even longer
If you’re not adjusting for this, you’re automatically under-clubbing.
What better players do differently
Skilled golfers—and especially pros—rarely miss short for one reason:
👉 They play to a number, not a feeling.
Instead of guessing, they:
-
Know their true carry distances
-
Adjust for conditions
-
Choose enough club to cover the target
Their goal isn’t just to hit the green.
👉 It’s to finish pin-high.
How to stop hitting short
You don’t need to change your swing.
You need to change your approach.
1. Use your average distance, not your best
Forget your longest shot.
Start thinking:
-
“What’s my typical carry with this club?”
That’s the number you should trust.
2. Take one more club
A simple rule that works for most amateurs:
👉 When in doubt, take one more club.
You’ll be surprised how often this leads to:
-
Better contact
-
More greens hit
-
Fewer short misses
3. Always factor in conditions
Make quick adjustments:
-
Uphill → add distance
-
Wind into → add distance
Even small changes matter.
Remove the guesswork with better distance data
One of the biggest reasons golfers come up short is simple:
👉 They don’t know the exact distance.
A reliable rangefinder changes that instantly.
The WOSPORTS L-14 Golf Rangefinder gives you:
-
Accurate yardage to the flag
-
Slope-adjusted distances for real playing conditions
-
Fast readings so you can make decisions confidently
Instead of guessing, you’re working with real numbers.
And that leads to better club selection—and better results.
Final thought: short isn’t safe
It might feel safer to avoid going long.
But in reality:
👉 Short is where most mistakes happen.
If you want to improve your approach shots:
-
Trust your real distances
-
Take enough club
-
Commit to the shot
Because the goal isn’t just to hit the ball well.
It’s to hit it the right distance.
And once you start doing that, you’ll see something change:
More greens.
More confidence.
Lower scores.
Search
Popular Posts
Recent Posts
Nov 28, 2024
Troubleshooting Common Trail Camera Issues
Jan 10, 2025
Why Does My Trail Camera Stop Working at Night?
