The drills at a glance
Every distance below is in metres, the same way the whole challenge is coached. Each drill has a fixed number of balls and a goal, so a practice session ends with a score rather than a feeling.
| Drill | Distances | Balls | Goal | Challenge day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitch ladder | 20 · 35 · 50 m | 15 (5 per target) | 12 of 15 within 4 m | Day 3 |
| Chip to a landing coin | 5–15 m | 10 | 7 of 10 within 2 m of the hole | Day 4 |
| Bunker escape | strike 10–15 cm behind the ball | 10 | 8 of 10 out and onto the green | Day 5 |
| Putting ladder | 4 · 8 · 12 m | ladder | no putt more than 0.5 m short or long | Day 6 |
| Fringe matrix | from the fringe | 9 | best option chosen on 7 of 9 | Day 12 |
Pitch ladder: 20, 35 and 50 m
Inside 50 metres, distance comes from a constant swing length, not from power: the same rhythm with a different size of swing.
- Key cue
- Control distance with the length of the backswing (picture a clock: 8, 9 or 10), not by accelerating.
- Drill
- 3 targets at 20, 35 and 50 m, 5 balls to each.
- Goal
- 12 of 15 within 4 m of the target.
Chip to a landing coin from 5 to 15 m
A good chip is planned around where it lands, not the hole. Pick the landing spot and let the ball roll like a putt: less flight, less risk.
- Key cue
- Choose a landing spot on the green, not in the rough, and land it there.
- Drill
- 10 chips to a landing coin you place yourself.
- Goal
- 7 of 10 finishing within 2 m of the hole.
Bunker escape: strike 10–15 cm behind the ball
In a greenside bunker you hit the sand and the sand lifts the ball out. With the face open, the club slides instead of digging.
- Key cue
- Open the face and aim at a point 10–15 cm behind the ball.
- Drill
- 10 short escapes aiming for the green.
- Goal
- 8 of 10 out of the bunker and onto the green.
Putting ladder: 4, 8 and 12 m
On the green, speed matters more than line: a putt that runs 40 cm past leaves an easy tap-in, and three-putts usually start with poor speed rather than a poor read.
- Key cue
- Look at the hole, feel the distance and let the length of the backswing set the pace.
- Drill
- A ladder of putts at 4, 8 and 12 m.
- Goal
- No putt finishing more than 0.5 m short or long.
Fringe matrix: putt, chip or pitch
From the fringe, the easiest shot is usually the one that flies least. The rule: putt if you can, chip if you cannot, and pitch only if you must fly something.
- Key cue
- Smooth green ahead: putt. A metre of rough, then green: chip onto the green. A bunker or long rough to carry: pitch.
- Drill
- 9 balls from the fringe, choosing the shot for each.
- Goal
- The best option chosen on 7 of 9.
Setting up and keeping score
- Mark the distances once. Measure them with a tape or a rangefinder set to metres and mark each target with a tee, towel or headcover, so every ball is hit to a known distance.
- Count, do not guess. Write attempts and successes for each drill. The goals above turn a session into a number you can compare next week.
- Keep the block short. In the challenge each day is one focused practice block of around 30 minutes.
Questions about these drills
Why practise the short game in metres?
GolfPlan Spain coaches everything in metres, with no yardage conversions. If you measure and think in metres, every distance in these drills is one you can set out directly on the practice ground.
How long should a practice session take?
In the challenge each day is one focused block of around 30 minutes. The five drills here come from five different days, so there is no need to fit them all into one session.
Is this the full 14-day challenge?
No. This guide shares the drill and the goal from five of the 14 days. The challenge adds the full lesson for every day (why it matters, the technique and the common mistake), progress saved to your account, a printable A4 workbook and scorecards, for €19.90 in a single payment.
The 14-day challenge
14 guided lessons, one focused drill a day, progress saved to your account, an A4 printable workbook, scorecards and a QR to your lessons. Coached in metres, built for the Costa del Sol. Self-guided, on the web and on your phone; it is not in-person coaching.
One payment, not a subscription.
See the challenge Questions first? Read the FAQ or write to us.Leer en español: Ejercicios de juego corto en metros