quick coaching

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

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.