Being "short-sided" means missing the green on the same side as the hole, leaving very little green between you and the flag. It's one of the hardest situations in golf: a normal chip will run past, and the shots that stop quickly carry the most risk. Good players do two things well: avoid short-siding themselves, and choose the right recovery when they do. Here's how.
How to avoid being short-sided
- Know where the pin is relative to the centre of the green. Read pin positions and flags.
- Aim for the fat side: on a pin tucked right, aim at the left-centre.
- Consider your miss: if you tend to miss right, don't aim at a pin on the right edge.
- Take more club when trouble is short.
Read golf course management and risk and reward in golf.
Options when you're short-sided
| Option | When to use | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| High soft pitch or lob | Good lie, some green to land on | High; mistakes are costly |
| Bank shot into a slope | Upslope between you and the green | Medium |
| Putt through the fringe | Short, smooth fringe | Low |
| Hybrid chip | Tight lie, firm fringe | Low to medium |
| Play away from the hole | Bad lie or very little green | Low, but longer putt |
The high soft pitch
- Open the face and stance slightly.
- Ball forward of centre.
- Make a long, smooth swing, keeping speed through the ball.
- Slide the club under the ball, using the bounce.
- Need a good lie: from a tight lie or bare ground, this is very risky.
Read how to hit a lob shot and how to use the bounce.
The bank shot
If there's a bank or slope between you and the green, play a low chip into the bank. The slope slows the ball, which then trickles onto the green.
- Use a less lofted club, such as a 7 or 8 iron.
- Pick a spot on the bank to land the ball.
- Practise to learn how much speed different banks absorb.
Putting through the fringe
When the fringe is short and smooth, a putt is often the safest play, even if the ball runs a little past. Read playing from the collar.
Playing away from the hole
Sometimes the best option is to chip to the safe part of the green and accept a longer putt. A bogey is far better than leaving the ball in the rough or chipping across the green into a bunker.
Short-sided in a bunker
From a bunker with little green, open the face more, swing harder and let the sand carry the ball softly onto the green. If the lip is high and the lie is poor, aim for the middle of the green. Read difficult bunker shots.
Decision checklist
- What's the lie? Good lies allow more options.
- How much green do I have?
- What's beyond the hole? Water or a bunker means be cautious.
- What's my most reliable shot?
- What's the cost of failure?
Practice
- Short-sided game: drop balls in short-sided spots and play each to see which option works best.
- High-soft drill: land balls on a towel close to the edge of the green.
- Bank shots: practise into slopes around your practice green.
Read short-game practice plan.
Frequently asked questions
What does short-sided mean?
You've missed the green on the side closest to the hole, leaving little green to land the ball on.
Should I always try a lob shot when short-sided?
No. It's high risk. Consider putting, bank shots or playing away from the hole.
How do professionals avoid being short-sided?
By aiming away from tucked pins and missing on the side with more green.
The bottom line
The best way to handle short-sided shots is to avoid them through smart targets. When you are short-sided, weigh up all your options and pick the one with the least risk, even if that means a longer putt. For general recovery skills, read how to get up and down.