Most golfers are so focused on swing mechanics, especially to get more distance off the tee, that they don’t spend near enough time working on their short games. Think about it: If you could be just a little better on simple chips and pitch shots and reduce your number of three-putts, you might take six or eight strokes off your scores. So get out there to the practice green. Here are a few pointers that I know will help.
TURN YOUR CHEST ON PITCH SHOTS 
J.D. Cuban
The big issue I see with average players in pitching is that they freeze their bodies and just flip at the ball with their hands. That makes it hard to hit it solid, plus the hands tend to rotate the clubface open and closed so the loft on the face at impact is hard to predict. Great pitchers set the loft at address and then return that same loft at impact.
Jose Maria Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion who I worked with for years, is one of the best pitchers of all time. He used to say, “The chest is the engine.” Controlling the pitching motion with the chest keeps the clubhead in front of the body throughout the swing. You never want to let the club get behind your body on the backswing or follow-through. You risk poor contact and no control over the face.
Also, check out in the photo above how I’m pivoting my body toward the target. My chest is turning forward, and my trail leg is pinching in. When you move into the shot like that, you guarantee that you hit the ball then the turf. If you want to pitch the ball well, you’d better get that low point right.
PRE-SET CRISP CHIPS 
J.D. Cuban
Most poor chips come from the clubhead bottoming out too soon. The result is often a chunk or a skulled shot when the club catches the ball on the upswing. That happens because most golfers tilt back as they swing into impact, trying to lift the ball. When they back up, so does the spot where the club hits the ground.
Here’s the simplest way to correct this. Because the chipping swing is so short, just set your body and the club at address where you want them to be at impact (above). You want your weight and your hands forward at impact, so set up like that. You also want the face square to slightly open—get it done at address. Use your setup, don’t fight it.
Last point: Limit your hand action. The chipping swing is just a little body pivot back and through. Your weight will shift toward the target and push the low point in front of the ball. Do that, and you’ll clip these little shots perfectly.
FACE UP TO THE BREAK 
J.D. Cuban
On breaking putts, the key is the starting line. If you don’t get these putts started high enough—and most golfers don’t—they slide away from the hole fast and lead to four- or five-footers coming back. Nobody wants those putts.
The first thing you need to do is aim the face before you take your stance. Many players take their stance and then just plop the putter down behind the ball. The line on breaking putts is crucial, so point the face where you want the ball to start, then build your stance. I don’t care if you stand square, open or on one leg—the face is the key.
Once you get over the ball, trace your eyes along the starting line (above). Make your last look down that line and not at the hole, which can compromise your commitment to the break. When your eyes return to the ball, start your stroke. Any delay can only hurt you.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
