Course Program

Can you stop the ball on a dime? Distance control test

Vary landing spot, for a 10-handicap player, ~15 minutes at Acorns Golf Links

Short GameAll teesProgram HCP 10.45 drills57% match to course practice profile

Program Snapshot

Handicap range

8 to 45

Average HCP

10.4

Duration (single session)

2 hr 10 min

or

1 drill/day: 5 days · 26 min/day

Ideal tee

All

Skill Distribution

Scoring43%
Distance Control30%
Visualization18%
Precision8%

Overview

Program Structure

Can you stop the ball on a dime? Distance control test. Vary landing spot and stop on a dime. Focus on Scoring, Distance Control, Visualization. For a 10-handicap player, in ~15 minutes.

Skill

Distance Control

Shot

Mixed

What you will improve

  • Scoring
  • Distance Control
  • Visualization
  • Precision

Program details

Sessions
5 focused drills
Recommended
2–3 sessions / week
Total duration
2 hr 10 min
or
1 drill per day
5 days · 26 min/day

Drill Framework

Program breakdown

Each drill is designed to prepare you for the course. Follow the program or repeat the drills to improve key areas of your game.

01

DIY Course Medium

Short Game

Make a DIY 9 hole medium-difficulty course. Every hole is PAR 2. Count the score.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Medium
1

Place 9 balls in different spots around the chipping green, using spots like sand, sloped rough, and deep rough.

2

Each ball is its own PAR 2 hole. Get the ball on the green and then into the hole in as few shots as possible.

3

Do the 9-ball course four times, making 36 shots in total (you get 2 shots for each ball).

4

Play in order, trying to hit good chip or pitch shots onto the green and then putt into the hole.

5

Count every stroke for each hole. Total par for all 9 holes is

8

The best score is 36 shots or less for the whole test.

6

Add up how many times you finished a hole in 2 shots or less. Enter your number of successful holes out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score2826242118151185
02

DIY Course Hard

Short Game

Make a DIY 9 hole hard-difficulty course. Every hole is PAR 2. Count the score.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Hard
1

Place 9 balls in hard spots around the green like bunkers, rough, or tight lies.

2

Each ball is like a hole on a 9-hole course. Par for each hole is 2 shots.

3

For each ball, hit onto the green with a wedge or chip.

4

Once on the green, putt until finished.

5

Count shots for each hole and track your total score for all 9 holes.

6

Do the 9-hole course 4 times, moving balls to new tough spots each round.

7

You will hit 36 shots (4 rounds × 9 holes). At the end, add up how many holes you finished in 2 or fewer shots (par or better). Enter your score out of 36 tries in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score262421181411853
03

DIY Course Hard

Short Game

Up to 5 players play hard-difficulty 9 hole ‘PAR 2’ DIY course. Best final score wins.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Hard
1

Set up 9 hitting spots around the green with balls 20-40 yards away in hard places like sand or rough.

2

At each spot, hit 4 shots to the green using wedges or putters.

3

Finish all 4 shots at one spot, then go to the next. Each spot is like a PAR 2 hole.

4

After all 9 spots, you will have hit 36 shots.

5

Every shot that lands and stays in the target area on the green, or goes in the hole, counts as a success.

6

Add up successful shots out of 36 and enter your score in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3129262318141064
04

DIY Course Easy

Short Game

Make a DIY 9 hole easy-difficulty course. Every hole is PAR 2. Count the score.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Easy
1

Set up a 9-hole short game course around the green. Each hole is PAR

2

Put 9 balls in easy spots around the green, like in sand or rough.

3

For each hole, hit a wedge onto the green and then putt the ball in.

4

Finish each hole (chip and putt) before going to the next ball spot.

5

Do the whole 9-hole course 4 times, moving balls for variety if possible.

6

This gives 36 total tries (9 holes × 4 rounds).

7

After all 36 tries, count your total strokes and compare to PAR 72 (36 holes × PAR 2).

8

See how many strokes over or under par you got.

9

Write down how many holes you finished at or under par, out of 36 tries, in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score141516182022242628
05

DIY Course Hard

Short Game

Up to 5 players play hard-difficulty 9 hole ‘PAR 2’ DIY course. Best final score wins.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for DIY Course  Hard
1

Set up 9 holes in tough spots like sand or rough, 20-40 yards from the green.

2

Put 4 balls at each hole (36 balls in total).

3

At each hole, hit the ball towards the green with a wedge.

4

Use the putter to get the ball in the hole after reaching the green.

5

Do this for all 4 balls at the hole, then move to the next hole. Do this for all 9 holes.

6

Count as a success if the ball goes in within 2 shots.

7

When all balls are played, count the number of successes out of 36 and enter the score in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score312926221713963

Next Step

Ready to start this program?

Start the drills at your own pace or work with a coach to inside drills.golf.