Course Program

Feel the yardage: control short iron distance

Consistent short iron rollout, for a 9-handicap player, ~10 minutes at Par 3

Driving RangeAll teesProgram HCP 94 drills

Program Snapshot

Handicap range

10 to 25

Average HCP

9

Duration (single session)

2 hr 4 min

or

1 drill/day: 4 days · 31 min/day

Ideal tee

All

Skill Distribution

Distance Control31%
Scoring25%
Trajectory15%
Aim10%
Dispersion10%
Accuracy9%

Overview

Program Structure

Feel the yardage: control short iron distance. Hit within 2-4 yards and consistent short iron rollout. Focus on Distance Control, Scoring, Trajectory. For a 9-handicap player, in ~10 minutes.

Skill

Distance Control

Club

Short irons (9,8)

What you will improve

  • Distance Control
  • Scoring
  • Trajectory
  • Aim

Program details

Sessions
4 focused drills
Recommended
2–3 sessions / week
Total duration
2 hr 4 min
or
1 drill per day
4 days · 31 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

Short irons (9,8) | PAR 3 Challenge

Driving Range

Complete the PAR 3 Challenge using short irons only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Short irons (9,8) | PAR 3 Challenge
1

Set up 3 flags or targets at different short iron distances; each flag is a 'hole'.

2

Mark two zones around each flag: inner zone (within 4 yards/meters) and an outer zone (within 8 yards/meters).

3

Hit 36 shots total: 12 shots at each flag.

4

Use only 8 or 9 iron. Try to hit each shot as close as possible to the flag, first aiming for the inner zone, then for the outer zone.

5

For each shot: 1 point if the ball lands in the inner zone, 0.5 points if in the outer zone, 0 points if outside both zones.

6

After 12 shots at one flag, move to the next and repeat for all flags.

7

Add the points from all shots for a score out of 36 and enter this score in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3230282520161285
02

Short irons (9,8) | Ladder Challenge

Driving Range

Complete the Ladder Challenge using short irons only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Short irons (9,8) | Ladder Challenge
1

Pick one flag or target to aim at for all shots.

2

Make three zones in a row before the flag. Each zone is 5 yards wide and 5 yards apart. Zone 1 is closest to you, Zone 2 is in the middle, Zone 3 is closest to the flag.

3

Hit 36 shots with short irons (8 or 9 iron), split into 3 sets of

4

For the first 12 shots, try to land the ball in Zone 1 and stop within 5 yards of the flag.

5

For the next 12 shots, try to land the ball in Zone 2 and stop within 5 yards of the flag.

6

For the last 12 shots, try to land the ball in Zone 3 and stop within 5 yards of the flag.

7

Use the same setup for all shots. Switch between 8 and 9 iron if you want.

8

Count a shot as a success if it lands and stops in the right zone and within 5 yards of the flag.

9

After 36 shots, add up the number of successes and enter the score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3028252218141074
03

Short irons (9,8) | L-R and R-L 9 Targets

Driving Range

Hit 5 balls to each randomly selected target while producing left-to-right and right-to-left shots, using short irons only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Short irons (9,8) | L-R and R-L  9 Targets
1

Set up 9 targets around the flag on the green using cones, buckets, or markers. Space them evenly around the flag, about 5% of the total distance from your hitting spot to the flag.

2

Prepare 36 balls. Hit 4 shots at each target – 2 curving left-to-right and 2 curving right-to-left.

3

Use your 8- and 9-irons for all shots. Keep your setup and ball position the same.

4

Start at any target and hit 2 left-to-right and 2 right-to-left shots, trying to land the ball between the two markers at that target.

5

Move to the next target and repeat until all 9 targets have 4 shots.

6

Count each ball that stops between the two markers at a target as a success.

7

Add up your total number of successful shots and enter your score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score302826221713964
04

Short irons (9,8) | 3 Landing Zones

Driving Range

Hit 15 balls to each landing zone using short irons only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls. Count total number of successful shots.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Short irons (9,8) | 3 Landing Zones
1

Pick a flag or target on the range for 8 or 9 iron shots.

2

Put three markers 6 yards apart around the flag to make three landing zones.

3

Use 36 balls for the test.

4

Split shots into three groups of

5

Hit 12 shots at Landing Zone

6

Hit 12 shots at Landing Zone

7

Hit 12 shots at Landing Zone

8

Use 8 or 9 iron as preferred but keep setup and distance the same.

9

Count balls that stop in the right landing zone as a success.

0

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

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score302724201612963

Next Step

Ready to start this program?

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