Course Program

Keep Ball Close To Hole

Use a short swing, for a 35-handicap player, ~30 minutes at Walnut Creek Cc

Short GameAll teesProgram HCP 359 drills78% match to course practice profile

Program Snapshot

Handicap range

25 to 45

Average HCP

35

Duration (single session)

3 hr 54 min

or

1 drill/day: 9 days · 26 min/day

Ideal tee

All

Skill Distribution

Distance Control33%
Aim16%
Precision12%
Dispersion11%
Scoring11%
Alignment7%
Accuracy5%
Trajectory5%

Overview

Program Structure

Keep Ball Close To Hole. Roll the ball low and straight and use a short swing. Focus on Distance Control, Aim, Precision. For a 35-handicap player, in ~30 minutes.

Shot

Bump'n'Run

What you will improve

  • Distance Control
  • Aim
  • Precision
  • Dispersion

Program details

Sessions
9 focused drills
Recommended
2–3 sessions / week
Total duration
3 hr 54 min
or
1 drill per day
9 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

Bump-n-Run | Parallel Piles | Multiple Targets

Short Game

Up to 5 players compete to stop a bump-n-run shot closest to the multiple target(s). The player with the most points at the end wins the challenge. One bucket of balls per player is needed.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Parallel Piles | Multiple Targets
1

Set up 10 piles of balls in two lines 3 yards/meters apart. Each line has 5 piles spaced 4 yards/meters apart.

2

Put the piles between 1 and 10 yards/meters from the green and 5 to 30 yards/meters from the hole.

3

Pick 3 targets on the green, spaced evenly apart.

4

Split 36 shots into 3 sets of

5

Aim first 12 shots at the left target.

6

Aim next 12 shots at the center target.

7

Aim last 12 shots at the right target.

8

Do not move the ball setup, only change the target.

9

Count how many balls land closest or in the scoring area for the right target, and enter your score out of 36.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3129262217131074
02

Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Ball Lines | Bullseye 2x

Short Game

Align a bucket of balls next to the green (avg. bucket is 40 balls) into 2 perpendicular lines 20 balls per line and stop bump-n-run shots inside Bullseye. Count the number of balls in the inner and outer Bullseye.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Ball Lines | Bullseye 2x
1

Place a bucket of balls next to the green with 2 straight lines of 20 balls arranged perpendicular to each other.

2

Space the lines 5 to 10 yards/meters apart, with each ball about 1 foot (30 cm) apart in each line.

3

Mark two circles on the green: an inner circle with a 6-foot (2 m) radius and an outer circle with a 15-foot (5 m) radius around the hole.

4

Hit 36 bump-and-run shots in 2 sets of 18 shots, switching between the two lines.

5

Hit 3 to 5 shots from one line, then switch to the other line, until all 36 balls are played.

6

Try to land balls in the circles: inside the inner circle is best, inside the outer circle is okay.

7

Count how many balls stopped inside the outer circle (including the inner circle), and enter your score in the app out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score302825201512964
03

Bump-n-Run | Parallel Ball Lines | 9 Stop Zones

Short Game

Align a bucket of balls next to the green (avg. bucket is 40 balls) into 2 parallel lines 20 balls per line and stop bump-n-run shots inside 9 Stop Zones. Count the number of successful stops.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Parallel Ball Lines | 9 Stop Zones
1

Place two parallel lines of balls beside the green. Each line has 18 balls spaced 1 foot apart. The lines are 5 to 10 yards apart.

2

On the green, mark 9 stop zones using tees, string, or buckets. Arrange the zones in 3 rows of 3, spaced evenly.

3

Hit 36 bump-n-run shots. Divide them into 9 groups of 4 shots.

4

Hit 4 shots from one ball line toward Stop Zone

1

Try to stop each ball in that zone.

5

Switch to the other ball line and hit 4 shots toward Stop Zone

6

Keep switching ball lines and hit 4 shots at each stop zone in order (Zone 1 to Zone 9).

7

Count every ball that stops in the right stop zone as a success.

8

Add total successful stops and enter the score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3230282520161285
04

Bump-n-Run | Scattered Piles | Bullseye 2x

Short Game

Up to 5 players compete to stop a bump-n-run shot in the bullseye. The best final score relative to PAR wins the challenge. One bucket of balls per player is needed.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Scattered Piles | Bullseye 2x
1

Put 36 balls into 6 piles of 6 balls each around the chipping area, between 1 and 10 yards from the green, and 5 to 30 yards from the hole.

2

On the green, make two rings around the hole with string or tees: a small ring with a 6-foot radius and a bigger ring with a 15-foot radius.

3

Split your shots into two groups of

4

For the first 18 shots, try to land the ball inside the small ring (6-foot radius).

5

For the next 18 shots, try to land the ball inside the big ring but outside the small ring.

6

Hit one ball at a time from any pile. Do 18 shots for the first target, then do 18 shots for the second target.

7

Count every ball that stops inside the target ring as a success.

8

After all 36 shots, add up how many landed in the right rings and enter your score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3129272318141063
05

Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Piles | Multiple Targets

Short Game

Align a bucket of balls next to the green (avg. bucket is 40 balls) into 10 equal perpendicular piles of 4 balls and stop bump-n-run shots close to multiple targets. Count the number of successes.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Piles | Multiple Targets
1

Arrange 40 balls into 10 piles with 4 balls in each pile. Set the piles in two lines that cross each other near the green. The two lines should be 6 yards apart. Each pile in a line is 2 yards from the next pile.

2

Pick 3 target flags on the green. Space the targets 6 feet apart in a line or triangle so each one can be aimed at.

3

Hit 36 bump-and-run shots, in 3 sets of 12 shots. For each set, aim all 12 shots at one of the target flags (Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3).

4

Start at any pile and try to hit the ball so it lands inside a 10-foot circle around the chosen target. Do this for 12 shots, then move to the next target and do it again, until all 36 shots are done.

5

Use different piles as you like for variety, but always set up the same way for each shot.

6

Count each shot that stops inside the 10-foot circle as a success.

7

After all shots, count total successes and enter score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score312926221713963
06

Bump-n-Run | Scattered Ball Lines | Multiple Targets

Short Game

Scatter a bucket of balls next to the green (avg. bucket is 40 balls) into 8 equal lines of 5 balls and stop bump-n-run shots close to multiple targets. Count the number of successes.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Scattered Ball Lines | Multiple Targets
1

Scatter 36 balls into 6 lines of 6 balls each on grass near the green. Put each line 1 to 10 yards or meters from the green and 5 to 30 yards or meters from the hole.

2

At the edge of the green, set up 3 targets spaced about 6 feet (2 meters) apart in a straight line. Name them Target 1, Target 2, and Target

3

Hit 36 bump-and-run shots. Aim 12 shots at Target 1, 12 at Target 2, and 12 at Target

4

From each line, hit all 6 balls at the chosen target for that group of 12 shots. Switch targets after every 12 shots.

5

A shot is a success if the ball stops within 10 feet (3 meters) of the target.

6

Record how many shots land inside the 10-foot zone, out of 36 attempts, and enter the score in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score312926221713963
07

Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Piles | 3 Landing Zones

Short Game

Up to 5 players compete to stop a bump-n-run shot inside the landing zone(s). The player with the most points at the end wins the challenge. One bucket of balls per player is needed.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Piles | 3 Landing Zones
1

Set up 10 piles of balls in 2 lines that cross each other, 5 piles in each line. Space the piles about 3 yards or meters apart.

2

Place the piles so they are 1 to 10 yards or meters from the green and 5 to 30 yards or meters from the hole, on any grass.

3

On the green, make 3 landing zones side by side, each about 6 feet or 2 meters apart, using sticks, clubs, or string.

4

Hit 36 bump-and-run shots total. Aim 12 shots at each landing zone.

5

Pick a pile. Hit balls at the first landing zone until you do 12 shots.

6

Aim at the second landing zone for 12 shots from any piles.

7

Aim at the third landing zone for the last 12 shots.

8

Count how many shots land and stop in the right zone.

9

When all 36 shots are done, record the number of good shots out of 36 in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score312926221713963
08

Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Ball Lines | Multiple Targets

Short Game

Align a bucket of balls next to the green (avg. bucket is 40 balls) into 2 perpendicular lines 20 balls per line and stop bump-n-run shots close to multiple targets. Count the number of successes.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Perpendicular Ball Lines | Multiple Targets
1

Put 36 balls in 2 lines near the green. Each line has 18 balls about 1 foot apart.

2

Place the 2 lines so they cross each other like a plus sign, 5 to 10 yards apart.

3

Put 3 targets about 6 feet apart on the green.

4

Hit 12 shots at each target, for a total of 36 shots.

5

Start with one line and hit 12 shots trying to stop the ball within 10 feet of the first target.

6

Use the other line and hit 12 shots at the second target, same goal.

7

Hit 12 shots at the third target from either line, trying to keep within 10 feet.

8

Count each shot that stops within 10 feet of the target.

9

After 36 shots, write down your number of successful shots out of 36 attempts in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3028262218141074
09

Bump-n-Run | Scattered Piles | 3 Landing Zones

Short Game

Up to 5 players compete to land a bump-n-run shot inside the landing zone(s). The player with the most points wins the challenge. One bucket of balls per player is needed.

26 minFocus: Short Game
Diagram for Bump-n-Run | Scattered Piles | 3 Landing Zones
1

Get 36 balls. Split them into 3 piles of 12 balls.

2

Make 3 zones on the green with sticks or string. Each zone is 6 feet apart in a line.

3

On the grass, put each pile of balls at random spots 1 to 10 yards from the green and 5 to 30 yards from the hole. Each pile matches a zone.

4

Hit 12 shots from the first pile, try to land in the first zone.

5

Hit 12 shots from the second pile, try to land in the second zone.

6

Hit 12 shots from the last pile, try to land in the third zone.

7

Count how many balls land and stop in each zone.

8

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

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3230282520161285

Next Step

Ready to start this program?

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