Course Program

Hit the green with the perfect arc

Control short iron height, for a 29-handicap player, ~20 minutes at Whidbey Golf Club

Driving RangeAll teesProgram HCP 29.24 drills40% match to course practice profile

Program Snapshot

Handicap range

10 to 45

Average HCP

29.2

Duration (single session)

2 hr 4 min

or

1 drill/day: 4 days · 31 min/day

Ideal tee

All

Skill Distribution

Trajectory33%
Mechanics23%
Precision20%
Scoring15%
Distance Control10%

Overview

Program Structure

Hit the green with the perfect arc. Fade or draw short irons and control short iron height. Focus on Trajectory, Mechanics, Precision. For a 29-handicap player, in ~20 minutes.

Skill

Trajectory

Club

Short irons (9,8)

What you will improve

  • Trajectory
  • Mechanics
  • Precision
  • Scoring

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) | Opposite Shots Challenge

Driving Range

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

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

Pick one target on the driving range for short irons (9 or 8 iron).

2

Break the test into 4 groups of 9 shots (36 total shots).

3

In each group, hit alternating pairs of opposite shot types: fade/draw, high/low, pull/fade, push/draw.

4

Hit 5 pairs, but drop 1 shot from the last pair so each group is 9 shots.

5

Use only 9 or 8 irons with the same ball setup for every shot.

6

Try to make each shot land near the target and curve the right way.

7

Count as a success if the shot matches the shape and lands near the target.

8

Do all 4 groups for a total of 36 shots.

9

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

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score302825211612853
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) | Impact and Follow Through

Driving Range

Work only on impact and follow through using short irons only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Short irons (9,8) | Impact and Follow Through
1

Pick a flag or marker on the range suitable for your 8- or 9-iron shots.

2

Hit 36 shots, all aiming at the same target.

3

Focus on good contact and smooth swings with your 8- or 9-iron.

4

Set up the ball the same way every time.

5

After completing all 36 shots, count how many balls landed within a 5-foot area around the target.

6

Enter your score out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score2927252218141074
04

Short irons (9,8) | Downswing

Driving Range

Work only on downswing using short irons only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

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

Pick a flag or target on the driving range suitable for short irons (9 or 8).

2

Take 36 shots using only the 9 or 8 iron.

3

Focus solely on your downswing, using at most two swing thoughts or tasks to control the ball flight.

4

Aim at the same single target for all 36 shots.

5

Count each ball that lands and stays near the target as a success.

6

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

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3129272419151174

Next Step

Ready to start this program?

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