When I was the Director of Golf at Fripp Island, South Carolina, I had the privilege of working with golfers of all skill levels — from beginners trying to break 100 to single-digit players looking to go even lower. No matter their level, I noticed one thing: everyone focused on mechanics, but few worked on the mental side of the short game.

The truth is, the best wedge and putting strokes in the world don’t matter if your mind gets in the way. That’s why I built mental training right into my short game lessons — drills that sharpened focus, boosted confidence, and taught players to handle pressure.

Below is an example of some of my favorite mindset drills and routines — now refined into an easy-to-follow Edison Golf 7-Day Mental Game Plan to help you strengthen the most important muscle in your short game: your mind.

Day 1: Define Your Target, Define Your Mind

• Drill: On chips and pitches, pick the smallest landing spot you can — a blade of grass, not just the green.

• Mental Cue: As Bob Rotella says, “Before playing any shot, a golfer must lock their mind into the smallest possible target.”

• Goal: Narrowing your focus quiets distractions and builds clarity under pressure.

Day 2: Pressure Reps

• Drill: Hit 10 chips from the same spot. Set a goal — say, 6 inside 6 feet. If you miss, start over.

• Mental Cue: Feel that tension? That’s the point. Embrace it.

• Goal: Get comfortable performing when there’s something on the line.

Day 3: Visualization Practice

• Drill: Before each chip or putt, close your eyes and picture the shot — the trajectory, the bounce, the rollout. Then hit.

• Mental Cue: Trust the picture more than the mechanics.

• Goal: Strengthen imagination and belief, two key short game tools.

Day 4: Miss Management

• Drill: Drop 10 balls in the worst lies you can find — tight turf, buried sand, deep rough — and play them all without frustration.

• Mental Cue: Replace “Oh no” with “Great challenge.”

• Goal: Turn adversity into opportunity.

Day 5: Quiet the Noise

• Drill: Before every short putt, take one slow breath, focus on your spot, and roll the ball.

• Mental Cue: “Breathe, aim small, roll it.”

• Goal: Build a calming pre-shot routine that steadies your nerves anywhere, anytime.

Day 6: Build Your Confidence Bank

• Drill: Keep a quick journal of your best short game saves this week. Include how the shot looked and felt.

• Mental Cue: “I’ve done this before.”

• Goal: Create a reservoir of positive memories to draw from when pressure builds.

Day 7: Match Play Simulation

• Drill: Play 9 holes, but start each hole by intentionally missing the green. Score only your up-and-downs.

• Mental Cue: Treat every shot like it’s to win the Ryder Cup.

• Goal: Train yourself to love pressure and stay focused when it matters most.

Key Takeaway

Confidence in your short game doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes — it comes from learning how to think through them. When you master your mindset, you don’t just save strokes — you change how you approach every shot under pressure.

➡️ Next week in Inside the Scoring Zone, we’ll take a break from drills and preview some of my favorite fall golf courses I’ve played — and what makes each one unforgettable.