After 60, we may lose a little swing speed. We may not hit it as far as we once did. But scoring? Scoring still belongs to the golfer who controls the ball from 100 yards and in.
At Senior-Golfers.com, we focus specifically on how the golf swing, equipment, and practice change after 60. If you’re looking for senior-friendly golf advice, start here.
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As we age, flexibility changes. Shoulder turn shortens. Clubhead speed dips. That’s normal.
But here’s the good news:
Short game skill improves with experience.
Feel improves with patience.
Touch improves with awareness.
Many senior golfers can still shoot their age — not because they overpower the course — but because they eliminate wasted strokes inside 50 yards.
Senior Insight: After 60, scoring is not about power — it’s about precision.
Modern short game instruction — popularized by teaching pros — that focuses on using the club’s bounce, maintaining loft, and letting the body control the motion rather than flipping the hands. These concepts are extremely senior-friendly because they reduce strain and increase consistency.
The Low-Running Chip (Your Go-To Shot)
The chip shot should be the bread-and-butter shot for senior golfers.
It’s:
Think “small chest rotation,” not “hand flick.”
The club brushes the grass.
The ball comes out low.
It rolls like a putt.
Common Senior Mistake: Trying to lift the ball into the air instead of letting the loft do the work.
Pick a landing spot 3–6 feet onto the green.
Hit 10 balls trying to land on that exact spot.
Ignore the hole at first.
Control the landing — the roll takes care of itself.
Having the right wedge bounce makes this shot much easier. Many seniors benefit from wedges with slightly higher bounce and softer feel. Senior-friendly wedges.
The Modern Pitch — Simple & Body-Driven
This is where many seniors struggle.
They:
• Flip the wrists
• Decelerate
• Try to scoop
• Fear chunking
Modern technique simplifies this.
Instead of digging into the turf, let the sole of the club glide across it.
That means:
• Slightly shallow angle
• Chest rotates through
• Clubface maintains loft
• Smooth acceleration
Brad Faxon emphasizes the importance of using the bounce correctly — especially for senior golfers. You can see his full demonstration in our article on Brad Faxon’s chipping tips for senior golfers.
Feel like you’re brushing the grass with the bounce — not chopping down on it.
The chest rotates.
The hands stay quiet.
The loft stays exposed.
Senior Insight: Let the club do the lifting. Your job is rhythm and rotation.
Technique is important. But knowing when to use each shot is what truly improves the short game for seniors.
This is a low-risk situation. Choose your low-running chip. Land it a few feet onto the green and let it roll like a putt. Seniors should default to the simplest shot whenever possible.
This is where a controlled pitch is necessary. Open the face slightly, use the bounce, and focus on smooth acceleration. Avoid trying to “help” the ball up — trust the loft.
Downhill lies can create thin shots for seniors. Play the ball slightly back, keep your weight forward, and focus on brushing the turf. Keep the trajectory lower to avoid excessive rollout.
Senior Insight: Choose the lowest, simplest shot available. Complexity increases mistakes.
Focus on landing spot.
Use hip, rib, and shoulder backswing system.
Place 3 tees:
Try to land within 3 feet of each.
Chip or pitch.
Putt out.
Keep score.
No more than 20 minutes.
Quality over quantity.
Senior golfers often benefit from:
• Slightly higher bounce wedges
• Softer shafts
• Slightly larger grips
• Softer compression golf balls
A wedge with appropriate bounce can dramatically reduce chunked shots for seniors. The right sole grind allows the club to glide instead of dig. Senior Golfers Titleist Wedge Review.
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The short game for seniors isn’t just about technique — it’s about adapting to the lie.
On tight lies, use slightly more bounce and avoid excessive shaft lean. Let the sole glide across the turf. Stay relaxed and rotate through impact.
The grass will reduce spin. Choose a little more loft and expect extra rollout. Maintain steady acceleration.
Use a steeper motion and more loft. Grip pressure slightly firmer. Expect minimal spin and plan for rollout.
Wet turf increases digging. Make sure bounce is working for you. Keep your tempo smooth and avoid stabbing at the ball.
1️⃣ Trying to scoop
2️⃣ Decelerating through impact
3️⃣ Standing too narrow on pitch shots
4️⃣ Using too much wrist
5️⃣ Practicing only full swings
Short game should represent at least 50% of your practice time.
After 60, that ratio becomes even more important.
Senior Insight: Calm tempo creates soft contact. Soft contact creates better scoring.
For many senior golfers, the biggest challenge around the greens isn’t physical — it’s mental.
Fear of chunking.
Fear of blading.
Fear of decelerating.
These fears cause tension — and tension ruins touch.
The key to improving the short game for seniors is building trust through repetition. Choose one chip technique. Choose one pitch system. Practice it consistently. Confidence grows from predictability.
If you find yourself getting tight over short shots, your issue may be mental, not mechanical. I covered this in detail in our post on Mental Strategies to Help Senior Golfers Play Better.
You don’t need to hit it 260 yards to break 85.
You need:
• One reliable chip
• One reliable pitch
• One simple distance system
That’s it.
The short game is where senior golfers can separate themselves from younger players who rely on power alone.
Senior Insight: Master 30–70 yards and you’ll never fear a missed green again.
For senior golfers, the most important short game skill is distance control. Being able to land the ball consistently in a predictable spot allows you to eliminate three-putts and reduce stress around the greens. Mastering one reliable chip shot and one controlled pitch shot will lower scores faster than trying to add distance off the tee.
Yes. Senior golfers should default to chipping whenever possible. A lower-running chip is easier to control, requires less wrist action, and reduces the risk of chunking or blading the ball. Only use a pitch shot when you must carry a hazard or stop the ball quickly.
Many senior golfers benefit from wedges with slightly higher bounce and a forgiving sole design. More bounce helps prevent digging and makes contact more consistent on tight lies. Softer shafts and slightly larger grips can also improve feel and control.
Chunked pitch shots often happen when golfers try to scoop the ball into the air. Instead, focus on rotating your chest through the shot and letting the club’s bounce glide along the turf. Maintain a smooth tempo and avoid decelerating at impact.
Senior golfers should dedicate at least 50% of their practice time to short game work. A simple 20-minute routine that includes chipping, pitching, and distance control drills is more effective than long full-swing sessions. <!– /wp:paragraph –>
Yes. Shoulder and thoracic mobility influence your ability to control the clubface and maintain consistent contact. Regular mobility exercises can improve balance and rhythm, both of which directly impact short game performance.
Looking to improve your flexibility? See our full guide on ROM Tests for Senior Golfers.
Link to past post about club fitting from Senior-Golfers.com
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