Help Those Awkward Distance Shots
Understanding Wedge Distance Control
When most golfers think of launch monitors, their minds go to measurements like swing speed, driver distance, and some of the more advanced parameters they see on TV broadcasts.
But if you have any launch monitor, even the budget models, you don’t want to miss out on one of the most essential practice methods.
Wedge distance control.
In every round you play, there will be multiple times when you face “awkward” wedge distances.
These are somewhere between a chip shot and a full swing. You’re asked to dial up a distance like 40, 55, or 80 yards.
If you don’t spend any time practicing these, you can easily throw away strokes quickly and start making some frustrating double bogeys (or worse).
So whether you have a product like a Rapsodo MLM, Garmin R10, or even a high-end setup with Foresight Sports or Trackman, you want to dial in these distances.
Additionally, these are great shots to start your practice sessions with and warm your body up.
Here are some ideas on how to structure your wedge work.
Establishing Your Technique and Distance Control
Feel is something that can’t be learned through reading an article. You have to earn it through repetition!
So whether you are trying to land a wedge shot 35 yards or 80 yards, your body needs to be athletic and “feel” that distance.
You have to spend some time repeating a certain distance, also known as blocked practice. Your goal is to find a technique and feel of hitting a shot in 10-15 yard increments.
For some, adjusting the length of their backswing might be a great cue. This is known as the “clock system,” which was made popular by Dave Pelz. Others might feel more comfortable keeping the length of their swing the same but feel like they are swinging at 50 or 70% depending on the distance.
Club selection also comes into play. For example, one player might feel comfortable using a 56-degree wedge to all distances below a full swing. Other golfers might do better varying lofts.
You can run these tests and verify them with your launch monitor all along the way. Whatever gets you closest to the intended carry distance is your best answer.
In the beginning, it might take more time doing this kind of practice to lock in these distances, and when you are more comfortable, you can move on to the next phase.
As a bonus, if your launch monitor measures launch angle, better wedge players launch these shots slightly lower. 28-32 degrees is a good window to look for.
That can be achieved through club selection or how you present the club’s loft at impact. Certain golfers can work on getting their hands more forward at impact, and delofting the club more.
Testing Yourself Through Randomization
Before Dustin Johnson won his first major at the 2016 U.S. Open, he had many close calls. He always got into contention because of his tremendous length and accuracy off the tee, but failed to convert scoring opportunities when he would leave himself less than full wedge shots.
So how did he fix it and break through? He bought a Trackman for the sole purpose of dialing in his wedge distances. His goal was to randomly land the ball to different yardages and verify how close he was with his launch monitor.
Eventually, this gave him the confidence to step up to these shots under pressure and simply recall the feel he needed to control his distance.
This practice is necessary no matter how good of a golfer you become.
Once you have worked to establish your wedge control through repetition, it’s time to test yourself.
It’s as simple as calling out different numbers (47, 65, 82) and seeing how close you can land it. Have fun with it, and turn it into a game.
These are the exact scenarios you will face on the course, and with some extra practice time, you can confidently get the ball on the putting surface rather than feeling like you are constantly guessing.
A Simple Framework for Scoring Success
Conquering these types of shots can have significant scoring implications for players of all levels. These awkward wedge shots can also benefit your full swing as a side benefit.
This is a great way to start your practice sessions if you have any kind of home setup and just about any launch monitor.
Earn your distance control through repetition, and then test yourself through randomization. Then you can move on to your longer clubs in the bag.
Author: Jon Sherman
Jon Sherman is the author of the international best-selling Foundations of Golf series. He also is the co-host of the Sweet Spot podcast, a PGA Tour coach, and the owner of Practical Golf.
