Around the greens, the margin for error decreases dramatically. If you hit half an inch behind the ball, you chip it. If you hit half an inch too far, you puncture it. Hudson Weibel’s ability to control the low point with his wedges is one of the quiet reasons behind his three-win season at the University of Houston. His putter isn’t flashy, but it’s consistent, and it all starts with understanding where the bottom of the club is.
In the photo above, its structure immediately tells the story. At address, his pressure is slightly favoring the leading edge, his hands are subtly in front of the ball, and his sternum is positioned over or slightly in front of it. These details reinforce the same theme we discussed on the piece of iron: forward pressure helps create a downstroke. In the short game, however, the concept becomes even more critical because there is no time to recover if the low passes.
To help reinforce this, we place a wedge in the ground immediately behind the ball. The task is simple: hit short 10-yard chips while maintaining approximately 60 to 70 percent pressure on the lead foot for the entire stroke. There is no shifting back, no sliding and no trying to add loft by hand. The chest simply rotates slightly during impact while the forward pressure remains constant.
Why does the wedge work?
With the wedge behind the ball, it helps control where the club is at the bottom. Most importantly, it immediately exposes three common mistakes. If the pressure goes to the side of the track, if the grip stops or rolls, or if the wrists “throw” the club before impact, the clubhead will hit the ground first.
In Hudson’s movement, the same basics appear again and again. Pressure continues to favor the lead side, the sternum stays slightly in front of the ball and the club enters the ground after contact as the glove continues to move left through impact. All this happens because the low point is in front of the ball. The wedge behind the ball forces that pattern.
At the elite level, practice is not about hoping for clean contact. It’s about building constraints that make pure contact the only possible outcome. The wedge behind the ball creates a simple rule: the low point must be forward. If it isn’t, the wedge tells you right away.
Most amateurs struggle here because their swing moves the low point behind the ball. Pressure shifts to the side of the track on the backswing, the hands try to “help” the ball into the air, and the spin is often stopped through impact. Each of these tendencies pushes the lower part of the bow behind the ball.
When the wedge is placed behind the ball, there is nowhere to hide from those patterns. Either the pressure stays up front and the shot is clean, or the drill exposes the mistake immediately.
Divot Board
The Divot Board is a revolutionary golf training aid that gives players instant feedback on every swing. By showing exactly where your club contacts the ground, the Divot Board makes it easy to spot mistakes and correct them on the spot. Whether you’re practicing indoors or outdoors, this tool helps you improve your ball strike, swing path, and low-point control. With continued use, the Divot Board builds muscle memory so you can hit the ball better, hit fairer shots and lower your scores. Instant Feedback for Faster Learning Research shows that instant feedback can speed up learning by 50-70%. The Divot board provides real-time feedback on your movement so you can make quick adjustments and perfect your technique instantly. Improve Consistency Did you know that 70-80% of golfers struggle with inconsistent contact? The Divot board reveals exactly where your club hit the surface, helping you identify flaws and build a repeatable and reliable swing. Train Anywhere Compact and portable, the Divot Board can be used at home, on the highway, or even in the office. Its high-quality construction ensures durability through countless practice sessions. Proudly designed and assembled in the USA. Consistent use of a Divot Board will transform your practice routine. It’s the easiest way to gain awareness, develop better ball shots and see results faster.
View Product
