The closer to the green, the greater the chances of hitting it close. However, for most amateur players, things usually start to unravel.
Inside 100 yards, nerves creep in and these short wedge shots feel anything but simple. You second-guess your organization, forget the basics, and lose confidence in yourself at the worst possible moment.
Instead of letting the tension take over, causing you to drop it onto the green—or worse, chip it a few feet in front of you— David Armitageor GOLF Top 100 Teachersoffers a simple solution.
“It’s about leaning left and staying left,” says Armitage.
With this simple phrase and the three keys below, you’ll learn how to create solid structure every time and turn these subtle strokes into scoring opportunities.
Load your steering side for better low point control
To execute these shots successfully, Armitage says you have to have them low point control — and it starts before you swing the club.
“For me, low-point control is all about setup,” he says. “What I want you to do is you get about 65% of your weight on that front, the lead leg. Once you get it there, I want it to also feel like it’s resting there with your sternum.”
The key here is to fully load your lead side – not just your lower body. Armitage says amateurs often let their weight shift back during their backswing on these short wedge shots. When this happens, it becomes almost impossible to get back into a forward position by the time your club goes through impact. As a result, players hang back or lean away from the target as they hit the ball, followed by a host of contact problems.
By remembering to pre-set your entire forehand, you set yourself up to make first contact with the ball and stay forward during the shot, helping you improve the quality of your shot and avoid a common mistake that can quickly ruin your contact and confidence.
Keep your nose on the lead fingers as you move
Once you’ve loaded your lead side and created a good setup, it’s time to practice your swing. Armitage says the key here is to maintain the foundation you’ve already built in the address.
“As you do a backswing, I want you to feel like your nose and your weight is there (just in front of the ball),” he says.
To create this feeling, take a few practice swings without the ball, keeping your sternum and nose positioned over your lead foot throughout the swing. You’ll know you’re doing it right if your split is happening in front of your ball position.
When you put a ball back into the equation, you should notice that your shots have a lower trajectory and more spin – the hallmarks of a great wedge player.
Develop stock swings for better distance control
There are several ways to dial in different yards with your wedges. You can open the face or underhand, but Armitage says the most reliable method for controlling distance is to adjust the length of the swing.
To do this, you need a set of defined stock swings. You can build them by creating clear, repeatable boundaries—or “triggers,” as Armitage calls them. Its control points are:
- Ride on the thigh
- Rib to rib
- Shoulder to shoulder
Much like her clock system many players use, these control points give you a clear and repeatable reference to how far the club travels back and through. This structure allows you to make a repeatable swing at the same pace every time, which is ultimately what creates reliable control and distance feel.
Callaway Opus SP+ Custom Wedge
Introducing the all-new Opus SP+ with Spin Pocket™ Construction + Tungsten, a new extension to our Opus SP family. Tour favorite shape with an even higher center of gravity for more spin and accuracy.
View Product
