PGA Tour winner Will Zalatoris shows how more amateurs can dial in their distances on approach shots from 100 yards and up.
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There are many tricky amateur shots on the golf course, but one area that always seems to give players fits is the 100-meter approach shot.
On the surface, this shouldn’t be too difficult – it just is grab your trusty wedge and tap your ball somewhere on the green. But as everyone reading this knows, it’s much more complicated than that.
These shorter shots not only require confidence in a specific club, but they require an understanding of your yardage and swing length. Even when you factor in these two things, hitting the shot can be difficult, with other factors also playing a role in the outcome – like the weather, course management skills and, of course, the quality of contact.
But finding a system to help you control your swing length should be your first task.
To do this, take a look at some tips from Will Zalatoris below (courtesy of Titleist’s YouTube channel), which presents a unique strategy for how he masters the 100-yard approach shot.
How will Zalatoris perform in shooting from 100 meters and above
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What is the best way to sense different distances from 100 meters and up? Many good teachers preach the clock system — where golfers treat their swing length like the hands of a clock — but Zalatoris says he prefers a different approach, and getting there is mostly about feel.
“For me, I have four or five different swings with each wedge, which (kind of gives me) blind drunk numbers,” he says.
So what exactly does this mean? Zalatoris explains that it’s a way for his mind to imagine a scenario before hitting a specific shot. It comes from working on the range, saying he and other pros often pile on their practice to get the feel needed to dial in their wedge distances — especially approach shots from 100 yards and up.
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“A lot of guys on Tour are either working remotely, or they are doing block work — where they’re working on a certain movement in their game,” Zalatoris says.
Zalatoris prefers to use a handful of different swings with each wedge, as it allows him to “get those feelings of how far I need to swing a club back and how far it’s going (each shot).
“Let’s say I blindsided you and you have 78 yards and you have to hit a sand wedge, how do you hit it?” he asks. With enough repetitions, his body uses muscle memory and his athleticism takes over.
So how can you apply something similar to your next session? The easiest way would be to hit different types of shots with the same wedge, helping you get a feel for the length of the swing for each, as well as seeing the trajectory of the ball.
For example, are you taking a high draw to reach that 78-yard mark, or do you need to fade the ball around a tree? These are not typical shots that amateurs practice on the range, but they should be so that you have an idea of what to do when you are on the course.
While having a good swing length barometer is important for distance control, Zalatoris reminds players that dexterity is even more important.
“If I’m trying to hit something 78 yards and I hit it 82 yards, the pins are very difficult on Tour, so that could be the difference between having a 10-foot birdie and me trying to scramble for it same level.” he says.
By using Zalatoris’ unique approach during practice, you can rethink how to use every club in your bag from 100 yards, giving you a higher hitting percentage during your next round.
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