We’ve all been there, in the short grass inside 100 yards after a crushing trip, hoping to stick it close. Then the nerves kick in and tension creeps into your movement. Suddenly, you’ve dropped it onto the green – or worse, chipped it a few feet in front of you.
As you take the walk of shame to your ball, you can’t help but wonder, “Why did I do that?” While there are several possible explanations, most of the time it’s nerves. The added stress often creates tension in your swing that kills your feel and rhythm. The fix? Adjusting how you practice these key point shots.
Addison Craig, a GOLF Teacher to watchrecommends getting a page from the pros by focusing on structure, building a foundation, and practicing deliberately. Here’s how to level up your wedge game:
Step 1: Find your “System”.
A repeatable system is the foundation of resilience under pressure. While each player’s approach may differ, the goal is the same: create a reliable method you can trust when it matters most.
Below are three common methods you can use to call your wedges:
1. Clock method: For this system, a clock face acts as a guide for swing length. For example, a 9-to-3 swing will generate a half strike with a low finish.
2. Sense-based system: Some players prefer to rely on rhythm to control distance, rather than fixed swing positions. With this approach, you may find a metronome app useful.
3. The three-prong approach: Others like to simplify their technique by supporting the results of half, three-quarter, and full swings.
Finding the right approach is a personal journey, Craig says—one that requires some experimentation. Next time you’re at the range, try a few different techniques until you discover what clicks for you.
Step 2: Build your base
Once you’ve chosen your wedge system, it’s time to develop your distance control—your personal baseline for how far you typically hit each of your wedges. This will be the foundation on which you will build your wedge system.
To build your base, start by hitting a few short shots – about 30-40 yards. The goal, Craig says, is to generate solid, face-centered contact. Focusing on your contact will help you develop your rhythm and feel before adding power. When you can hit three hard shots in a row, gradually lengthen your swing.
As you slowly widen your backbend, Craig says to remember a few keys:
– Expand your base
– Play the ball in the middle of your stance
– Keep a square face.
These setup and swing suggestions help you create a reliable “template” for your wedges. With improved rhythm, feel and solid contact, you’re ready to start integrating your wedge system into structured practice sessions. A great place to start is by tracking your yards with a launch monitor, like the one below. It provides instant feedback, helping you confirm how far your wedges are flying and ensure your yards are consistent.
Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor
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Step 3: Stay sharp with finishing drills
Completion drills are one of the most effective ways to simulate pressure during practice. Dustin Johnson’s wedge workout, featured recently the Warm Up episodeis a perfect example.
While this is a great workout for amateurs to copy, Craig says you can get even more out of it with a few simple tweaks. First, expand your landing zone. In the video, Johnson only gives himself a buffer of a yard or two as he hits each shot. Such a small landing area is certainly challenging – but it’s also a fast track to frustration. After all, you still haven’t gotten past the 10,000 hours that helped Johnson perfect his touch, so completing the workout consistently in a reasonable amount of time can be difficult.
The second fix he recommends is to worry less about your right and left mistakes.
“You have to get the consistency of your distance control down first,” he says, “It sounds crazy, but if you can make that window a little bigger and not worry about lefts and rights, call it 10 to 15 yards, that’s about the size of an average green.”
For most amateurs, hitting the green consistently with their wedges is a major accomplishment, Craig explains. Especially considering the PGA Tour average for approaches inside 100 yards is 17′ 1″. Close – but maybe not as close as you think.
By setting realistic expectations, you can celebrate good shots while noticing improvements in your mistakes. As your accuracy increases, gradually reduce the landing area. You can also time your sessions and track how many shots out of five or 10 land in the zone, giving you a clear and measurable way to monitor your progress.
