Every golfer knows a sharp wedge game is a true difference-maker. It can elevate your round from good to great — or send it the other way if your distances aren’t dialed in. As someone who’s always struggled with their wedges, I was intrigued when I saw Dustin Johnson break down his wedge combine drill in an episode of our Warming Up with Dylan Dethier. It’s the same routine that helped him become a major champion and World No. 1.
So if it was good enough to turn him into a clutch wedge player, I figured it could help me take my wedge game to the next level.
DJ’s wedge drill
Johnson’s wedge routine is simple and straightforward. With each wedge, he takes half, three-quarter and full swings — five to 10 shots per swing length — tracking how far each carries. The goal is to land each ball within a tight yardage window.
It’s a repeatable system that Johnson completes ahead of every competition round and the precision is what makes this combine-style drill so effective.
How I tried it
Armed with my wedges (gap, 56 and 60) and my Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor — the same one Johnson uses — I hit the range. I started with my lob wedge, setting a goal to hit five shots at each swing length that all carried within five yards of one another. That does’t mean it only took five swings, though. With my first club, it actually took closer to 10 tries before I could get my half swings landing in a consistent yardage window.
However, I eventually got into a groove and was able to close out my lob wedge. To give you an idea of what my yardages were, my half swings averaged about 55 yards, three-quarter swings around 60, and full swings were close to 70.
Then, I repeated the process with my 56-degree and gap wedge, logging my distances along the way.
What I thought
This drill was humbling. My early sets were pretty scattered, especially the half swings with my lob wedge. But as I settled in and found a smoother rhythm, things started to click. Moving into my 56 (my go-to wedge) my dispersion tightened and my confidence grew. By the time I got to my gap wedge, my tempo felt dialed in and my yardages were no longer a guess. After about 45 minutes, I walked off the range feeling more in control of my wedges and ready to take on any shot the course might throw my way.
I’m sure this drill takes DJ far less time, but that’s part of what makes this drill so valuable: your time and consistency become a barometer for your progress. For example, the next time I run through it, I might challenge myself to complete this combine drill in 30 minutes or less.
While it’s simple, this drill is brutally honest and doesn’t allow your weaknesses to hide. I love that it forces you to be aware of your numbers and trust your swing. After one session, I completely understand why DJ swears by it. After all, mastering your wedges is one of the best ways to lower your scores.
