Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a GOLF.com series in which we’re sharing improvements, learnings and takeaways from amateur golfers just like you — including some of the speed bumps and challenges they faced along the way. Ed. Note: This article was published in partnership with Cleveland/Srixon.
If you’re really looking to shave strokes off your game, a critical area to master is any shot within 100 yards. This is something I’m constantly hearing from GOLF Top 100 Teachers — and it makes plenty of sense as to why this is so important.
Most players can recover from a bad drive or even a poor approach shot. But if you’re taking three or even four shots from within 100 yards, you’re probably barely breaking 100.
That’s no way to play golf, my friends.
Since this is an area I’ve really struggled with lately, I tapped Cleveland Golf ambassador Jake Hutt for a lesson to ensure I dial in 100-yard shots as prime golf season approaches.
This 1 adjustment will help you dial in 100-yard wedge shots
Hutt and I headed to Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and got to work. But before diving into some instruction, he first had me rethink my equipment, handing me a Cleveland wedge to try from this 100-yard range — the Cleveland CBX 4 ZipCore wedge
According to Hutt, the CBX 4 has a bigger sweet spot, which offers more forgiveness if you frequently hit it off the toe (something I’m notorious for).
Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore Custom Wedge
“We’ve got a full swing here, so I think you’re really going to benefit from the CBX,” Hutt said. “What’s cool about these is that the sweet spot is a little bit closer to the toe, so you’re not going to lose out on ball speed because the sweet spot is bigger, and it’s shifted a little bit closer to the toe.”
On 100-yard shots like the one Hutt and I are staring down in the video, it’s easy to misfire and either thin it or chunk it. So to help properly sequence the swing, Hutt reminds me to keep my weight forward — since the length of a wedge is shorter than other clubs in your bag.
“So there’s less time to transition and less time to shift weight to the right,” Hutt said. “So we’re going to stack you a little bit more over that lead side.”
As I address the ball, Hutt reminds me to deloft the club a bit, which can be done using some shaft lean toward the target. This helps the ball flight and adds the potential for more length, since you don’t want to come up short on a 100-yard shot.
“To get it there, you have to take off as much loft as humanly possible,” Hutt said. “So use as much lean and as much drag as you can, then keep all the pressure on the front foot. You should really feel like you’re ahead of the ball.”
By implementing just one adjustment with a wedge in my hand, I can improve my results from within that 100-yard range. So give this a try yourself the next time you’re looking to stick it close.
