Stick your wedges close with these tips from a Masters champ

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back to our July 2003 issue when we published a story about Mike Weir’s keys for hitting wedges. For unlimited access to the full GOLF Magazine digital archive, join InsideGOLF today; you’ll enjoy $140 of value for only $39.99/year.

Your wedges are your scoring clubs. When you’ve got one of them in your hands, you should be thinking birdie. And when you make a mistake, your wedges can get you of out trouble and help you save par. Suffice to say, wedges are key clubs in your bag.

If you want to make real progress shaving strokes off your handicap, turning your wedges into weapons is a good place to start. Back in 2003, Mike Weir, fresh off his Masters victory, shared with GOLF Magazine some of his keys for sticking wedges close. Check out the story below.

Weir’s wedge tips

Below are the best things you can learn from Mike Weir’s wedge game, from the three-quarter shot to dialing in distances to handling different hole locations. Try them and you’ll soon be knocking it stiff.

Three-quarter shot

Setup: Position the ball just ahead of center — opposite your front cheek — and distribute your weight evenly over both feet. Your stance should be no wider than your hips. A narrow stance is critical in wedge play, because it allows your body to support the swinging motion of your arms — a key to controlling distance.

Grip down on the handle for added control, and stand closer to the ball to compensate for making the club shorter. Strive for a “tall” feeling in your chest at address, bending from your hips, not your back. This will help straighten your spine, creating enough room for your arms to swing freely.

Backswing: A more compact swing means better balance and more control. Instead of fully hinging your wrists on all wedge swings, as many amateurs do, let the length of your arm swing — and the distance of the shot — dictate the amount of wrist hinge. On half swings, the butt of the grip should point in front of the ball (on the target line) at the completion of the backswing; that’s about a half-hinge. On three-quarter shots, hinge your wrists fully, creating a 90-degree angle between your lead forearm and the club. Also, keep your feet planted and your knees level. This will prevent your arms from over-swinging.

Downswing: As you swing down, turn your chest to the target. This is key: No matter how short your backswing, you must rotate your body through the shot. The speed at which you turn forward in the downswing is what controls your power at impact and therefore the shot’s distance. Just like on the backswing, keep lower body action to a minimum. You should feel as if your front leg is stuck in the ground, creating a brace so your arms can accelerate and your chest can turn into the finish.

To a back pin

At address, play the ball farther back in your stance. This angles the shaft forward, which delofts the clubface and sets up a lower trajectory. As you move the ball back, open your stance slightly; this helps the swing arc match the new ball position at impact. After making these adjustments, simply concentrate on your finish position. The lower you want to hit the shot, the lower your hands and arms should finish. Mike’s hands never get above his head on the follow-through: He’s swinging the club more around his body than he does on a high-trajectory shot, in which he swings more up and down, with his hands finishing higher.

To a front pin

For a higher ball flight, preset the club’s full loft at address by placing the ball forward in your stance (above), so the shaft is about vertical. The handle should point to your zipper. At impact, the lead arm and shaft should form a straight line. This allows you to take full advantage of the club’s bounce — the thick, rounded sole below the club’s leading edge and thereby maximize loft. Imagine the swing as a high, underhand toss, with your “throwing” hand releasing above your head. The arms swing on a very upright plane, due to the shortness of the shaft; this helps maintain the clubface loft you set at address. The ball should fly high and stop on a dime.

The Weir waggle

Until The Masters, Mike was widely recognized as “the lefty with the strange waggle.” Originally, this mini-rehearsal move was a drill that his swing coach, Mike Wilson, prescribed to straighten his takeaway. (Mike had a tendency to roll the club to the inside.) It worked so well that he made it part of his pre-shot routine. As Mike waggles the club back, he pays strict attention to its path. When his hands reach waist height, he looks back to confirm that the club is on the correct path, which is dictated by the club being used. The waggle with a wedge is more upright than with any other club. If it’s on the right path, the shaft should feel very light. Mike then returns the club to address and pulls the trigger right away — a good model for any golfer.