The closer you get to the hole, the easier it is to hit the ball close to the flagstick. But even when recreational players have a wedge in their hands, there’s no guarantee the ball will end up where they want.
If it’s any consolation to the weekend warriors out there, just know that hitting it close with a wedge isn’t quite the guarantee you might think it is. This season on the PGA Tour, the average distance to the pin on a shot from 100-125 yards (prime wedge distance) is just over 20 feet. So don’t kick yourself if you don’t hit it close after an approach with a wedge — it’s not as easy as you may think.
But just because you should be managing your expectations doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to hit solid wedge shots. Your wedges are your scoring clubs, and when you can hit them closer to the hole, it becomes much easier to make birdies.
In a recent podcast appearance with Golf Channel on-course reporter Smylie Kaufman, Russell Henley shared some simple advice that can help you in this endeavor. Check out the video below or read on for more.
Henley’s best wedge advice
One of the biggest issues amateurs face with their wedge play is consistent distance control. The dispersion left to right with wedges pales in comparison with their back-to-front dispersion.
Henley says that’s because it’s imperative to know your numbers with your wedges. Going to a simulator with a launch monitor is a great way to do this, although you can also do it with a rangefinder at an outdoor driving range.
“Most days I pull out the Trackman and practice between 60 and 140 yards,” Henley says. “I go in increments of 5 [yards].”
Practicing what your swing feels like when hitting these numbers is crucial to becoming a better wedge player, but for recreational golfers looking for fast improvement, the answer is even simpler.
“Good contact is the biggest part,” Henley says. “I used to hit a lot of cuts and draws, but I realized my distance was varying a lot. So the more I can just hit a basic good contact shot over and over, that’s allowed me to hit my numbers better.”
If you’re serious about becoming a better wedge player, heed Henley’s advice. Once you can generate solid contact on a more consistent basis, it becomes a heck of a lot easier to dial in your numbers with the scoring clubs.
