The post This was our most-read short-game tip of 2025 appeared first on Golf.

The post This was our most-read short-game tip of 2025 appeared first on Golf.

Whether you need to clear a bunker, navigate thick rough, or land the ball softly on the green, the pitch shot is a go-to for many golfers. Yet, despite its reputation as a short-game staple, most amateurs struggle to hit it consistently — which is probably why this pitching guide became our most-read tip of 2025.

To finish the year strong, let’s revisit that simple short-game blueprint from Kellie Stenzel, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, so you can master this shot in the New Year.

How to consistently hit effective pitch shots:

1. Pick the right club

Pitch shots require a high-lofted wedge to lift the ball over obstacles and land it softly on the green. Choosing the right club depends on distance and trajectory:

Lob Wedge (58–60°) – Ideal for short, delicate pitches.

Sand Wedge (56°) – Perfect for standard pitch shots around the green.

Gap Wedge (50–52°) – Best for longer pitch shots requiring more distance.

Remember, higher loft equals higher ball flight.

2. Use the bounce

The bounce is the angled part of your wedge’s sole that helps the club glide over the turf instead of digging into it. Proper use of bounce increases forgiveness on tricky shots and makes it easier to get the ball airborne.

To ensure the leading edge of your club is slightly off the ground at address to take full advantage of the bounce.

3. Start with a square clubface

Many golfers make the mistake of closing the clubface at address, which causes mis-hits. With high-loft wedges, a properly square face may actually look slightly open.

For more accuracy, use the leading edge as a reference to ensure your clubface is square. This subtle adjustment can significantly improve your control on high-launching shots.

4. Calibrate your distance

Distance control comes mainly from your backswing length. A longer backswing increases clubhead speed, helping the ball carry farther.

You can track how far the ball travels with different swing lengths. However, your main goal should always be to clear obstacles and land on the green, even if rollout varies.

5. Hit the Ground (“Thump” the Ball)

A common mistake is trying to scoop the ball into the air. Instead, let the club strike the ground with a distinct “thump.” This ensures the ball is compressed properly, allowing the loft and bounce of the wedge to do the work.

Remember: A solid ground strike creates a high, soft-landing shot that stops quickly on the green.

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The post The wedge method pros use for pinpoint accuracy appeared first on Golf.

The post The wedge method pros use for pinpoint accuracy appeared first on Golf.

We’ve all been there, on the short grass inside 100 yards after a crushed drive, hoping to stick it close. Then, the nerves kick in and tension creeps into your swing. Suddenly, you’ve bladed it over the green — or worse, chunked it a few feet in front of you.

As you make the walk of shame to your ball, you can’t help but wonder, “Why did I do that?” While there are a few possible explanations, most of the time it’s nerves. Increased stress often creates tension in your swing that kills your feel and rhythm. The fix? Adjusting the way you practice these key scoring shots. 

Addison Craig, a GOLF Teacher to Watch, recommends taking a page from the pros by focusing on structure, building a baseline, and practicing deliberately. Here’s how to level up your wedge game:

Step 1: Find Your “System”

A repeatable system is the foundation of consistency under pressure. While each player’s approach may vary, the goal is the same: create a reliable method that you can trust when it matters most.

Below are three common methods you can use to dial in your wedges:

1. The clock method: For this system, a clock face acts as a guide for swing length. For instance, a 9-to-3 swing will generate a half shot with a low finish.

2. Feel-based system: Some players prefer to rely on tempo to control distance, rather than fixed swing positions. With this approach, you may find a metronome app useful.

3. Three-swing approach: Others like to simplify their technique by basing yardages off the results of half, three-quarter, and full swings.

Finding the right approach is a personal journey, Craig says — one that takes some experimentation. Next time you’re on the range, try a few different techniques until you discover the one that clicks for you.

Step 2: Build Your Baseline

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 you’ll build your wedge system on.

To build your baseline, start by hitting a few short wedge shots — about 30-40 yards. The goal, Craig says, is to generate solid, center-face contact. Focusing on your contact will help develop your rhythm and feel before adding power. When you can hit three solid shots in a row, gradually lengthen your swing. 

As you slowly expand your backswing, Craig says to remember a few keys:

These setup and swing cues help you establish a reliable “template” for your wedges. With improved tempo, 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 yardages with a launch monitor, like the one below. It provides instant feedback, helping you confirm how far your wedges are flying and ensure that your yardages are consistent.

Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor

The Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor is engineered with the most advanced radar technology and a high-resolution camera to give you 16 points of data and video to see your swing in perfect clarity. Tested & trusted by Tiger Woods, made for everyone. 5D Machine-Learning Enhanced Radar The most innovative radar technology, patented to get the most accurate readings in a more compact design at a lower cost. Heads-Up Display The only launch monitor to let you see what mattes on a customizable full-color display.  Portable Build to be taken to and from the course with quick & easy setup to get your practice started faster.  “I KNOW THAT FULL SWING IS MEASURING MY GOLF BALL, NOT GUESSING AT IT.”- Tiger Woods

$4,999.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Step 3: Stay Sharp with Completion Drills

Completion drills are one of the most effective ways to simulate pressure during practice. Dustin Johnson’s go-to wedge drill, featured in a recent episode of Warming Up, is a perfect example.

While this is a great drill 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 one-or two-yard buffer as he hits each shot. A landing zone this small is certainly challenging — but it’s also a fast track to frustration. After all, you haven’t yet put in the 10,000 hours that helped Johnson perfect his touch, so completing the drill consistently in a reasonable amount of time can be tough.

The second adjustment he recommends is to worry less about your right and left misses. 

“You’ve got to get the consistency of the distance control down first,” he says, “It sounds crazy, but if you can make that window a little bigger and not worry about the left and right, call it 10 to 15 yards, that’s pretty much the average size of a green.”

For most amateurs, hitting the green consistently with their wedges is a big accomplishment, Craig explains. Especially considering that the PGA Tour average for approaches inside 100 yards is 17′ 1″. Close — but probably not as close as you’d think.

By setting realistic expectations, you can celebrate the good shots while noticing improvement in your misses. As your accuracy grows, gradually shrink the landing zone. You can also time your sessions and track how many shots out of five or 10 land in the zone, giving you a clear, measurable way to monitor your progress.

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The post I tried Dustin Johnson’s wedge combine drill — here’s what I learned appeared first on Golf.

The post I tried Dustin Johnson’s wedge combine drill — here’s what I learned appeared first on Golf.

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.

Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor

The Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor is engineered with the most advanced radar technology and a high-resolution camera to give you 16 points of data and video to see your swing in perfect clarity. Tested & trusted by Tiger Woods, made for everyone. 5D Machine-Learning Enhanced Radar The most innovative radar technology, patented to get the most accurate readings in a more compact design at a lower cost. Heads-Up Display The only launch monitor to let you see what mattes on a customizable full-color display.  Portable Build to be taken to and from the course with quick & easy setup to get your practice started faster.  “I KNOW THAT FULL SWING IS MEASURING MY GOLF BALL, NOT GUESSING AT IT.”- Tiger Woods

$4,999.00 from Fairway Jockey

View Product

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The post Lee Trevino says this is crucial for solid contact on pitch shots appeared first on Golf.

The post Lee Trevino says this is crucial for solid contact on pitch shots appeared first on Golf.

Golf fans might not agree on much these days — technique, equipment, who should make the Ryder Cup teams — but there’s one rule everyone obeys: when Lee Trevino speaks, you listen.

In an industry ripe with competing techniques and schools of thought, Trevino’s words cut through the noise with the authority of someone who’s been there, done that — and done it better than most.

So it’s hard to imagine a world where Trevino, the guy who’s usually doling out golf wisdom, is on the receiving end of a golf tip, let alone one that leaves a lasting impression. But that’s exactly what happened when Trevino got a chipping tip courtesy of Jack Burke Jr., a fellow Hall-of-Famer, two-time major champion and legend in his own right.

Trevino tells the story in a recent video with Parker McLachlin, a GOLF Teacher to Watch, when he’s asked how amateurs can develop a reliable pitch shot. After taking a moment to peruse what I can only imagine is a mental library full of incredible golf knowledge, Trevino sets us up for a simple yet effective piece of golf instruction. 

Jack Burke’s pitching tip

“Jackie Burke, Champions Golf Course,” he says, setting the scene, “he predicated, and he taught to put the club in your left hand.”

According to Trevino, Burke had him set up to his pitch shots with one hand on the club. Holding a wedge in his lead hand, Trevino placed the clubhead behind the ball. Next, he placed his trail hand on the club. When his grip was set, Trevino positioned his feet and was ready to pull the trigger. 

Trevino explains that changing the way he addressed the ball allowed him to set up with a proper ball position and arm position every time. 

“You’ll notice how this [his lead arm and club] is a straight line,” Trevino says. “The big fault with most people is their hands are back.”

As Trevino demonstrates, when your hands start behind the ball at address, it forces you to flip or manipulate your hands through impact to hit the ball. This often creates poor contact and causes you to make a more rigid or stabby motion at the ball.

To ensure his hands are in the right position Trevino uses a simple cue that you can copy.

“My hands should be over my shoe,” he says. 

With Burke’s set up key and Trevino’s easy cue, you can be sure your hands are in the right spot every time. Setting you up for crisper contact inside 50 yards.

ShortGameChef.com, created by PGA Tour winner Parker McLachlin, provides golfers with a comprehensive resource to improve their short game. Through personalized tips, drills, and expert insights, Parker helps players of all levels gain more confidence and a deeper understanding of their short game to lower their scores. You can browse membership options here.

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Ready to take your short game to the next level? Join me, Parker McLachlin, and gain access to 300+ exclusive videos packed with tips, drills, and strategies to help you play your best golf. Start improving your game today and make every shot count.

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The post Akshay Bhatia shows how to master a low, spinny pitch shot appeared first on Golf.

The post Akshay Bhatia shows how to master a low, spinny pitch shot appeared first on Golf.

Akshay Bhatia’s one of my favorite young players, with the 22-year-old really breaking out over the past two seasons and thrusting himself as a fresh new face on the PGA Tour.

With a combined eight T10 finishes (including two PGA Tour victories), Bhatia’s instantly become a fan favorite thanks to his charisma and unlimited golf talents, which makes it fun to watch him anytime he tees it up.

Given his skills, I figured it’d be wise to steal some short-game advice, with Bhatia recently sharing some tips for hitting a low, spinny pitch shot on Callaway Golf’s YouTube channel — which you can check out below.

Akshay Bhatia shares his tips for a 30-yard pitch shot

As any golfer knows, 30-yard pitch shots can be … a challenge. Not only do you need to choose the right club for this type of shot, but you need to understand some basic fundamentals in order to execute it to perfection.

Should you botch up either the club choice or the execution, you risk adding unnecessary strokes to your scorecard. Adding more pressure to the situation is the distance, with players often debating which shot type works best from 30 yards out.

But Bhatia’s here to help, and he says the first step for hitting a low-flighted, spinny pitch shot is simply reading the lie and understanding the situation.

“A lot of people want to know how to spin [a 30-yard pitch shot],” he says. “All in all, we need to have the right situation to hit this shot.”

Instruction

This means having the golf ball either in the fairway or on the first cut, with the majority of it being visible rather than being buried in the rough.

After analyzing the lie, Bhatia says it’s time to go execute the shot, explaining his setup.

“I like opening the face, I [play the ball] a little farther back in my stance, and I drive forward with my body and keep the handle forward,” Bhatia explains. “You’re not trying to add any sort of loft into the shot.”

Bhatia then talks about the angle of attack, which he describes as having “a little cut motion” coming through impact.

“It doesn’t need to be too cutty, but cutty enough to where you can kind of hit the low, driving spinner,” he adds.

So when you’re looking to upgrade your short game and want to experiment with some creativity using a wedge, start by using some of Bhatia’s suggestions above. While it’ll take awhile to get comfortable with, in the end, you’ll be able to master those tricky 30-yard pitch shots in order to give yourself an advantage on the putting surface.

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The post This easy drill properly silences your arms and wrists on pitch shots appeared first on Golf.

The post This easy drill properly silences your arms and wrists on pitch shots appeared first on Golf.

When you can dial in your pitch shots, you give yourself a better opportunity to score lower each round. But mastering this skill requires lots of practice, which isn’t how many recreational golfers like to spend their time. Instead, many would much rather take out their driver and bomb tee shot after tee shot at the range.

But if you’re serious about improving, it’s time to put more energy into the short game — which all starts with building better technique.

In the video below, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Chris Como shares an easy, flat-handed drill that’s meant to silence both the arms and wrists while pitching. By focusing on better upper-body control, you can unlock your true potential on pitch shots.

So check it out for yourself, and be sure to spend a little time practicing the move — your short game will thank you.

Editor’s Picks

Try this flat-handed drill to improve your pitch shots

By perfecting this drill, you’ll better understand how to take the hands and the arms out of the pitching motion. Doing this allows better control of your club, leading to more consistent shots.

Here’s how Como explains it.

“We’re going to use a flat-handed drill,” Como says. “We’re going to put our trail hand up against the shaft, and the idea is to make a motion to where that shaft is not going to come off that trail hand.”

If you find that the lead hand is pulling the shaft off the trail hand, you’re doing it incorrectly.

“Let your body really control the motion through the shot,” Como adds. “It’s going to be a better way to control the clubhead speed through impact, and it’s just going to create a better bottom. There’s lots of great benefits from this.”

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The post Pitching over a bunker? 10 ways to see consistent success appeared first on Golf.

The post Pitching over a bunker? 10 ways to see consistent success appeared first on Golf.

Having the right touch on a pitch shot is already tricky for many amateurs, but when you add in an extra hurdle like a bunker to clear, it can be downright intimidating.

I’m here to remind you that you can have success with this difficult shot, though, so long as you have the right principles and game plan.

The ability to pitch the ball is a necessary skill that requires great technique and practice. So take a look below at my 10 ways you can gain the confidence you need to pitch over bunkers to save yourself strokes.

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The post How a 76-year-old mastered swing tempo to improve his pitch shots appeared first on Golf.

The post How a 76-year-old mastered swing tempo to improve his pitch shots appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a new 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.

One of my favorite parts about my job is hearing success stories from other players.

Sure, when I’m on the golf course competing, I want to bury everyone and shoot the lowest score. But along the way, I’m still rooting for them, congratulating them on a good shot, and helping them (if possible) improve certain areas of their game.

So when I receive emails telling me about their journey towards shaving strokes, it gets my attention.

Instruction

A few months ago, a 76-year-old golfer named Jerry messaged me in response to an article I wrote about only using a 6-iron on shots outside of 50 yards. As Jerry and I got to talking, I thought, maybe he’ll want to share his story, helping inspire other players to keep grinding in order to reach their golf goals.

He told me that his biggest gains came from improving his tempo on pitch shots, which allowed him to be more aggressive around the greens.

Jerry was kind enough to share some of his learnings — which didn’t include working with a coach — so take a look below to see if his tips can help dial in your pitch shots as well.

All this should go without saying: If you’re interested in sharing a firsthand experience for a chance to be featured in a future Shaving Strokes article, either email me at nick.dimengo@golf.com or message me on Instagram. We’re all in this together, so let’s share our wins, our learnings, and our frustrations to help one another improve!

Jerry’s steps that helped improve his pitch shots

As I mentioned above, Jerry didn’t use a golf teacher to improve. Instead, he just used good ol’ hard work, grinding to practice his weaknesses until he felt like his pitch shots were in a good spot.

While he didn’t use a coach to improve his pitch shots, he did utilize resources like watching videos online — something many amateurs can probably relate to.

“I didn’t work with a coach or teacher, but I’d watch [pitch shot] videos from old GOLF instructional tips on bump-and run-chipping,” he said. “These featured varying the backswing and club selection in order to control air and roll distance.”

Here are some of Jerry’s other tips that he learned.

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The post Chipping vs. pitching: Know the difference and when to use each appeared first on Golf.

The post Chipping vs. pitching: Know the difference and when to use each appeared first on Golf.

What’s the best way to start off the new year? By perfecting that short game, of course.

Understanding the difference between chipping and pitching around the green is important and a key to recording lower scores. Here, I’m going to explain the best way to execute these crucial shots.

Chipping vs. pitching: Know the difference

A high shot (the pitch shot) and a low shot (the chip shot) are all you really need to understand how to execute. The difference between chipping and pitching is simple: chipping is like putting, except we use a club with very little loft. Try a 7-iron or even a hybrid for the low chip shot. Keep your wrists firm. Stroke the club like you would with your putter. Keep the club head low to the ground going back and also low coming through. Sweep the top of the turf with the bottom of the club. This will ensure that you hit the golf ball on the sweet spot. The putting stroke motion will ensure that the golf ball travels toward the target with a low trajectory.

As for the best times to chip?

As long as there is nothing between yourself and the flag, use the low-trajectory chip shot to send the ball, hopping and skipping toward the target. If you can’t putt your ball, then chip it.

Putting

The pitch shot is quite different. Use a club with more loft, like your 60-degree lob wedge or your 54-degree sand wedge and get ready to hinge your wrists. The pitch shot is simply a mini version of your full swing. Play the ball in the center of your stance and grip the club with soft grip pressure. Swing the club back, using your wrists to hinge the shaft and your lead arm at a 90-degree angle. Remember to turn your body and also shift your weight (although in a small range of motion, this is a half-swing).

The key to good execution when pitching is to turn your body away from the target going back and continue to turn your body forward, toward the target, coming through. And finish the swing! Following through here is vital. A good, high finish will maintain your acceleration through the ball. Do not decelerate! The pitch shot will hit the ball high when you effortlessly sweep the turf under the ball and follow through.

Understanding high trajectory and low trajectory shots is vital when you need to make smart decisions around the green in order to save strokes on your scorecard.

I suggest chipping whenever you can and pitching only when you have to. A chip shot, just like putting, will be easiest to manage since the stroke is more compact, like your putting stroke. Chipping gets the job done more times than not.

The pitch shot is a higher risk and should only really be used when the player needs to get up and over an obstacle, like a bunker that guards the green. Also, pitching out of heavy rough is best because the loft on the club is designed to launch the ball up and out of deep grass. Just remember to turn going back, turn coming through and finish high.

Adam Smith is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher to Watch. He’s the head golf instructor at The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, Va.

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Golf is a fickle, complicated game. There’s a tip for every swing ailment, and advice for everything from what to eat before a round to how to cool your body down afterward for optimal performance.

For a player looking to improve, it can be difficult to know where to start. But there’s one area that golfers at any level can work on to start shooting lower scores, says Top 100 Teacher Brian Manzella, and that’s mastering the wedge.

Just learn to hit a basic pitch shot, says Manzella, and you can play pretty much anywhere with anyone.

The problem with wedges, he says, is that people tend to try to hit high-level shots with them, opening the face, and attempting to channel Phil Mickelson around the greens.

“All you have to be able to do, even if you just hit an average tee shot, and an average second shot, and now you’re 30-40 yards from the green or even 30-40 feet from the green, is just take a pitching wedge or a gap wedge — stay away from the Tour wedges — and just take a normal wedge shot with a normal, square stance, a little bit choked up. Play the ball in the middle of your stance, and just make a back and forth motion sweeping the grass.

Instruction

“That’s it. Just hit a normal pitch and get it in the air.”

Manzella says he sees a lot of players who hit reasonable shots off the tee and from the fairway only to collapse around the green because they lack basic wedge skills.

“It doesn’t have to be a sand wedge — a pitching wedge or gap wedge works fine,” Manzella says. “And if you get good with that 30-, 40-yard swing, everything that made that swing work — which you can teach a beginner today — that swing can be made longer on both sides, and you can stick another club in your hands.”

Manzella says it’s helpful to think of your regular swing as just an extension of that little pitch. And even if you don’t play much golf, it’s the most useful shot you can learn.

“If you can pitch the ball 30-40 yards, they’re going to use your shot in a scramble,” Manzella says.

For more tips from Brian Manzella, click here.

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