How to Hit Wedges
Great wedge players utilize a series of efficient golf tips to hit shots that help generate birdies and save pars.
Most amateur golfers struggle when it comes to hitting a great wedge shot.
Usually, the problem can be corrected with a subtle adjustment, whether it be consistency or a fundamental deficiency.
Regardless of whether you are a professional golfer or a weekend warrior, you can get better with your pitch shots or full swing wedge shots.
In this article on how to hit wedges, we’ll analyze a few of the best wedge game tips from the best professional golfers around.
Rickie Fowler’s Distance Control
Fowler’s wedge play from longer distances is admired by many professional golfers in the golf industry.
With any golf club, especially the wedge, Fowler generates spin and accuracy with a combination of the right grip pressure, the ability to replicate the same swing, and his confidence to attack the green, even when facing a tucked pin.
Keeping the Swing Short and Sweet
Rickie Fowler likes to keep his swing length short and wide around the body for generating control. This allows him to hit the ball with his entire body on a full shot, even if he’s using a gap wedge or pitching wedge.
This move creates more power and eliminates the possibility of a disjointed takeaway, allowing for a better approach shot strategy with the compact swing.
If you struggle to find the sweet spot on a full swing with your wedge game, Fowler recommends getting smaller with your swing length during your practice time.
This means striking shorter practice shots using a disciplined method of maintaining grip pressure with moderate swing power to understand the feel when it comes time to hit wedges at full speed.
Ernie Els’ Approach to Creating Spin
Before Tiger and Phil dominated the professional tours at the same time, Ernie Els was known as a wedge master.
The South African native brought home over 70 professional wins, including four major wins, mainly due to his proficiency in controlling the ball with a wedge club.
For Els, half the fight is making sure you have the right clubs in your bag with the right specifications.
Wedges with specific grinds allow him to open the face of the club to create the spin he needs to stop the ball on the green.
Creating a Weak Lead Hand for More Control
After you find the right wedges for your bag, Els’ first tip is weakening the lead hand. For right-handers, that means loosening the grip of the left hand.
By doing this, you take advantage of the club’s loft and its intended purpose of lifting the golf ball into the air with a backspin.
Els loves having the wedge grip rest in his fingers on pitch shots. With the weak lead hand and the club resting in the fingers of his dominant hand, the golfer can better game each shot based upon the demands of the course.
This attack style helps generate more spin and anchor the club to the ball, allowing you to actually feel it spin off the clubface after enough practice.
When faced with a tight lie that demands a clean pickup off the turf, Els wants to keep the clubface outside his hands on the backswing.
By keeping the hands inside, the club returns to the ball with a shallow approach that reduces the chance of taking a deeper divot, essentially the same as chunking the shot.
Phil Mickelson’s Sand and Lob Wedge Mastery
Mickelson’s mastery of wedges has propelled him to multiple major titles and PGA Tour tournament championships.
Regardless of the distance or whether he’s using a pitching wedge or lob wedge, Mickelson has a play for the ball in mind.
For each wedge shot, Mickelson incorporates a change to his stance in relation to his target on the green.
Mickelson’s Distance Control Method
On shorter wedge shots, say inside 50 yards, Mickelson wants to keep things compact and short. With the ball in the middle of his stance, Mickelson wants his backswing to be relatively quick and crisp.
Getting loose with the backswing, Mickelson told Golf Digest, is an easy way to hit the ball higher, causing you to lose control with your distance and accuracy.
For the high pitch shot, Phil loves grabbing his lob wedge and placing the golf ball just off the inside of his front leg. He then opens the clubface to take advantage of the loft.
Next, Mickelson takes a firm grip because he wants to be aggressive with this shot. After the hit, Mickelson moves smoothly but quickly through the golf ball, accelerating his club, allowing the loft to do the work.
The golf ball lifts easily with spin, helping it hit softly on the green to maintain distance and accuracy.
For pros as skilled as Mickelson, the wedges offer a unique way to attack the cup regardless of whether you are hitting chip shots or full-power swings from the fairway.
Building a better wedge game by mastering how to hit wedges with more confidence, as Mickelson suggests, is a great way to increase distance control and deliver the results needed to lower scores.
Tiger Woods Short Game Excellence
One of the big advantages that Tiger Woods likes to tout with his wedges comes in the form of bounce.
On both his lob and sand wedge, Woods utilizes the wedge’s high bounce along with his hands slightly forward to create a backward shaft line that generates the downward force that makes the ball launch skyward with a high spin.
Why Tiger Wants a Minimal Divot
Tiger Woods uses a more upright backswing, with the shaft line pointing toward his feet at its peak rather than the actual ball position.
With each of his wedges, he places slightly more weight on the lead foot to encourage hitting down on the ball, although Woods likes to sweep the golf ball off the thin green grass.
One of Woods’ coaches, Sean Foley, once told Claude Harmon that Tiger would go through an entire short game workout without taking a divot.
“Tiger fully believed that you should be able to get through your whole wedge practice and your whole short-iron practice without hitting the ground,” Foley told Harmon.
“So he would literally hit a hundred balls, and there wouldn’t be one divot or any sign that his feet had been on the ground whatsoever.”
While that ambition might work for Tiger Woods, amateurs looking to be a good wedge player need to find balance.
Striking the ball with a moderate, consistent launch that lands softly on the green, close to the target, even if it means taking a divot with the leading edge of the wedge, remains the fundamental goal.
Jordan Spieth’s Confident Wedge Game
For Spieth, a three-time major winner, the secret to his wedge game comes from his stance.
Spieth places slightly more weight on the front foot to produce a flatter swing that provides a more moderate shot height that offers better control and increases confidence on each pitch shot or chip shot he takes on the links.
With the weight moved toward the left foot in his stance, Spieth wants to deloft the club producing a short finish with a truncated follow through to produce a low shot with a high spin.
For many weekend warriors, it may feel counterintuitive to use the club this way, but with frequent practice on and off the course, players find that their wedges deliver exceptional shots that routinely get close to the cup to help save par.
For amateurs, Spieth’s approach to a modified golf swing needs time and patience. However, working on the range to dial-in the right distance and loft remains the only way to conquer this wedge play tip.
BONUS! Tips From Our Pros
Swing Technique and Tempo
Mastering wedge shots requires a combination of proper technique and a smooth tempo. These elements ensure a consistent swing that delivers optimal trajectory and control.
Accelerate Through Impact
One of the most critical aspects of an effective wedge swing is learning to accelerate through impact. This ensures the club head maintains stability, delivering the necessary energy to the ball for accurate distance and spin.
Decelerating can result in poor contact and unpredictable results, so focus on driving the club head confidently through the ball.
Maintaining a Smooth Tempo
A smooth tempo is vital for a controlled swing with wedges. Unlike a full swing where power is paramount, a wedge swing demands finesse.
Maintaining a consistent rhythm helps you control swing length, which in turn regulates the ball’s trajectory and distance. Too fast or too slow a tempo can lead to erratic shots, making consistency difficult to achieve.
The Role of Wrist Mechanics
Proper hinge and wrist movement is another key component. During the backswing, a slight wrist action allows for better control of the club head, creating an ideal angle for impact.
On the downswing, maintaining this hinge promotes crisp contact and ensures the necessary acceleration. Overuse of the wrists can lead to mishits, so balance is crucial.
Putting It All Together
Combining acceleration, a smooth tempo, and precise wrist action creates the foundation for effective wedge shots. Practice keeping your swing length consistent while emphasizing control over power.
With time, these elements will work together to produce reliable and accurate results.
BONUS! Tips From Our Pros
Practicing Different Lies and Conditions
Practicing wedge shots from a variety of lies and conditions is essential for improving your short game.
Whether you’re using a lob wedge for delicate chip shots or dialing in your approach from different lies, honing this versatility can transform your performance on the course.
Simulate Real-World Scenarios
Start by simulating real-world scenarios on the practice green. Place balls in rough, tight lies, and bunker edges to mimic the variety of lies you’ll encounter during a round.
Practicing chip shots from these spots not only enhances your technique but also builds added versatility, helping you handle challenging conditions with confidence.
Incorporate Target Practice
To maximize practice, set up drills that include different targets.
For instance, aim for a nearby hole from a tight lie, then switch to a more distant target from the rough.
This approach encourages adaptability and trains you to adjust your swing and club selection depending on the shot’s demands.
Using your lob wedge for high, soft landings or a pitching wedge for low runners provides valuable insight into what works best for specific scenarios.
Blend Precision with Consistency
Focus on blending precision with consistency during your practice. Target practice from various lies sharpens your ability to control distance and trajectory, critical for lowering your score.
Incorporating different targets also keeps practice sessions engaging and simulates the decision-making required during play.
By embracing the challenge of practicing wedge shots under varied conditions, you’ll develop the skills needed to tackle any lie with ease.
Over time, this dedicated effort will enhance your short game, turning tricky situations into scoring opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to hit wedges properly?
To hit wedges properly, use a controlled, smooth swing. Position the ball slightly back in your stance, focus on a descending strike, and maintain a steady tempo.
Keep your weight forward, hands ahead of the ball, and accelerate through impact to ensure clean contact and consistent spin.
Why are wedges so hard to hit?
Wedges are challenging due to their high loft and precision requirements. Small swing errors can lead to fat or thin shots.
Their short shaft demands control, and achieving consistent ball contact from various lies adds complexity. Practice and proper technique are essential for mastering wedges.
Do you hit a wedge like an iron?
Yes, but with subtle adjustments. Like irons, wedges require a descending strike, but they demand more finesse and control.
Position the ball slightly back, focus on weight forward, and limit wrist hinge for shorter shots. A smoother, shorter swing enhances accuracy compared to a full iron shot.
How to stand when hitting a pitching wedge?
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and ball centered or slightly back in your stance. Keep weight slightly forward, knees flexed, and posture relaxed.
Align your shoulders and hips square to the target, ensuring your setup promotes a clean, descending strike for optimal control and trajectory.