Short Game · Lesson
Give Each Wedge a Job
Part of our short game programs for distance control, high, soft shots. Build a program with it
Know what each wedge is for. You'll make fewer awkward moves with the face. Your lob wedge can hit a high, soft pitch with the face square, sitting flat on the ground. You don't always need to open it. It's also great for short bunker shots near the pin. Your sand wedge handles medium and long pitches that need carry. It's also your go-to for most greenside bunkers, and longer sand shots. Control pitching distance with how far you swing back.
Step by step
- Try square-faced lob wedge pitches.
- Use the lob wedge for short bunker shots.
- Use the sand wedge for longer pitches.
- Make it your default in greenside sand.
- Change distance with backswing length.
Why it works
Each wedge has a built-in loft and bounce, so the club already does much of the work. When you leave the face square, loft and bounce behave the same way every swing, so contact and launch stay predictable. Opening the face adds a second variable. Choosing the right club for the job and setting distance with backswing length keeps your technique simple.
Common mistakes
- You open the lob wedge face for every shot, even simple pitches.Set the face square to the target and let the club's own loft produce the height.
- You try to change distance by swinging faster or slower with the same length of backswing.Keep your tempo steady and change how far you swing back to change how far the ball flies.
- You use the lob wedge for long pitches that need carry and come up short.Switch to the sand wedge when you need more carry, and save the lob wedge for short, high, soft shots.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball launches high and lands softly with the face square, and you did not need to open it.
- The sole brushes the ground flat and you strike the ball cleanly without digging or thinning it.
- Your pitches of a given backswing length land within a similar distance of each other.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start with short pitches from a good lie on grass, and use one backswing length until the contact feels consistent.
Harder: Pick targets at three different distances and choose the wedge and backswing length for each one before you hit.
Common questions
When should I use a lob wedge instead of a sand wedge?
Use the lob wedge for short, high, soft pitches and short bunker shots near the pin. Use the sand wedge when you need more carry or have a longer shot.
Do I have to open the clubface on a lob wedge?
No. You can hit a high, soft pitch with the face square and the sole sitting flat on the ground. Opening the face adds a variable you often don't need.
