Short Game · Lesson
Wedge Distances: Know Your Number Every Time
Part of our short game programs for distance control. Build a program with it
Most wedge misses come up short. Golfers guess the yardage, or they plan for their best-ever strike. So build a habit. Get the exact distance to the flag before every wedge. Know how far each wedge carries with each swing length. Use your average, not your best. Adjust for wind and elevation. Then pick the swing that matches. Make a committed swing and note how it came out.
Step by step
- Get an exact number to the flag.
- Know your carry for each wedge and length.
- Adjust for wind and slope.
- Pick the matching swing.
- Commit and note the result.
Why it works
Wedge distance depends on carry, and carry depends on strike quality and swing length. If you guess the yardage or plan for your best strike, most of your real swings land short. Using an exact number and your average carry for each wedge and swing length gives you a target your swing can hit repeatedly. A committed swing then lets the distance come from the length of the swing, not from a late change in speed.
Common mistakes
- You use your best-ever carry as your number.Hit several shots with each wedge and swing length, then use the average carry, not the longest.
- You use the full distance to the flag when the pin is not on a flat part of the green.Adjust the number for wind and slope, then choose the swing for the adjusted carry.
- You change your swing speed at the last moment because the number feels wrong.Settle the number and the swing before you address the ball, then make one committed swing.
How you'll know it's working
- Your wedge shots finish pin high or slightly past it more often than short.
- Your carry for a given wedge and swing length lands within a small, repeatable window.
- Your notes after each shot show the misses are spread both ways, not mostly short.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a flat, calm day with one wedge and one swing length until you know its average carry.
Harder: Add a second wedge and several swing lengths, then play to random targets with wind and slope changing the number each time.
Common questions
How do I find how far I hit each wedge?
Hit a group of shots with each wedge and swing length, and note where each ball lands. Use the average carry of the solid shots, not the longest one.
Why do I keep leaving wedge shots short?
Most golfers guess the yardage or plan for their best strike, so their average shot comes up short. Use an exact number and your average carry to fix this.
