Short Game · Drill
One Club, Three Shots: Pitching Wedge Practice
Part of our short game programs for distance control, high, soft shots. Build a program with it
You can learn a lot with just one club. Take a pitching wedge and a handful of balls. Practice from 5 to 30 yards. For very short shots, play the ball back and make a small back-and-through motion. The ball stays low. In the middle range, move the ball a bit forward and make a longer swing. Land it softly and let it roll. For the longest ones, move the ball forward more and make a fuller swing, with your hands finishing near your chest.
The drill
- Take only a pitching wedge.
- Short shots: ball back, little air time.
- Middle shots: ball a bit forward, longer swing.
- Long shots: ball forward, fuller finish.
- Hit ten of each, then change targets.
Why it works
Ball position and swing length change the launch angle and the carry-to-roll ratio of a single club. With the ball back, the club meets the ball on a steeper, descending path with less loft delivered, so the ball stays low and runs out. As you move the ball forward and lengthen the swing, you add speed and loft, so the ball flies higher and carries farther. Using one club removes the loft choice and teaches you to control distance with your setup and motion.
Common mistakes
- You change clubs or swing speed instead of changing ball position and swing length.Keep the pitching wedge in your hands and use the size of your swing to set distance, with a smooth pace throughout.
- You try to lift the ball into the air on the short shots by flipping your hands.Keep the ball back, keep your hands ahead of the clubhead, and let the loft of the club do the work.
- You hit all ten balls at one target without checking where they land.Pick a landing spot for each shot, such as a towel, and note how far the ball carries and how far it rolls.
How you'll know it's working
- Short shots come out low and roll out, with the ball landing close to your first landing spot.
- Middle shots land softly and then roll a predictable distance.
- Long shots fly higher, and your hands finish near your chest with your weight moving toward the target.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Stay with the short and middle shots only, using one target about 10 to 15 yards away until your contact is steady.
Harder: Have a friend call out a target distance at random, or aim at small targets, and set up for the right shot without any practice swings.
Common questions
Why practice with only one club around the green?
It lets you learn how ball position and swing length change the shot without loft changing at the same time. That builds feel for distance you can use with every other club.
How far should a pitching wedge go on a short pitch?
It depends on your swing length and how much the ball rolls out. Use this drill to find your own carry and roll for the 5, 15 and 30 yard shots.
