A Lesson Learned: Wedge Control at the BMW Championship

Sept. 14, 2009 -- As great as the tremendous tests such as major championships are, there is also something to be said for watching the world's best players go on tremendous scoring streaks such as we saw this past week at The BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf Club. When you watch a player go on a birdie streak, or a long eagle putt drop, there is an anticipation and excitement that just can't be replicated when the players are struggling to make a bunch of pars.

Watching Tiger Woods control his wedge distances can be a thing of beauty. (Photo: Courtesy Getty Images)

That is what made this past week so exciting for me (and I'm sure, many other golf fans). People like to see home runs, long touchdowns, slam dunks. People like to see the world's best at their best - hence, Mr. Tiger Woods with his runaway win was quite the sight to see.

I know there has been quite a bit made about Tiger's putting the last few months. I'd like to point out that one way to putt better is to hit your approach shots closer. And in order to have a great scoring round, you'd better have a great day with your scoring clubs - particularly, from 100 yards and in. And Tiger was definitely on with his 100-yards-and-in shot. The result? Tiger sets a course record by shooting 62 on Saturday (beating his own course record) and cruises to an eight-shot win.

All the Tour players know the importance that scoring wedge shot (typically the sand wedge). I think most amateur players know it's important, but I see way too many players either 1.) not working on this shot enough or 2.) working on it in a way that makes it especially difficult to repeat.

If you have a shot of 70 yards remaining, what do you do? Many amateur players try to control their distance by changing their tempo, swinging a little easier. This, I believe, is the exact wrong approach.

I tell my students to think of the hour settings on a standard clock in terms of your hand position. In order to control your distance from 100 yards and in, think of that clock. When your hands are at address, think of them at six o' clock. And now, in order to score, all you have to do is keep the correct time. If your hands start at six o'clock and a full-swing wedge means your hands rotate all the way back to 12 o'clock, the other hour settings can now help you control your shot distance, while you still use the same swing.

For example, if your bring your hands back to 10 o'clock: that's a three-quarter swing -- or a 75-yard swing. Then a 9 o'clock swing is halfway back, thus a 50-yard swing. And bringing your hands back just a bit, to 8 o'clock is your short 25-yard swing. This way, you can still keep an aggressive swing without fear of decelerating or having your tempo vary from day to day.

Watch the best players in the world on these critical shots, especially when they are in the "zone." Their swings, and the results, are things of beauty. I hope this Lesson Learned helps you in your efforts to get the ball close on your wedge shots as well.

Ben Alexander is one of the nation's foremost golf instructors, having twice been named the Northern California PGA Section Teacher of the Year and having been nominated in 2008 for PGA National Teacher of the Year. Alexander runs the Ben Alexander Golf Academy at Poppy Hills Golf Club on the Monterey Peninsula.