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Dial In Your Wedge Distances to Lower Your Scores

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

I have long been a fan of having golfers learn and adopt the art of hitting half shots for yardages in that 40 to 125-yard range. Learning these shots and getting proficient with them can significantly improve not only a golfer's proximity to the hole but also lower their scores significantly. 
Going about incorporating this into one's short game repertoire really starts with examining what a golfer's wedge makeup looks like in their bag. Basically, we are looking at what wedges they carry, and the gaping or degrees of loft between the wedges.
The next step would be to get an average carry yardage on full swings with each wedge. These would be your normal speed, normal tempo, full swings. This base is necessary to help us with the next step. As a side note, it is advisable for golfers to really get a good feel for what they carry all of their clubs. You can make note of carry and total, but the carry distance is really what is most important, particularly with your irons. The total yardage, which brings roll into play, will change with course conditions and mainly matters most with your Driver, Fairway Woods, Hybrids and Driving Irons. 
After you figure out your full carry yardages with each of your wedges, you can now calibrate what your half wedge carry distances are. You can do this with the hip-to-hip approach, which is basically an abbreviated swing going back hip height and finishing at hip height...your speed and tempo will stay the same as with your full swing wedges. Make note of the carry distance for each wedge as you did with your full swing. 
Knowing these full and half swings, at regular speed and tempo, yardages will allow you to bring many more options into your arsenal as you tackle those 40-to-125-yard distances. Half swings are easier for many golfers to regulate and execute, especially under pressure situations. I see many, many golfers, high and low handicaps alike, struggling at times with full swing wedges...hitting heavy or thin as they try to regulate speed and tempo from different yardages. This half swing method, as explained, simplifies things a bit, especially once you get some practice under your belt. 
You can absolutely experiment with this concept by changing the length of your swing back and through (keeping the speed and tempo consistent), and by even bringing in other clubs like a 9 or 8 iron. Pay attention to what you carry each type of shot and record that information...also pay attention to how trajectory and spin change as a result. This brings in even more options for executing great shots close to the green and in time, saving your strokes.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.