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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

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

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