Karen Walker

It seems that many golfers are so concerned about their long game and their full swing that they forget about those very important short game clubs and shots! Don’t just hit ball after ball on the range with your driver – dedicate some time to the scoring shots.

For most players, 60 to 70% of your shots are made from inside 100 yards to the hole. So, wedge play and choosing the right wedge combination in your bag is a key to lowering your scores and becoming a better player.

To make a good wedge shot you must accelerate through the ball! No matter what degree of loft your wedge has this rule remains the same: Accelerate!

The number one cause of a bad wedge shot is deceleration. Most people I see take a full backswing and then slow it down to try to control the distance. This deceleration leads to mis-hits every time.
So how do we control our distance and get more consistent with these tricky shots?

The distance in your wedge shot is actually controlled in the size of your backswing. Practice making short compact backswings, but keep a good tempo and accelerate as you hit the ball.

Different backswing length will give you different distances. Take your club back to hip level and keep a good firm tempo on the downswing. You will be amazed at your results.

And, make sure you have a good selection of wedges in your bag to complement your game. Every player should have at least two wedges in their bag.

Come into the CGC pro shop and any of the pros will be glad to help you select the right wedges for you and your game!

Staff instructor Karen Walker is an LPGA professional who teaches private and group classes and is also available for clubfitting. Read more about Karen. Call the pro shop to schedule a lesson: 760-720-GOLF.