When Rickie Fowler learned he was 145th on the PGA Tour one year, he realized he needed to make changes to win more tournaments. So, he decided to revamp his wedge game.
What he did next is instructive.
First, he reviewed his wedge shots and isolated three shots he deemed most critical to lowering scores. Then, he focused on improving these shots during the Tour break. He put practiced these shots faithfully every day. Eventually, they became “go-to” shots for Fowler. Bo-to shots are shots you can hit perfectly eight out of ten times.
Below are golf tips on Fowler’s three shots. We also added another shot critical to lowering scores. Mastering these four shots takes your wedge game to the next level. Plus, it’s a major step in breaking 80.
1. Full Pitch Shot with Wedge
Hitting a full wedge shot into the green is pretty routine. Many golfers can do that. Some can do it well. But what the pros excel at—and weekend golfers don’t—is hitting the in-between distances. They use small adjustments to their swings to nail down these shots. One key for Fowler to doing this is choking down on a club when he’s in-between distances.
Fowler doesn’t ease up on in-between distances as some golfers do. Instead, he chokes down on his club, then swings aggressively. That’s a good approach. It will save strokes. But first, you need to determine how much distance you lose for every inch you choke down on your club. Fowler knows, for example, that he loses five yards for every inch he chokes down. Then, he drops down accordingly on in-between shots.
2. Flop-Pitch Shot into the Green
Fowler worked on a shot he calls a flop pitch shot. He uses this shot when he has a tight lie over the sand to a pin 40 to 50 yards away. It’s too far for a flop and too close for a pitch. The key to hitting this shot is his grip. He lets the club rest loosely in the fingers of his trailing hand at address. Then, he opens the clubface, so the back of the club lays flush to the ground. That move open flares the leading edge of his club.
Having opened his clubface up, he grips the club with the other hand and opens his stance a bit. Next, he swings across the ball along his stance line. He then finishes with his clubface pointing to the sky. These moves maximize loft and provide the distance Fowler needs to reach the pin.
3. Basic Chip Shot to the Green
A standard chip turns three shots into two if hit correctly. That saves you one or more shots every time you do it. It also prevents big numbers on a hole. Fowler starts practice sessions by hitting 10-yard chips to hone the feel of center-face contact. He also uses a narrow square stance instead of a narrow open stance and puts his weight on his front foot.
Next, he uses just his upper body to hit the shot. A slight swiveling of his chest drives the clubface forward while the forward angle in his wrists created at address stays constant. The key here, says Fowler, is to stay loose during the swing. If you tense up, you’ll dig the leading edge into the ground.
In addition to the three shots described above, you should learn to “nip” your wedges. Nipping a wedge lets you drop a shot on the green and stop it quickly.
4. Nipping Wedge Shots
To nip a wedge, you need to make clean contact with the ball before the club contacts the ground. That’s tricky to do. Set up with your heels six inches apart, play the ball in your stance’s center, and place your hands even with the ball or slightly ahead of it.
As you swing back, work on keeping your back hip quiet. You won’t be able to keep it perfectly quiet, but keep it as quiet as possible. This move keeps your lower body still throughout the shot.
Now come down into the ball. Try to make clean contact just before your club meets the ground. An excellent way to practice this shot is to practice with a hard surface, like a piece of cardboard or a range mat. They are hard enough to give you the feedback you need without damaging your club.
Also Read:
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4 Ways Decelerating Your Swing Is Killing Your Game (and How to Fix It)
Use These 7 Golf Tips on Par 5s to Dominate Them
If you’re serious about breaking 80, you’ll work hard on hitting the wedges described above. Hitting a pinpoint wedge shot turns three shots into two. Improving your wedge game will cut strokes from your scores, increase the number of pars and birdies you make, and make you the talk of your foursome. That’s a win-win for everyone.
Five Golf Tips on Hitting Accurate Stroke-saving Wedges
Want to lower your scores? Hit accurate wedges. You know the kind of wedges that we’re talking about—the kind that hit and stick. That leaves you with easily makeable putts and lowers scores.
But hitting pinpoint wedges is challenging. To do it, you must control three things: distance, shape, and trajectory. That will help you put wedges right where you want them.
Below are five golf tips on hitting pinpoint wedges.
- “Dis-arm” your swing
- Play ball slightly back on tight lies
- Stay in sync when hitting wedges
- Make ball first contact
- Match your swing length on both sides
You don’t need the power to hit precise wedges. But you do need the right technique. The golf tips below will help you refine your technique:
- “Dis-arm your swing — Use your body to control wedge shots. Hinge your wrists quickly as you go back, stop at three quarters, shift laterally forward, then turn your core.
- Play the ball back slightly — if you have a tight lie, you need to play the ball back slightly in your stance. Playing it there ensures you hit the ball first when hitting wedges.
- Make ball first contact — Making ball first contact is critical when hitting wedges. It ensures you hit the ball solidly. It also helps you control trajectory and shot shape.
- Match your swing length on both sides — Mirroring your swing allows you to work on perfecting swing tempo and still produce different distances without guesswork on the downswing.
- Stay in sync when swinging — Everything must work together when hitting wedges. Blend the action of your hands and arms with your body movement helps you stay in sync. Below is a golf drill that can help you learn to do that:
Take your normal address position with a wedge. Place a rubber ball between your forearms. (You can also stretch a towel across your chest and hold it under your armpits instead of using the ball.) Now make half-swings keeping the ball or the towel in place. After practicing without a ball, drop one and hit some shots with the ball or towel under your arms. Then hit some without the ball or towel. Always pick out a target.
Work on these golf tips when you go to the range to hit pinpoint wedges. Mastering them helps you not only save strokes but also break 80.
Mastering Your Wedges with This Powerful Yet Proven Golf Drill
Struggling with your wedges? You’re not alone. Mastering them is a must if you want to break 80. Precise wedge shots turn three shots into two, as we’ve said many times. But hitting tight wedges isn’t as easy as it looks on television.
The key to hitting precise wedge is controlling trajectory and distance. Golf tips on doing that are great. But practical application—like practicing the golf drill below—is better:
Nine Ball Golf Drill
You’ll need nine golf balls for this golf drill, plus your wedge of choice. You’re going to hit nine golf shots in the following order:
- Hit the first three balls to three different targets with your typical trajectory
- Hit the second three balls with a slightly higher trajectory to different targets
- Hit the final three balls with a lower trajectory to different targets as well
Now, switch to another wedge and go through the same drill. Keep practicing this way until you’ve mastered all four wedges—PW, GW, SW, and LW. Use any object on the range as your target—a brown spot, a ball, a leaf.
Mastering your wedges transforms your short game. Improving your wedge game is the key to breaking 80.