Controlling Your Wedges

Controlling Your Wedges

Adopt the Clock System

If you want to be better at controlling your wedges it requires more than knowing how far you hit them with just a full swing. By using the clock system with your wedges, you will find it easier to select a club and get the ball traveling the distance you want with more consistency.

Learn to love your wedges

Everyone carries a different number of wedges in their bag. I personally carry 3, all with different lofts. Some players carry as many as 4. Having a dependable method for gauging your distances is important when selecting what shot to hit on the course.

Think of your setup as a clock. The club head behind the ball is 6 o’clock. You will use your lead arm (left arm for a right handed golfer) to determine its position on the clock with a full swing being 12 o’clock. We are looking to create 3 distances with each of your wedges.

Control your wedges on an imaginary clock in your head.
Visualize a clock for swing length

A 50% shot would be 9 o’clock, a ¾ shot would be 10:30 and a full swing is 12 o’clock. Everyone’s length of golf swing is different so, everyone’s determination of where each position is for themselves is going to vary. With each swing you are looking to complete the follow through to a full finish position.

Over time you will begin controlling your wedges from every distance. With 3 relatively definitive distances in your bag with each wedge, making a decision on the golf course as to what shot you’re hitting will become significantly easier. These distinct distance will also help with ‘in between’ yardages. As a result, controlling your wedge shots will be a breeze.

Here is a great read to learn how to select your wedges for your short game shots.