Instruction
The Wedge Guy: Fixing what’s broke
Understand that today’s post is coming from a bona fide lifetime range rat. I’ve always loved time on the range, hitting ball after ball after ball, trying to become the best ball-striker and shotmaker I could be. My Dad’s advice as I was growing into the game was always, “there’s nothing wrong with your game another five thousand practice balls won’t fix.”
My childhood idol was Ben Hogan, so I studied his books, “Power Golf” and “Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf,” relentlessly. And I made myself into a pretty good player, with the strength of my game always being hitting fairways and greens. To be honest, the chipping/pitching/putting part of the game just didn’t interest me all that much.
Maybe because my father and my brother were both such good putters and pretty effective around the greens, I felt like my mark had to be through outstanding ball-striking.
But as I got older, I realized that any measurable gains I might make on becoming a better player would be through improving my scoring skills. Even the best players in the game only hit 12-14 greens per round, and I’ve always been right there. But PGA players turn that into 65s and 68s, while I turned mine into 71s and 75s, or worse.
The point of sharing that is to encourage all of you to – as we enter the 2022 season – to honestly and candidly assess where it is your game can use the most improvement. And my bet is – regardless of your handicap – you’ll find that answer is within 50-75 yards from the flag. Whether your goal is to break 90 or par, you’ll likely find that the shots that kept you from that goal are happening much closer to the green than the tee.
- How often do you miss a putt under 6-8 feet for par or bogey?
- How often do you hit a chip or pitch shot that leaves you outside that range . . . or completely misses the green? I’ve always said when you have a wedge in your hand for the second shot in a row, you have completely thrown one or more shots away.
- So, unless you are committed to instruction and the long-term process of changing your swing to change your ball-striking consistency, your time would be better spent honing your short game skills and your putting, and here’s where I think we can divide into two primary groups – those looking to break 80 and those looking to break 90 or 100.
For you higher handicap players, I advise your practice time be invested in two primary areas:
- Learning to hit a basic pitch and chip shot so that you can do it with confidence and consistency. Your goal is to make sure a missed green (of which you have 13-15 per round) leads to nothing worse than a bogey almost all the time. Go to your golf professional and invest the time and money to learn a technique for chipping and pitching that is reliable and repeatable.
- Practice making putts of eight feet or less. If you can get better in this range, it will take pressure off your short game and lower your scores. Again, get a pro to help if you need to, as these putts are usually pretty straight and a sound technique will improve your performance quickly.
For you more advanced players trying to break 80, 75 or even par, your goals are not all that different:
- Learn how to hit a variety of shots around the greens. Even if you tend to always pull the sand or lob wedge, spend some time seeing what your other wedges can do. I find it a lot easier to just change clubs to make the ball fly lower and release a bit more, than I do to try to manipulate my technique to achieve those goals.
- Know when to be bold, when not to. Sometimes a missed green leaves us short-sided or with a high-difficulty recovery. If you aren’t sure you know that shot and can pull it off, play away from the hole and take your medicine with a bogey. Doubles usually come from those greenside shots that are the most risky.
- Like the other golfers, improve your statistics inside eight feet. That means working on your stroke a bit, but more likely working on your routine. Get your line, focus your attention on the putt and relax . . . make a sound stroke.
So, there is my advice for today. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — and really analyze what might be broke.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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geohogan
Apr 22, 2022 at 7:20 pm
Totally agree. During a long spell of the putting yips
hit 15 greens in regulation, with 6 three putts .. shot 78.
When cause and cure was explained to me a few years later, yips corrected in 30 minutes.
“There is no similarity between golf and putting; they are two different games, one played in the air, and the other on the ground.”
— Ben Hogan
Bob Jones
Apr 19, 2022 at 9:51 pm
You’re not going to break 100, or 90 consistently, until you get a better swing. Short game and putting don’t help you if you waste strokes getting the ball up to the green. When the handicap gets to 12-13 is when the greens game needs to be emphasized.
LOWEBOY
Apr 19, 2022 at 2:46 pm
For me, I need to be able to execute the shot I have just made perfect practice swings on. Literally perfect practice swings, then chunk, blade, etc. Frustrating. And practicing wedges on the range, a no-go. So inconsistent it’s annoying and not productive. I may get four to ten shots from a bucket of balls that are hit the way I intended them to be hit, and not one after the other, so I have no idea what I did correctly or incorrectly to get the desired results. I get bored on the range, and prefer playing instead, and I know I need the practice, I just wish I could pull off back to back to back to back shots with a wedge so I can gain some consistency.
I am 52, so maybe when I grow up I will be able to have decent wedge game. It’s only those shots that take me out, too. I can drive well, hit good irons, have always been a good putter and can read the greens well, just lack the wedge game.
I saw a video recently, adopted that technique, and am making better contact and have better form, but now I hit the shot further than I did before. More learning ahead.
One thing I have also learned recently, is spine angle makes a huge difference in my game. If I have the roundness, my shots are all over the place. Spine angle in a good place along with the shoulders, I can strike the ball much better, and that includes the wedge shots.
Jay_Jay
Apr 23, 2022 at 3:41 pm
@Loweboy,get a shag bag, fill it with the balls you game on the course, and find a quiet park (or your club, if you’re a member of one) to just hit a bunch of different wedges/short irons.
Tinker with: swing length, choking-down on the grip, how much to open or close the face at address, and see what those different changes do to your flight and roll.
Range balls just don’t feel or behave the same when hit, in my experience.
Plus, it’s cheaper than burning 10+ bucks at the range trying to do the same thing.
Richard Dean Johnson
Apr 18, 2022 at 5:03 am
My alignment stick is basically 4 feet long. Lay it down on the putting green to indicate 4 feet from the cup. Stick a tee in the ground at 4 feet. Lay the stick down again to indicate 8 feet. Stick a tee in the ground to indicate 8 feet. You can leave the alignment stick laying between the 4 and 8 foot tees if you like, but now your 3 ball putting effort can easily identify 4, 6, 8 feet. Do four sets of 3 ball putting at each distance. Eventually lay the stick down again to indicate 12, then 16, then 20 feet, etc..I usually feel by 16 feet if I can’t center the ball on the face of the putter two putts can become very testy.
Speedy
Apr 14, 2022 at 3:13 pm
The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelley is all one needs.
“Sustain the lag.” – Ben Doyle