Instruction
The Wedge Guy: Re-think mid-range wedge shots

For over 30 years, I have been almost myopically focused on scoring range performance, from the design of wedges to the study of techniques of golfers of all skill levels. I’ve had the good fortune of having reviewed over 50,000 golfers’ wedge-fitting profiles, and countless one-on-one conversations with every-day golfers to tour professionals and teaching pros alike. And I try to continually learn from all those encounters.
From my observations of most recreational golfers and their scoring range performance, the vast majority of players seem to routinely and almost automatically reach for their highest-lofted wedge when they have a less-than-full shot into the green. By that I mean any shot from just under full-swing yardage to greenside chips and short pitches.
I also believe that tendency or habit is costing many golfers in their scoring range success rate. Let me share some insight with you that you can use to improve some of your “red zone” shotmaking.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a column that shared why wedge “mastery” is so elusive for the recreational golfer, regardless of his or her skill level. You can read that article HERE. The key element to that elusive mastery of shot making with wedges is that the high degree of loft makes all wedge shots somewhat of a glancing blow to the ball, when you compare it to the impact with a 7-iron, let’s say, or even a driver. Those lower lofted clubs deliver a more direct blow to the ball.
In our most recent robotic and live golfer testing of wedge shots at intermediate ranges, we often saw a higher spin rate achieved with a lower lofted wedge . . . say a 54 rather than a 58 or 60. The reason for that is that impact is more direct, and more of the mass of the clubhead is above the strike point on the face. That improves “gear effect”, which is a basic principle of golf clubhead design.
Rather than get into anything super-technical, however, I will share my own experience gained as we have tested and measured the Edison Forged and other wedges in all kinds of shot-making scenarios. At 40-70 yards, as you would expect, shots hit with the 53 to 56 loft range would almost always deliver a lower trajectory than shots with 58 to 61 degree loft wedges. But you are likely surprised that the lower lofts consistently delivered as much or more spin and a tighter long-short dispersion variance.
In my own play, that research has inspired me to hit more of those mid-range shots with my 53 than with my 57, and the results are much more consistent. I still like the 57 for shots around the greens when I need that bit of extra loft, but I also reach for that 53 and even my 49 or 45 when the shot doesn’t call for a high ball flight because there is very little green to work with.
Another area where the lower lofted wedge is to your advantage is when the ball is sitting up in the rough. With the higher lofted wedge, you are much more likely to make impact high on the face, which greatly reduces the smash factor and therefore, how far the shot can travel. If you simply “loft down” one or two clubs – my bet is that you will dramatically improve your performance with these shots.
I encourage all of you to turn yourselves into “mad scientists” as well, and experiment with hitting those mid-range wedge shots with the next lower loft than you might ordinarily turn to. My bet is that you will quickly see your distance control improve, and you’ll be pleased with the launch angles and spin you still get.
Instruction
The Wedge Guy: Beating the yips into submission

There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Instruction
Looking for a good golf instructor? Use this checklist

Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Instruction
What Lottie Woad’s stunning debut win teaches every golfer

Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
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” on RG.org 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!
Liam
Dec 9, 2021 at 3:35 am
Hi, I found this an interesting read..lol. I have Golfed for 51 years, carried a sub 4 handicap 37 years, sub 1 handicap 14 years, golf professional 27 years. Played with over 100 tour pros from around the world. Who cares…but all old school pros will agree with you. Golf Club manufacturers created the need for players to think they need more wedges. Old school..I will show you how to hit a 51 degree like a 58 degree. Average golfers do not really practice.. they have no time..life is busy. Become minimalist and just have fun
Richard Douglas
Aug 22, 2021 at 12:24 am
All other things being equal, my ranges for partial wedges are:
115-65: SW
65 and in: LW
But now I’m going to experiment more with the GW from those distances to see the difference.
Wedgy
Aug 21, 2021 at 12:38 am
Also it’s a really good reminder to do a clock-swing chart, even if you generally are a “one-wedge” player.
Not sure what that is?
Find your comfortable, repeatable partial swings. Same tempo. Take a few shots with all your wedges, and maybe even your 9-iron, and note the average distance. Do that with either 2 or 3 partial swing tempo/lengths, as well as a full shot. Suddenly you’ll have a chart of a dozen numbers in that middle range. It removes a lot of doubt from what should be an easy shot, but often is not.
ChipNRun
Aug 18, 2021 at 8:09 pm
Article triggers “back to the future shots.” Like most Boomers, I was hitting greenside cut shots with a sand wedge for 15 years before the LW actually emerged.
Today, I have a 48-54-58 mix. The 58* is good for up to half swings – and some days three-quarter – provided I have a fairly smooth lie. This means maybe 3 inches deep and I need a quick up… I’m relying a much on descent angle as spin.
If it’s a shaggy, uneven lie the best club is the 54*. As Terry suggested, I just get a more solid hit from the lesser loft.
Another rule: If the wedge shot is uphill, I look to adjust the 48* to the shot. From 50 yards out and uphill, I’ve had too many 58* shots barely make the fringe and set up a 30-foot putt.
Epic Golfer
Aug 18, 2021 at 4:47 pm
Great article and advice.
Austin Moorw
Aug 18, 2021 at 12:19 pm
What kind of wedge is that
Robert
Aug 18, 2021 at 4:34 pm
I am guessing it is an Edison – based on his bio. If not, it might be an Edel wedge.
Benny
Aug 18, 2021 at 12:08 pm
sooooooooooooooooo well said and stated. one of my buds is a +4 and he ONLY thinks about trajectory over anything else on wedge shots. What trajectory is needed here with the space I have? then if a lot of space is given its use the easiest shot needed of his 3 wedges (pw, gap, lob)