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WEDGE PLAY · CARD 15
Find Your Just-Right Wedge Distance
Your drill at a glance
The Goldilocks wedge drill helps you judge the distance between too little and too much, so you can commit to a more controlled wedge shot.
This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.
If every wedge seems to finish either short or long, try making those differences deliberate. Choose one comfortable target, play a shot short of it and another beyond it, then use that contrast to find the distance in between. Keep the same wedge and target for six short–long–target cycles: eighteen shots altogether.
Watch the Goldilocks wedge demonstration
Watch the Golf with MAGS video linked to Wedge Play card 15, then practise the short–long–target sequence below.
Step 1. Hit One Short
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose your target | Pick a comfortable wedge distance and a clear target zone. Decide its boundaries before you start, using a visible green or a patch between range markers. |
| Keep one wedge | Use the same wedge throughout the cycle so you can notice how a change in the swing affects distance. |
| Finish short | Play a controlled shot that deliberately finishes short of your target zone. Notice the size and rhythm of the swing. |
Make the shot shorter through a smaller, controlled motion. Keep a normal strike rather than deliberately mishitting the ball.
Step 2. Hit One Long
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Keep the target | Stay with the same starting point, wedge and target zone. |
| Finish beyond it | Make your next shot deliberately finish beyond the zone. Use a comfortably longer motion rather than a rushed hit. |
| Notice the difference | Compare the two swings and results. You now have a short shot and a long shot as references for the distance you actually want. |
Your cue: “Too little. Too much. What feels just right?”
Step 3. Find Just Right
What to do
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Aim for the zone | Use the feel of the previous two shots to choose a swing for the target distance. |
| Play the target shot | Go through your normal routine and make a smooth, committed wedge swing. Watch whether the ball finishes in your chosen zone. |
| Repeat six cycles | Start again with short, long, then target. Complete six cycles for eighteen shots, keeping the target zone unchanged. |
Keep the scoring simple
Only the third shot in each cycle counts. The deliberate short and long shots help you find the distance; they do not earn points.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | Your target shot finishes inside the zone you chose. |
| 0 points | Your target shot finishes outside that zone. |
After eighteen shots, record one total out of 6. Use the same zone next time for a fair comparison.
George’s Conclusion
The useful part of this drill is the contrast. A deliberate short shot and a deliberate long shot give you two references before you try to find the middle. Keep the target comfortable, give each ball your attention and let the result guide the next swing.
For a different wedge practice focus, try the Towel Pitch Body Turn Drill to work on your arms and chest moving together.
