Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: Dissecting “the short game”

Published

7 years ago

Jul 2, 2019

In follow up to my article week before last about your “Short Game Handicap”, I thought might add a bit of clarity and expand on the topic. To start, I probably shouldn’t have used the term “short game”, as it appears there are many different definitions (and no consensus) as to exactly what that means. Is it wedge play only? Does it include putting? And just how far out from the hole does “the short game” begin?

So, I’m going to ask for a bit of a “do-over” and offer a new term to define what I mean. Let’s talk, then, about “scoring-range performance”. Hopefully, we all can agree that this means the entire game inside 8- or 9-iron range, so it is different for every golfer. That could be inside 150-160 yards for a strong player, or as close as 100-120 yards for one with a lesser distance profile. Regardless of the distance, however, I think it is fair to say that once inside that “short range performance” zone, you should be able to take on the golf course more aggressively.

So, to start, I would like to suggest we can break down “short range performance” into five distinct categories:

1. Full swing or mostly full swing short iron and wedge shots. These are the shots you hit from the outermost ranges in what you define as your own “short range”. But when I say “full swing” with a short iron or wedge, please understand this doesn’t mean going at it like you would with a driver or even mid-iron. Shorter clubs call for more controlled swing pace and power, so that you can build a distance chart that is repeatable and reliable. From those “full” swings, you can grip down up to 1-1/2” to 2” to change distance and trajectory with each club, which will also reduce the length of your swing naturally. If you want, you can also experiment with opening the face a bit as well in order to achieve different ball flights and distances. These shots take us into the range of…

2. Pitch shots. I consider this term to define all those wedge shots that are hit with much less than a “full” swing. This is an area where you just have to spend time practicing in order to learn what kind of swing produces what yardage and ball flight with each wedge you carry. From there we go to…

3. Chipping. This is a very different technique than pitch shots, but good chipping is the key to greenside scoring. Regardless of your age or strength profile, you can learn to be a good chipper of the ball. And after any of these shots that has been well executed, we get to…

4. Putting. I believe all of us would agree that putting is an art in itself and calls upon a different set of motor skills. A putting stroke is not a “little golf swing”, in that it does not have the dynamic movements of the lower and upper body, etc. And finally…

5. Trouble shots. I will consider this category to include any shots in scoring range that don’t fall into the routine. This would include bunker shots, sidehill/uphill/downhill lies, deep rough, other tough lies such as hardpan, and low runners from under trees. Very few of us practice these, maybe other than bunker shots, so we get anxious and nervy when faced with one. Ben Hogan used to say that you should never try a shot on the course that you haven’t practiced. Pretty darn good advice.

So, there you have my take on the five parts of “scoring-range performance”. Over the next few weeks, I’ll take us into a deeper dive on each one of these aspects to see if I can’t give you some tips and advice on how to make that part of your game better. Understand of course, I’m offering general advice and counsel to a large audience, so I certainly expect some of you to find my suggestions too elementary, while others may find it too advanced. But I’m going to do my best to give each of you at least a few takeaways that you may find helpful.

Related Topics:featured

Up Next

It takes a village: How to improve at golf

Don't Miss

Green books have too much detail?

Terry Koehler

Terry Koehler is a fourth generation Texan and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Over his 40-year career in the golf industry, he has created over 100 putter designs and dozens of wedges. In 2014, he put together the team that reintroduced the Ben Hogan brand to the golf equipment industry with his TK 15 wedges and Ft. Worth 15 iron designs. Since receiving a U.S. Patent for his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” in the wedge category. In addition to inspiring multiple companies to emulate this sole technology, the performance of his wedge designs have stimulated all other companies to reposition some mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges. Terry is retired from his role as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf, and remains active in the industry as an independent designer and consultant. But his most compelling work is in the wedge category. Since he first patented his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” reflected in ‘tour design’ wedges. The performance of his wedge designs have stimulated other companies to move slightly more mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges, but none approach the dramatic design of his Edison Forged wedges, which have been robotically proven to significantly raise the bar for wedge performance. Terry serves as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf – check it out at www.EdisonWedges.com.

9 Comments

ChipNRun

Jul 9, 2019 at 11:23 pm

Let me see if I’ve got this right…

After more than a decade of research, Dave Pelz in 2000 divided the short-game skills into distance wedges, pitches, chips and bumps, and sand shots. He included detailed instructions on each.

In 2004 Debbie Steinbach sorts out the Venus pitch, chipping, sand sharking and the lob. Deb also included instructions.

In 2012, tour veteran Dave Stockton and his sons parse the short game into low and high shots, bunkers, and trouble shots. Again, how-to tips abound.

Further, Dave, Deb and the Other Dave all tell us how putting meshes with the short game.

So, I’m struggling to find the value-added of our recent “Dissecting…” piece? If the Wedge Guy is having an off-week, it’s OK if he skips writing an article.

Reply Report comment
Jamho3

Jul 5, 2019 at 8:18 am

Especially enjoyed this part.

““scoring-range performance”. Hopefully, we all can agree that this means the entire game inside 8- or 9-iron range, so it is different for every golfer. That could be inside 150-160 yards for a strong player, or as close as 100-120 yards for one with a lesser distance profile.”

Keep going TK.

Reply Report comment
Dan Coleman

Jul 3, 2019 at 7:51 pm

Why do most amateurs hit their wedges mostly on the toes of the face?

Dan

Reply Report comment
Jack Nash

Jul 3, 2019 at 4:19 pm

The only game I got is a buck’n a quarter in. Learned wedges following my old man around the course when I was a kid. He played with his buddies & I chipped around. Of course you know how long ago that was when you could do stuff like that. I’ve found the better you get the more aggressive you tend to be. Being avg. at best off the tee means you have to make up for your game closer to the hole. Very good article and totally agree with Utley’s approach.

Reply Report comment
PSG

Jul 3, 2019 at 10:15 am

If anybody wants to read something with some actual thought behind it (“you just have to hit a bunch and see what you can do”… seriously?!) you should read Stan Utley’s “The Short Game Building Blocks of the Six Basic Pars”. Its really good. He defines them as tight lie long, tight lie short, fluffy sand short, fluffy sand long, tight sand long, deep rough long. he further theorizes that hard sand short and deep rough short are so hard they are not basic.

I want to like “The Wedge Guy”‘s stuff, I post about wedges a lot on the forums, but come on dude. “Full Swing, Pitch, Chip, Putt, Other”. Forty years of experience and that’s the insight you can give us?

Reply Report comment
Ugh

Jul 2, 2019 at 4:08 pm

Once again, I wasted my time clicking on this article.

Reply Report comment
- Scotty B
  
  Jul 2, 2019 at 9:51 pm
  
  You wasted everyone’s time who read your comment.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Terry Koehler
  
  Jul 3, 2019 at 10:16 am
  
  Hello “Ugh”,
  
  I am sorry you did not find this article interesting. Would you mind sending me an email — [email protected] — and sharing your thoughts about why, and your ideas for what I could write about that you would find more interesting? As I’ve said, I’m writing for a very broad audience, and not everyone will find every article interesting. I get that. But it would help me if you and others would send me ideas for topics you would like me to address down the road.
  Thanks.
  
  Wedge Guy
  
  Reply Report comment
BigD

Jul 2, 2019 at 11:48 am

Matt Kuchar is a big donkey.

Reply Report comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

5 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

Club Junkie

Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

7 days ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.

Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.

If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.

Follow Club Junkie:
Instagram: @clubjunkiepod
TikTok: @clubjunkiepod
Threads: @clubjunkiepod
X: @ClubJunkiePod

Club Junkie

Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.

I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.