Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: Hard 8-iron or easy 7? (The SCor Method)

Published

4 years ago

Jun 1, 2022

One of the nuances of this game is you are rarely faced with an approach shot that is “textbook” to your standard yardage with any iron. Almost all of your approach shots will fall somewhere “in-between” clubs, due to yardage, wind, elevation, or other factors. In order to play your best golf, you have to be able to dial in those distances that fall in between your textbook yardages.

Many years ago, I wrote a short book called “The SCoR Method,” which guides you through the process of learning your exact yardages with each club, and further dissecting that by altering your hand position on the grip — half-inch down, inch down, etc. It’s built around the simple fact that distance is affected by both loft and club length, and you can vary the distance a shot flies by altering either.

For many decades, iron sets had been arranged so that the irons were typically half an inch shorter as you progress from the 3 to the PW, and the loft changed by four degrees between clubs — but that old standard has been compromised by the relentless pursuit of distance. Most more current iron sets have resorted to five-degree gaps in the short end of the set and as low as 2.5 degrees at the long end. But even so, if you grip down on any club by half an inch, you’ve made it roughly the length of the next shorter club, so your normal swing should produce a shot that flies somewhere close to halfway between the two normal distances.

This is a very simple methodology to learn and makes hitting in-between shots so much easier. I never liked trying to hit any iron shot “hard” and throttling backswing speed proves difficult for many recreational players. The SCoR Method simplifies the process. Here are some CliffsNotes to this method:

When you grip down on the next longer club, you usually get a lower ball flight than when you hit that same club or the next shorter club “full.”
You can further alter ball flight by gripping down and opening the clubface a bit. Be sure to aim more left if/when you do this.
Gripping down on the next longer club, or even two clubs longer is a great way to hit more penetrating and lower-spinning shots into the wind. I often grip down a 5-iron by an inch or more, when the shot would be a normal 7.
You will very likely find that gripping down on the club actually improves your accuracy considerably, and that’s not a bad thing at all.

I hope this helps all of you get more accurate with your iron shots this season. Whether you are trying to break 90 or win on the PGA Tour, even one or two more greens-in-regulation will help you get there.

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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.

6 Comments

Jon

Jun 3, 2022 at 1:58 pm

Hard 8 or easy 7? Hard 7

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Bob

Jun 3, 2022 at 11:20 am

Many factors to consider: wind, green softness, where’s the greenside miss, confidence?

Not an easy question.

Reply Report comment
Wally Detler

Jun 3, 2022 at 12:49 am

I always prefer a hard 8 over a soft 7.

Reply Report comment
Raj LP

Jun 2, 2022 at 12:55 pm

I love this article. I have a real problem with distance control. So far I’d try to nail it down with half and 3/4 swings and that just hasn’t been working. I’m looking forward to trying this out.

Reply Report comment
MarkM

Jun 2, 2022 at 11:21 am

I use the SCor/choke-down method all the time, but I have found that I have to go at least 2″ down to get the desired in-between yardage. A lot of times the 1/2 to 1 inch choke-down grip will fly as far as normal because the shortened length can contribute to a more centered/pure strike.

Reply Report comment
Acemandrake

Jun 1, 2022 at 4:02 pm

Hogan said he always used more club on his approaches.

That way, his swing never changed.

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 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.

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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!

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7 days ago

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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.

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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.

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