Instruction – The Scoring Zone

Here are some of the best drills to dial in your wedges:

Place hula hoops on the ground at different yardages. Here I have one at 30 yards, 40 yards and 50 yards. Once you have a hoop on the ground at the yardage you struggle with, hit shots, paying attention to how far you have to take your hands back for each shot to get the ball to land in the hula hoop at your desired yardage. This drill teaches you how to control your distances with wedges and be able to hit any number on the course.

Right-hand-only shots are a great drill to help with your technique and increase consistency around the greens. Set up to the ball as you normally would for a chip or a pitch, take your left hand off and place your left arm across your right. From here, practice hitting shots no longer than 20 yards. When you finish, your grip should be slightly ahead of the ball at impact, and your palm should be facing forward toward your target and not cupped facing the sky. 

This drill works on impact and lag. Set up to the ball like you are going to hit and, from here, place a ball marker or coin a couple of inches in front of your golf ball. Hit shots, focusing on hitting the coin in front of the ball. This ensures your hands are ahead at impact and that you hit the ball first before the ground. You will be compressing the ball like a Tour player after this drill. 

If you are hitting short shots with this drill right after impact, make sure your left hand and wrist are flat/bowed with the back of your left hand facing forward toward your target and not toward the sky. This is very important to compress the ball. 

Kirsten Pike is the lead Teaching Professional at Las Colinas Country Club. For more tips, follow @kirstenpikegolfacademy on Instagram or call/text 972-399-9040 . Please visit www.kpikegolf.wixsite.com.