Amateur golfers the world over dream of getting down to single-digit handicaps.
Golf is an incredibly difficult sport to perfect, so it’s no surprise that only 10% of golfers manage to reach a 9.9 handicap index or lower.
There are plenty of golf tips out there readily available to help you reach the so-called ‘promised land’.
- Read also: Three major mistakes amateurs make when putting which could be costing them five shots every round
Who makes your Mount Rushmore of active golfers?
Any massive names missing out?
However, some are more useful than others.
Throughout my time in the game, the biggest mistake I see amateurs make when practicing is mindlessly beating balls with no method or purpose.
Why not focus your practice on an area of the game that could save you numerous shots every single time you play?
* Antony Martin is a former professional golfer who competed on the mini-tours in America. He got down to a plus four handicap before turning pro and represented his country at Schoolboy level in 2002 and 2003.
3 key tips to help amateurs improve from 100 yards
If you are to knock shots off your scores, becoming a proficient wedge player from 100 yards out will be a non-negotiable.
Here are three tips to help you become more consistent when hitting wedge shots from 100 yards.
Take spin off with three-quarter swings
From 100 yards out, too much spin is a very bad thing.
It makes it almost impossible for you to get your ball close to the hole, especially when hitting into fast greens.
Let’s say, for example, that you carry your 54 or 56 degree wedge 100 yards through the air.
Unless there is a pin cut tight to the front fringe, taking a 52 or 50 degree wedge out and hitting your ball with a three-quarter swing may well be your best bet.
You can gain the feel required to hit these shots by working at it on the range. The feeling should be that your hands are level with the middle of your chest at the top of the back swing.
If they go any higher than that, then you’re swinging past the three-quarter mark. You should be swinging at around 80 per cent of your maximum speed as well.
Less speed equals less spin and that’s exactly what we want from 100 yards out.
Acceptance that 15 feet is a good shot
I see so many mid-handicap golfers who are disappointed unless they hit their 100-yard wedge shots inside eight feet or so.
On the PGA Tour in 2025, Trey Mullinax was ranked first in proximity to the hole from approaches from 100 yards.
His average distance to the hole? 13 feet three inches!
The Tour average was just over 17 feet.
All of you – even low handicappers – have to accept that 15 feet is actually a good result from a 100-yard wedge shot.
If your 100-yard wedge shots finish 20 feet from the hole on average, there’s a good chance that you will be a scratch handicap or lower.
Understanding what is and isn’t a good shot is crucial to your hopes of improving, otherwise you will be left deflated due to chasing something that simply isn’t possible to achieve.
It’s all about distance control with the wedges
In order to get closer to the hole more consistently, hitting your ball pin high is crucial.
You will rarely hit your ball right down the flag stick, so distance control is actually the most important part of wedge play.
Work tirelessly on distance control and get your numbers dialed in
The number one tip for better wedge play is getting to know exactly how far you hit each of your wedges.
The key to achieving more control from 100 yards is working on finding out exactly how far you carry your lob wedge, sand wedge and gap wedge.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever seen a player make at a major?
In order to get dialed in with your distances, you simply have to put the hours in on the range, crucially one that has TrackMan on offer.
Hit as many balls as you can with your wedges and familiarize yourself with how far you carry them through the air on average.
You can then take this information out onto the course.
Adjustments will obviously have to be made in order to combat uphill or downhill lies and wind direction.
But if you know your distances down to the exact yardages, you will be in a much better position to consistently hit your wedge shots close.
By making a few changes and putting more effort into your preparation, you will be able to improve your performance in one of the most critical parts of the game.
And if you work hard and smart, lower scores await in your golfing future!
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