Wedge distance control with the clock system

Setup

1. Place three flags at roughly short, middle and long wedge distances for the group, for example 30, 45 and 60 m for older juniors; adjust after the first few balls.
2. Hitting stations on one line, at least 4 m apart, all hitting the same way. Nobody walks forward to collect balls until the coach calls the range clear.
3. Warm up with half swings first; this drill has a lot of repetitions.

How it runs

1. Picture yourself as the hands of a clock, viewed face on. With the lead arm parallel to the ground at the top, the hands are at 9:00; shorter is 7:30, longer is 10:30.
2. Hit five balls with the 7:30 swing, five with 9:00 and five with 10:30, all with the same wedge and the same rhythm.
3. For each swing length, note where most balls landed (carry, not roll). That is your number.
4. Finish with a random round: the coach calls a flag, the player picks the swing length and hits one ball. Score a point for landing within about 5 m of it.

Coaching points

• Change the length of the backswing, not the speed: the same smooth tempo every time.
• Let the follow-through roughly mirror the backswing, so the club accelerates through the ball.
• Turn the chest through to the target on every swing length; arms and body move together.
• Ball in the middle of the stance, weight slightly favouring the lead foot.

Common mistakes

• Making a long backswing and slowing down into the ball to hit it short.
• Judging distance by where the ball stops, not where it lands.
• Letting the swing length creep longer when a shot feels short.