A drill you NEED to improve your wedge game!!

[@Nick-H-77]

Very nice Iona. My coach called it a wedge matrix. Only he went a little bit more intricate and had me had me hit 4 types of shot with each wedge. Each one would represent a different height for the hands on the backswing - Full, Shoulders, Chest and Waist. And with each one you'd grip down another finger width, starting at the very top of the grip for the full shot. The waist one is almost off the bottom of the grip! After you finish you make a small notepad size piece of card with all of your average carry distances on. PW - F - S - C - W 50 - F - S - C - W 54 - F - S - C - W 60 - F - S - C - W You'll end up with several distance overlaps, but these represent shots with different height and spin. Ultimately very useful. Extra bonus points are had for laminating it too and putting it on a carabiner hanging on your golf bag 😂❤

[@paulvanloon1094]

Not everybody uses or can use this system. Tiger uses feel

[@JJ_Khailha]

@@paulvanloon1094 Dan Grieves uses a wedge matrix like this except his technique cleverly uses setup differences which stop the backswing at certain positions using a governor. e.g. A 7:30 backswing, gripped down to bottom of grip and standing one club width feet apart naturally stops the backswing at 7:30 as you feel the restriction of the arms being stopped by the chest. 9:30 grip in middle and feet two club heads apart. Finally the 10:30 grip at the top and feet three club heads apart.

[@nigel4321]

Your in good company. Darren Clarke has exactly the same 'card'. check out his you tube video.

[@jimeastham2506]

I did this last week with my wedges and 9 iron. 55, 50, PW & 9 iron. Two tubes of balls, one tube yellow and one tube white. 10 yellow balls with the 55, 10 white balls with the 50 and so on. Use your range finder on your bag from the average of each group. It works. Good luck.

[@robertcardozo6826]

The LetBetterHelp segment ment more to me than is imaginable! I’m surviving two cancers and golf has become my outlet! Your channel is now the only one I subscribe to and support. Thank you

[@stephenmartinez4757]

Thanks Iona. Wedge distance changes a lot for me. I'll keep at it though. I could listen to your voice all the time, very calming to me 🙂. Have an amazing day!

[@jasonmkc7797]

Thanks and love the channel. Great goal to hit it to 10-feet from 100 yards. But amateurs should give themselves some grace. Pros only do that 25-30% of the time. Data isn't overly reliable for 10-15 handicappers but they are 35-55% to even hit the green from 100. Scoring zone for sure.

[@ontheroadwithiona]

Yep absolutely 💯

[@brianclark3503]

Thanks yet again, Iona, for a simple demonstration of something we can all do with our game at any level of ability. I find it fun to pace off 20, 40, 60 yds and hit your different wedges to your empty range bucket. Check your dispersion around the bucket to get a feel for distance and your tendencies: tugging it left, a bit long on the 60s, a bit short on the 20s, etc. Develop a feel for your game.

[@allansmith5489]

i did a version of this a few years ago. The course had no range or practice facilities so I hit 12 of each shot (used a mat) on a quiet piece of fairway, walked out to the balls and lasered the distance back to my bag. I discarded the longest and shortest as outliers and then did the average. Probably wasn't a perfect system but it definitely helped and the bonus was the exercise of picking up the balls!

[@chrisbullen7460]

So simple and useful as ever

[@Skeeta56]

Love your Content!!! An afternoon with my Scottish Friend could not get any better . . . even in the throws of Hurricane Debby dumping 10+ inches of rain on me in the last 2 days. [My home course has announced its closing until Monday (August 12th) because of her tears.] While I listen contentedly and feast on your every thought, I must admit that my practice consists of a “Breakfast Ball” on the First Tee!!! After that, I just enjoy the game for what it is to me . . . an escape with friends in the fresh air! You remain, the absolute Best Quality Golf Content Creator in the Business! Thank you for sharing your time, thoughts and your “Ugly Side” self with us in North Carolina!!! 😂

[@buddyhassell6989]

Great video and advice not only about the wedges but mental health. Both very important I. Golf and life! Iona always has the best content available! ❤

[@davidstocking1622]

Great practice routine. You also add 3/4 swing and 1/2 swing into this practice. Have also gone around the clock doing it. 7, 8, 9, 10 O'clock etc. Very productive use of 100 balls at the range.

[@blairmcluckie]

Great idea! Just completed this after work. Now more confused. Somehow gripped down ended up going around the same distance or further and better trajectory. Full swing with 58, 52 and PW go higher but sometime less distance. Have taken videos to analyse later. But if nothing else, I have a great 20 shot average of my 3 wedges. Love you videos

[@frankiezinetti201]

This is exactly what ive needed. I used to do something similar except i never has a launch monitor. I would use my range finder on the yardage markers and work out the distance from that to my ball. Also what a wonderful partnership you have with better help. In this time we are in more people need to promote thus kind of thing! You truly are a wonderful person and a credit to our beautiful game! ❤

[@Makaveli6103]

Got a Garmin R10 just for this on the rangr. Knowming my distances helps a lot.

[@EricZuckerman1]

Great advice for us mere mortal golfers. Thanks for sharing some practice strategies. I'm sure you've noticed, but you can connect a phone/iPad to the FS Kit and it will keep the distances in your session for you (plus videos of the swings from behind). For each session, the app makes the average for each club available for you.

[@alanking5001]

Love that , I carry mine all the time got knee to knee , waist to waist and shoulder to shoulder distances . When you know how far it goes you have a more committed strike as well

[@MrMikejam23]

Can we all just take a moment to admire that divot pattern! Very tidy. 🙌👏👏

[@NigelBirch-m9x]

Love this….. it’s so simple I’ll now have 8 stock yardages with my wedges. The “grip down” is so much easier to replicate than half and quarter swings. Great video👏

[@jamesdrakett1775]

Great tip for nailed on distances. 👌👍 Thanks Iona.

[@Ruth-ti6si]

Thank you for these tips which highlighting ways to improve.

[@iandavidson1]

What an amazing video!! Such a brilliant professional. Will be doing exactly this drill this weekend. Thanks 😘

[@tartandrones3739]

Brilliantly simple, yet effective.. good work Iona

[@edwinlambley2801]

Love your divot pattern.

[@Bassbaby838]

Was just about to say the same! 🎉

[@dannybrant6758]

What an amazing looking place

[@AlexJackson-z6j]

Iona another really good one this as amateurs don’t practice this enough I think especially the higher handicap ones . These shots and in and around the greens is my strength

[@johntierney5176]

Great, great video. Now I know what I'm going to do to get my yardages on my new clubs. Thank you!

[@davidthomson7815]

Thanks Fiona very useful. Starting golf at 8 (72 years ago) I had 3 Wood, 5 Iron, 7 iron, 9 iron and putter. Gripping down 6, 8 and 10 irons. Now I usually take a half set out and grip down find it is better to hit a grip down 7 rather that a full 9. I found your chipping clip very useful. It is so frustrating to miss the greens (now 3rd shot 80 so not hitting big distances).

[@shakeyfly]

Great start of my day with Iona video

[@paul5589]

Thanks for the tip, Iona. Enjoy your holibags.

[@TeezerDriz]

Working on my short game a lot has got my h'cap down from 25 to 18 in 1 year. Had 4 lessons during that time to learn a proper stance etc.

[@stevepreston7454]

Thanks Iona, will definitely have a go at this. The technology at the courses can record your shots directly to your phone to keep account, however you will have to remember which shots were duffs to eliminate them from the figures.

[@Chip-og1yx]

Great video! Thank you!

[@ianh8396]

realy nice and simple, great idea and I will be def. doing this and give it a try. Cheers

[@Thor-jc8fs]

I put into practice your in training regiment and my chipping during recent tournament was great. Thank you for your information.

[@dobster5819]

Simply brilliant Iona, many thanks.

[@gavintaylor5099]

Great video and insight to the structure of your practice.

[@michaelJones0306]

Something i will try next time i am at the range keep these quality videos coming through Iona 👏👏⛳️

[@jamieburstow6236]

This is a great video and something I will look to implement soon, quick question though would you take in to consideration the elevation you’re at when practicing this?

[@paulterry7672]

Very handy Iona your yardages are very close to mine

[@michaeljoukowsky3995]

Thank you Iona. I wish you would do a lesson on practice rounds on the course.

[@gatotherliyanto2093]

Very useful tips ... Btw, where I can the visor like yours?

[@tonycroxon4681]

My biggest gripe with practice in the UK (public range, not club members) is the range ball. It's difficult to practice distance control when a scuffed range ball has 60% of a playing balls compression or flight pattern

[@ontheroadwithiona]

Yeah I also find that frustrating, I only practice on a range like this with these kind of range balls 3 or 4 times a year! Usually I’m at a local range and they have trackman bays which is great but I account 10% drop in carry yardages as the balls are not premium quality.

[@Tryk90]

@@ontheroadwithiona Do you even account for that when you use the trackman range and use the convert option? Cause as far as I know the convert option gives data based on the use of a premium ball instead ;) Anyhow keep up the good work and eventually come to Denmark to play!

[@robgreenspan9389]

Love your videos, thanks!

[@kswan2234]

This has become one of my favorite channels.

[@ianmcmillan2634]

Thanks Iona, wonderful drill. Although I sometimes gripdown on longer irons I don't do it with wedges, I change the swing length. Paid the price for it twice today. I love to have a full swing into the green. Definitely giving this one a chance to improve my scoring. Thanks again.

[@dhall058]

Best golf content on the internet.

[@flashwhite]

I'm ok from 100y in, it's getting to 100y that's my problem hahaha. Love your thought processes on this.

[@grahamdennis2115]

Just been to the range with my Rapsido monitor to try this out. I had previously been taight to do quarter, half and three-quarter swings however I never achieved a consistent result, however the gripping down tip has produced some very consistent numbers. Many thanks.

[@patrickhockey615]

definitely going to practice this. I wouldn't have thought of the grip down shot being 10 yards different. Nice!

[@afriendtoleanon3401]

You are precious ! love your personality ! God bless

[@rickggrick778]

You young'uns and your pencils and paper. Isn't there an app for that Iona? I export the launch monitor data into Sheets. It helps me track seasonal distance changes etc. Same results - I'm just lazier.

[@lazercod]

Great advice! Need to really do this for my game!

[@IverKnackerov]

I like this system so much more than the 10pm, 9pm, 8pm swing lengths that other pros advocate. Feeling the difference between 10pm and 8pm swing is much much harder than simply gripping down an inch 👍

[@MTB29erSol]

Great lesson and quick drills. Would be great for some tips on the wind. Clubbing up and down due to wind ❤

[@paulinelock592]

So helpful Iona. Thank you so much.

[@electronicpen]

Cracking video, thanks for sharing.

[@alastairkitson]

If you only had access to a driving range with TopTracer (or equivalent) and standard range balls, keeping in mind the difference in distance and quality between range balls and normal balls, how much extra distance would you need to add onto each shot? I am told around 10%, is that accurate?

[@barbaragreen98]

Thanks Iona!

[@timquinlan8130]

"Holibobs" 🤣. Wow, Slovenia looks like an incredibly beautiful place. And those little wooden stands at each range spot are fabulous. Thanks for taking the time on vacation to make such an informative video. You're the best--a legend.

[@jonwilkins192]

Loved the video and the advice! Will definitely be trying it out, but perhaps not with the fancy launch monitor!!😢😂

[@chrismayor2612]

I was always taught, take out shortest 20% and longest 20%. Then average, so you get a more accurate average. Also note shortest shot and longest, so you know worst and best. So say 110 shortest 122 longest but average 115. You play for 115 but are mindful of 110 and 122, which may lead to a change of target to avoid a bunker or drop off, prepare for the worst but allow for average. If thatmakes sense.

[@Principal9999]

Another beauty video, Iona!!!! Thank u ☺️ ❤

[@DASH1ful]

That is great hitting and swinging. And, clearly; but, for your wrist injury, you would be at the top of the game. It will help you to eliminate the risk of injuring your wrist, again, if you hold the club with your left hand when you step up to the ball. This ensures that the left hand is in control in the takeaway. Also, gripping the club lightly when you first take your grip; and then raising your position, by pushing back with the base of your neck, to look up at the target, uses the weight of the clubhead to press the handle up against the heel pad of the left hand. This engages the extensors in the left and enables the extensors to extend in the takeaway. This then enables the index finger side of the left hand to press against the right hand, in the transition, which turns the toe of the club club down. This was Hogan's big secret; but, it wasn't unique to him. Bobby Jones did the same thing. This method enables the fingers of the right hand to press against the shaft in the hitting area. Obviously, injury occurs in the right hand when the palm of the hand is in control at impact; and, as a consequence, takes all the strain. Keep up all the great work you do in the game. And, I certainly look forwards to seeing you playing more golf in the not too distant future.

[@seanelrick9040]

That ball striking is on point!!! What great vid. Off to the range I go.

[@ChrisRose-w8x]

Great video Iona and lovely looking practice range. Would be great to play off grass driving ranges more often. What is the name of that resort?

[@spirro6524]

Thanks Iona for the interesting video. I definitely need to implement this in my practice. Just wondering about difference in yardages due to temperature. I read you talking about 'normalise' which would be on 18C, but how do you account for temperature in your distance, is it e.g. +10% for 10C higher temperature?

[@karlmartin3410]

What a brilliant piece of advice, I am off to the range, cheers Iona 😊

[@rossco_p8713]

Slovenia looks incredible btw.👌

[@Tylermackenzie]

Well Iona, I went to the range to try this but found out I hit my irons dead center when I grip down, and actually get more distance. Should have been paying more attention to Lydia Ko all this time. Still gotta get my wedge chart dialed, but thanks for the tip! We'll see how long that works for.

[@whaleshark2625]

I love your videos Iona but one thing to point out here - it is not a realistic expectation for any amateur golfer to be inside 10ft on a 100yd approach shot. According to Arccos the average proximity for a pro from 50-74yds is 20ft and from 75-99 yards is 22ft, and then 25ft for 100-124yds. Golfers need a clearer understanding of what is actually a good shot - and doing twice as well as tour pros definitely isn't it!

[@ontheroadwithiona]

It’s a fair point and everyone has to set their own targets, it’s a personal benchmark. Right now I’m just trying to learn how far I actually hit each wedge, never mind direction 😅 so it’s always a work in progress. But thanks for your point and comment 👌🏼

[@BJ-WHU]

Good lesson, I’ll give it a go! 👍😀😀

[@sundarcg11]

Thoughts on wind/climatic conditions and use of range balls to calculate yardages?

[@ontheroadwithiona]

Great question and it’s good to do this drill in a variety of climates, depending on where you’re going to be…so you can learn how things change. Temperature, altitude and ground surface the key things I would consider :)

[@ontheroadwithiona]

Oh also, I often do this drill with range balls and account for a 10% drop in carry yardages 😊

[@sophistos]

I am facing the same task these day. Didn't know about the "grip down", though. Rather thought of full / half swing

[@DefenderTIM]

No ranges with launch monitors here in the middle of Buttcrack, Oklahoma; so I'll just send my sons downrange with lasers to shoot back my carry distances. :D

[@user-rh1nh2bu4o]

Thanks Iona. However do you also record whether shot goes left or right of target and by how much as although distance v important accuracy is also vital and need to know whether or not to take on a pin position with consideration of possible error in accuracy. I am Scottish and love listening to you. Come play South Herts Golf Club!!!

[@michaelbarton5169]

Love the practise approach. Qn, since I know you studied w DanG and I'm really getting into his 3-releases system just now: wd you do the same "calibration" for each wedge with the A-1, A-2, A-3 pitches? For instance, I was originally thinking you were going to do full grip, G on Golf Pride, and then the line at the base of your grip for all three wedges. (Yes, I realize that I'm mixing grips and stances in my terminology. I figure it really is up to the player how they wish to approach their partial shots, so long as they are consistent.). Or do you save the line at the grip base and treat your "calibration" for Release-1, Release-2, Release-3 for each wedge separately? And are you flighting everything lower or do you keep separate numbers for high and low-flighted shots? Sorry for the peppering of questions, but it's exactly what I'm working on right now so, the topic is at the forefront for me at the moment. Cheers fr Nova Scotia

[@mlhundt2064]

I see mountains in the back. What do you do to account for elevation changes to your book numbers Iona?

[@markmay184]

Hitting the green from 100 yards is a good shot and I wouldn’t be too upset if I was more than 10 feet from the pin. Considering the average distance from the pin for scratch golfers, from 75-125 yards out from the green, is 39 feet (Arccos data) from the pin. If every player celebrated their good shots (hitting the green from 100 yards) more players would enjoy their golf.

[@davidhaworth7152]

I wouldn’t discard the bad strikes. They go in another category and should be logged for thin, heavy and distance. It’s valuable information I believe.

[@JonnyRobbo22]

Brilliant

[@davebateman25]

I. Iona you say you use your arms for the swing can you tell me how you start your back swing and also the start of your downswing 👍thanks

[@benehsu]

Excellent! Also a nice setting n Slovenia

[@buddyhassell6989]

Congrats on 8 million views!!!!

[@Birdiesuechtig]

Thanks Iona! How do you deal with lower quality range balls and distance? Most ranges around here don‘t have the best range balls and I think that my actual distances on the course with good golfballs differ a lot.

[@ontheroadwithiona]

It’s a great question and I generally allow 10% drop in carry yardage for range balls. They are not premium and so don’t travel as far and it’s what I practice with 90% of the time so it’s a good thing to remember. Regardless of the ball quality though, it’s still great to practice the motion of swinging and the two different grips (full and gripped down) 😊😊

[@Birdiesuechtig]

@@ontheroadwithiona great! Thank you so much. I will keep that in mind.

[@PatDavies-s8c]

Great looking facilities canny find a range with actual grass

[@adl9705]

7.4hdc here, i dont know any of my distances i just go by feeling but ive been stuck at this level for years now. if my contact is not super consistent do you still write down the yardages or work on technique first and then gather data? how many out of 10 do i need to hit perfectly to feel like its worth it to start writing down my yardages, i get so scared to look like a try hard since im not that good.

[@TitleWaive1]

Where exactly are you at? Beautiful mountains in the background. Is that a public course or private?

[@tonymelvillemedia7299]

Royal Bled - up in the Slovenian mountains close to the border with Austria. Beautiful spot - expensive golf club.

[@kevinmcgivern]

I tend to hit balls further on the course than I do at the range. How much does a range ball affect distance?

[@patobrien7009]

The problem I have is that all ranges around me use range balls which do not fly as far as the balls one plays with. It doesn't help to chart distances with short balls on the range and then fly the green on the course with your titleist.

[@davidmoon8464]

What about half, three quarters and full swing or is that too precise?

[@DonAl9114]

Enjoy the holidays. 😎😎😎

[@wallyjackson338]

its a shame that at my club, and many others Im sure, our range is concrete with mats of varying quality, and while we do have the luxury of top tracer the strike is not always perfect but not so easy to see on a plastic mat, whereas you do get great feedback from the grass.....

[@paulhunt674]

One part of the game that 80% of med/high handicap players don't practice. Fantastic facilities at cumberwell golf club near Bath for chipping

[@curtisvincent4104]

IMHO high handicappers should not being thinking birdie or feeling angry at a bogey on par 5. There’s a reason they are high handicappers. I try to get better each time but never have birdie expectations. Hopes sure but not expecting them

[@paulhunt674]

@curtisvincent4104 totally agree, this is why there's a handicap system, but many of us expect too much 🤣😂

[@carlosgravy7966]

Cool

[@-What-are-your-thoughts]

I like how she said “ I’m lucky enough to have access to this“ there is no doubt in my mind a personal basic launch monitor can’t be sold for $100

[@dubbs1923]

Does Full Swing capture short chips of less than 10 yds? No? Use foresight or Trackman and you can get detailed report of all of your shots and can later write them down on your book. Work smarter not harder

[@pinocchioflekles]

Write down the length of each golf club on the shaft, just below the grip. Easy to see the length and you don't have to use a book.

[@mlinder2000]

I remember Dave Pells sharing this tip in his book.

[@keernhaslem1845]

Didn’t I see Iona in everyone’s favorite 80’s adventure romance, Cocktail 🍸

[@curtisvincent4104]

How do you get carry distance if you can’t afford a launch monitor? Those things are pretty expensive.

[@ontheroadwithiona]

@@curtisvincent4104 i usually use a driving range that has launch monitor technology- they’re becoming more common and there are plenty around London and the main driving range in St Andrews also has them! :) Before they had that though…I used to put towels down at 70,80,90 and 100 yards and try to hit to the towels!

[@curtisvincent4104]

@@ontheroadwithiona that’s a great idea. In my area of the states, sadly there are very few with launch monitors.

[@TheWolfs9892]

Tour pros hit, on average, 100 - 125 yards shots to 20 feet. Set your expectations appropriately.