HIT YOUR WEDGES CLOSE FROM ANY YARDAGE // Building a Wedge Matrix with Gareth Raflewski

[@ianshepherd6476]

You know what I miss is the old music I was watching some old videos and that music makes me feel some kind of way about what I’m about to watch. We need a throwback episode on the music

[@elmatador7528]

Loved the old music

[@aliasErEf]

TXG is the best golf Guru East of the Canadian rockies….😎 would loved to have you gang around Montréal. Excellent work.

[@dzaino1986]

I remember a comment Gareth made regarding LPGA players putting numbers on their shafts for the 3 swings. I did that starting this year and it's made a huge difference on my proximity. Thanks all for the great advice!!

[@ohwowthatsgood]

what do you mean? like visual cues, or something related to distances?

[@bengreen1262]

@@ohwowthatsgood May be old news to some ~ but D.Pelz designed this system in his short game teachings 3 swings with 3 wedges equals 9 distances say 40yds to 130yds ie 10 yard gaps (40 + 90) .

[@diogeneslantern18]

@@bengreen1262 indeed. It's absolutely filthy that some people associate Pelz 3x4 system with the guy on this video.

[@wilsonlin1208]

Hey, this guy ain't exactly a slouch - he's the short game coach for Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, the Jutanugarns....one helluva resume!

[@raflewskigolf1601]

@@diogeneslantern18 I’ve been fortunate to spend time with the best coaches in the business including Dave Pelz. His work has allowed us to evolve and grow our short game knowledge to help more golfers. Our goal as PGA professionals is to share the best information and best practices. Nobody would be that naive to think they own any ideas we share with our students.

[@Somewheredownintexas]

Kudos to Dave Pelz for giving us this concept, and Gareth for making it practical and gameable

[@diogeneslantern18]

Dave Pelz already made it gameable. I consider it immensely bad faith that these two don't credit the credit - even if just for some "further reading"

[@Somewheredownintexas]

@@diogeneslantern18 I don't know that Pelz acknowledged Hogan in short game bible either, like they said in the video though Hogan made the quote famous on playing wedges with less than full swings. Might have been a nice touch to reference Pelz though especially with so much more to discover in his SGB.

[@rufussthoo4083]

Great content and advice guys. I love Gareth's instruction. I have always had a yardage book for my driver, woods and irons but I relied on 'feel' for pitch and chip shots. About 18 months ago, after watching your earlier video with Gareth on this, I created a yardage/shot matrix for pitching with PW (46*) to LW (58*). I had 4 swings so ended up with a 16 shot matrix. I had a number of double ups that didn't offer any real advantage so I eliminated those from the matrix and that left me with 11 usable options. More recently I eliminated one of my 'swings' as I was finding 4 made it overly complex, so I redid the matrix and also created one for chipping. I use 4 different chip swings - a short and long putting chip (for 'bump-and-runs' ), 'short chip' and 'long chip'. I mapped it out for every club from a 5 iron to 58*. I eliminated a bunch of them to end up with 20 chipping options that covered most challenges. Since creating the matrix I go to my yardage book on nearly every pitch and chip shot. My proximity and putts per round plummeted and it helped reduce my handicap by 10 strokes in less than a year. Next task is to find a solution for a gapping hole I have between 60 and 70 yards, and also to work out a 'flop shop' swing matrix.

[@markreider9663]

I’ve used the clock method: a 9-3, 10-2, 11-1 and full swing to regulate my backswing and follow through. Using PW, GW, SW & LW that gives me 16 different options. You can add a -1” choke down for even more options. I keep the chart handy on my iPhone and refer to it all the time while playing. It’s also great with a range finder to really hone in the carry distances when practicing on the range.

[@garethwilliams6474]

I have to redo this matrix. 1st time I've committed to winter sim every week. I'm hitting the ball very differently and that had created greater distances. I love this method.

[@jimmyplaysgolf691]

With the clock method, we can also relate it to different tempos i.e. half swing full tempo, half swing half tempo and so on. Building that matrix up a little further with some additional yardages. From Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@MaartenAnna]

This is soooo true. Did this exact method on my Garmin R10 earlier this year. Dropped my handicap from 24 to 13; just by getting the ball more consistently on the green, and closer to the hole. You can even print your distances out and tape them to the back of your club, just underneath your grip. Recovery went from 31% up to 34%, GIR from 34% up to 41%, puttin from 1,83 per hole down to 1,76 per hole.

[@pipebliss]

I started this mid 2021 after watching a video of Pelz in his backyard. This is definitely the easiest way to get your handicap down a few strokes and you no longer fear the "in between" wedge. On Par 5, I can now play as close to the green as I want with confidence that my third shot in will give me a chance at closer proximity. Great video. I always enjoy Gareth's insights.

[@diogeneslantern18]

You should get his book. Even better :)

[@pipebliss]

@@diogeneslantern18 I'm a visual learner 😁

[@paulraynor2520]

This is pure gold. Had a great idea of stamping the back of the wedges with the distances so they can be seen when in the bag!! No need for a sheet or pulling the club out to check the shaft.

[@chrischampion727]

This is so good and glad you revisited this! I worked on building this matrix after your first video series with Gareth a couple years ago I think it was. It literally transformed my game inside 100 yds. I used to be that “always lay back to 100 or 115 to hit a full 54 or 50 wedge and hope for a perfect strike” guy. Now give me that 35-80 shot all day long. Not only is it exciting that it can help lower your score but the confidence it breeds is rewarding too!

[@beaubrockett4097]

The book David Pelz The Short Game Bible taught this years ago. Very good read!

[@johnk.atchley5079]

Gareth's instructions and your videos have been a tremendous help to me. I'm an 80 year old 16-17 handicapper who generally drives the ball 225-240 depending on roll, hits a 15 degree 3W about 185, and plays very traditional forged blades with weak lofts so only get about 165 out of my 4 iron. Since I still insist on playing the 6300 yard tees, I often face a long second shot on longer par 4s and 5s, can often come up short, and need a dependable short wedge pitch to have any chance to make par. I watched this and Gareth's previous demonstration on TXG as well as subscribed to Gareth's site. In addition to the three backswing lengths, I adopted Gareth's instructions about the setup, with the shaft vertical in line with the sternum, then leaning slightly forward and striking the turf 1 or 2 inches behind the ball, letting the bounce cause the wedge to make a shallow glide underneath the ball to produce a nice soft, high pitch. But the distances produced off the mat, as in this video, are likely to be longer than the distances you get out on the course, where your distance with a given swing with a given wedge will be affected by whether you are hitting off closely mown turf, in the first cut of rough, or in the deeper grass, as well as by whether the grass is wet and lush or dry and thin, and whether the grain is with or against you. It can also be affected by the force/speed you apply to the downswing. I also paid close attention to your recent video on wedge bounce. I have been using my 60 degree lob wedge with 8 degree bounce a lot in these 1/2 and 3/4 swing situations. However, I often find that I get less distance than off the mat at the range. Instead of 40-45 yards with a half swing, I may get only 35 yards, possibly leaving me still just off the green. Grrrr. Based on your video, it may be that if the ball is not sitting in tight lie short grass, but lies in the first cut or longer grass, then per your analysis, the low bounce on the lob wedge could mean that the strike point on these short pitches is higher on the face and therefore has less energy, resulting in less distance than expected. So based on your video, I will try using my 56 degree sand wedge with 10 degrees bounce from the lies in longer grass to see if that will produce a more optimal strike a bit lower on the face. I may also see if I can demo a 58 degree with 12 or 14 degree bounce off grass.

[@jimfarrell7196]

This is how golfers of all levels can really refine their game. Outstanding segment.

[@aaronmccardie8795]

I like gripping down the grip in increments 1/2" - 1"and so on, as well as swing lengths also increases the amount of shots. A good friend of mine a golf professional told me this 20 year's ago sadly no longer with us.

[@Jordan.Thompson14]

Love when Gareth on the channel. Info for all skill levels and can make the complex easy to understand. Few people can do that

[@timmygolfs]

I've probably watched this a half dozen times in the past 6 mths. I've got the yardage down, it's the consistent contact that Ian mentions and its bang on. Really highlights how important a proper wedge fit is!!

[@Liv2Golf]

I have been wanting to do this with my bag for sometime. This just solidifies that I NEED to do this sooner than later!

[@mikeb1149]

Was using a similar system with half swing chip and full swing chip with feet close together, then half swing full swing with feet further apart. Write down average of 10 shots and that is your distance for that club and swing. Write distances on a peel and stick label, and attach to shaft. Cover with a piece of cello tape to keep the rain out and protect the label from tearing.

[@ambsquared]

When I started playing golf, for the first couple years I used an old set that had just Driver, 3w, and 4 irons, the odd from 3-9, plus the putter. I took golf as a summer school class, and it was taught by the high school golf team coach. He taught us to really cover all the range each club could do. It never occurred to me to lay up to have a full shot into the green. Unless there was a hazard, or some other obstacle, go for the green and trust in your short game. We used to do short game drills around the 8th hole. Had to get multiple shots within a clubs length of the pin from multiple stations around the green before you could start your round. Really had to scramble in the Wyoming fall with dusk coming earlier every day. After 9th grade we moved to another state. My new school didn’t have a golf team, so playing on the team as a freshman was my last experience with a coach. I wonder how good I could have gotten with 3 more years of coaching. For a small town in Wyoming with a 9 hole municipal course, that coach sent quite a few golfers to NCAA Div 1 schools. Not sure if I could have gotten to scratch, but in college I got down to a 12 during my best summer with playing 3-4 rounds a week. Don’t play now due to back issues, so I live vicariously through youtube.

[@timmyinMB]

What an amazing video. Thank you TXG folks this is the kind of content that will actually help us to be better golfers!

[@Mat_Scott]

One of the most useful and beneficial videos you’ve ever done. Well done gents!!

[@stephendibari5010]

Awesome post. Going to use p touch labels on put my distances on my 3 wedges. 9:00, 10:30 and Full. Right now I have a card w distances on it.

[@theKOOP4773]

This is sooo good. I don't know why, but Gareth surrounded by the TXG guys, and I feel like I'm being spoken to personally. Perhaps it's my data/evidence based bias. But 1/2, 3/4, full matrix clicked in my head instantly, where I've shied from clock based systems in the past, as I wasn't sure I could "feel" the incremental position changes between 8 and 10 oclock etc. Awesome stuff

[@andywalker3144]

I so wanted to put time in to doing this early this year...............still haven't, I believe it would change my game and give me more confidence. Something for a range session. I am so the person who wants to leave a full gap wedge!

[@jonathanmccain5903]

This is so valuable. I’ve been doing this for a couple years now after seeing a pro’s yardage book. Mine overlap more than Matt’s but inside 100 I have so many options. I can access any pin. On par 5’s get as close as I can and I’m never worried. Great info! SIMPLE IS BEST!

[@TheMuffs2004]

I was always a sub par wedge player for my handicap until a Pro taught me this system 12ish years ago. Nowadays wedge play from 30-110 yards is the 2nd strongest part of my game. It would be ranked 1st but I have a particular talent for hitting a lot of fairways.

[@TZOID08]

I actually worked on this exact thing early this year and scored much better 80 yards and in..... Then I got Lazy and started hitting full 58 degree shots and my game went south..... Thanks for the reminder to practice less than full wedge shots.

[@TigerWoodard]

Just absolutely brilliant, I needed this video. God bless you txg

[@aliasErEf]

I have for years a tag attached to my golf bag with a matrix min/ max for all clubs + gap wedges down : 1/2 / full

[@chrishartman5383]

Finchy did this type of matrix a few months back, and it got me to spend a bit of time with my wedges to figure the 1/2 and 3/4 shots with each club. This is a great view of the results of such testing. Thanks for the content.

[@kyleleskiw5644]

Probably one of my Fav TXG videos. I do love equipment reviews but this is gold

[@cguzik69]

Actually did this earlier this year - very helpful and makes it so much easier to make confident wedge swings. Nearly eliminated the dreaded “decel”

[@aidangriffiths5075]

All my favourite content of yours involves Gareth 😂 so so so good. His video platform is amazing btw with great tips and content

[@RecklessRusty]

The last 2 seasons I’ve been using a pm grind 60 degree for most shots around the green. And a sm6 54 degree for everything with a good lie or more than 30 yards away. Full swing 54 goes about 100 and I’ve gotten a decent feel of how far to bring it back for each distance. I use a 52 degree ap1 that goes 105-110. An ap1 48 degree that goes 115-120. A 46 degree pw that goes 125-130. 9 iron goes 135-140.

[@IPv6Freely]

I love that my newbie (32HCP) logic of having a 50, 54 adjusted to 55, and 60 degree wedges isn't all that silly, after all. Thanks Matty ;)

[@golfbulldog]

The half swings, with least spin, had a reasonably consistent 10% add on from the carry distace to make up the total. That needs to be factored in when considering the difference in putts made when adding 15-20 feet.

[@IamNexu]

I do this with my 54 & 60 degree wedges. Belt, armpit, full swing- distances. Its changed my

[@TheGconrad]

I cant begin to hit a driver 250 yards but this inspires me to score with the wedges that can make a definite improvement in my scores. Great video.

[@TravisO14]

Right when I needed it, you guys come through!

[@davefawkes8884]

Great video. I invested in a Skytrak last season & pretty much exclusively worked on my wedge matrix, made a huge difference to my game & scores. One important point I feel you should stress more is tempo. For me I had to play around with smooth to controlled aggressive tempo. The latter was best for me to hit the same numbers every time & with good spin. 👍🏻👌🏻

[@frankvuletin8700]

When I played more years ago I did this it was something I saw a short game specialist on the Golf Channel ( tall heavyset guy who used to be an engineer worked with Norman and Mickleson ) can’t remember his name but he was prominent back in the day. Was great really gave me confidence knowing I had multiple numbers with the scoring clubs.

[@weber_with1B]

Dave Pelz?

[@lesmoore7613]

Hey Frank.... Dave Pelz is your guy.... very methodical approach to the short game.... i agree with you..

[@frankvuletin8700]

@@lesmoore7613 thanks it was driving me crazy not remembering. I tell my wife when I was young my mind was like a steel trap now it’s like a mouse trap 😂

[@frankvuletin8700]

@@weber_with1B bingo

[@diogeneslantern18]

Now you need to get the book where this was stolen from - Dave Pelz "The Short Game Bible"

[@davidwilson1952]

I did a similar thing a few years back (got it from westwood) and wrote my yards on my clubs. full, mid and full.

[@timlee4827]

Love this and cannot wait to get my wedges honed in. Also the added layer of learning how different lies affect each swing length and loft

[@natefoster]

Great content guys, DJ mentioned his shoulder to shoulder distance in a TM video and it clicked for me this summer. Just getting my 60 degree dialed for whole swing and shoulder to shoulder helped immensely. If you don’t have the time to build out the full matrix, just do your “go to”

[@MarkLiversedge]

Brilliant. Off to the local trackman range and collecting the numbers now. Love it.

[@MM-zb9kc]

I learned how to hit wedges this way. Using the clock method. I also do that for my irons. I have 2 stock distances for my irons and it helps depending on wind and where the pin placement is. If it’s all the way in the back, sometimes you want to land it short and let it release a little and not fear of going over the green.

[@stevencrighton8755]

I've been doing this for the last few years. Can't remember where I originally heard of it (I thought it was on here). It helps me so much. Anything from 110 yards and in, I am checking my wedge matrix numbers and picking the shot based on that. Interestingly from seeing this, I think my half swing might be a bit long as my lowest yardage is 58 yards compared to Matts 30. Great video.

[@GoalCreaseGuardian]

I remember this coming up before with Gareth on the channel and I set it up before this past golf season started. I was an infinitely better wedge player for the first part of the year when I was practicing it and reminding myself of the yardages. I will 100% be working on this again this off season to try and have some top class wedges again!

[@algernonwolfwhistle6351]

I use this with my wedges. Great presentation.

[@roadtoscratchgolf3481]

Enjoyed the wedge matrix. Happy to see that one of Gareth’s training and practice sessions I’ve been doing for a while before I heard of him.

[@brandoncjgrimes]

Rick Shiels made a video like this yearssss ago. Literally helped be drop from a 20 to a 10 hcp in 1 season. Love this updated version because you guys provide the data behind it as well!

[@andrewseung2692]

So did Peter finch

[@diogeneslantern18]

When Peter and Rick were tadpoles, Dave Pelz was teaching tour professionals this system in the 80s.

[@rhize797]

I have 4 set yardages with each wedge but because wind, conditions and lie I think it is important to develop some kind of feel with your wedges. Goldie locks helps for those in between shots and having the same tempo for each shot.

[@marshallw4492]

Fantastic video boys. I have a couple of shots with my wedges, as in 2, but often ended up with some guesswork (understandably). This has inspired me to put in the work to get a little more precise and fully flesh out my matrix.

[@Crgx22r7]

Such a great video and easy way to set this up. I just ordered new wedges and this is the first thing I'm doing when I get them in. Thanks guys!

[@C0W0B0Y]

I will drill this the next time I go to the range. Just need a way to measure the distance, some kind of an approach tool. Very useful video!

[@drroger98]

I need to work the 3/4 swing consistently. My 1/2 is good and doing up to 9 iron is great for hitting specific yardage

[@bryanromey8168]

This was an awesome video! I need get this dialed in.

[@zazhou]

Hi, looking at the wedge matrix, it calculates to approximately eight or nine degrees less club loft to achieve the same distance when going from full to 3/4 swing or 3/4 to half swing. Obviously, the aim is to find a half or 3/4 swing that will give a different (in between club) distance to the full swing club.

[@shawnf4276]

I came up with this practice idea on my own, dialed in my distances with a personal launch monitor and wrote it down on an index card that I keep in my golf bag. I only thought to measure distances with waist high and full swings. Didn't think of 3/4 swings or marking distances on the shafts. Don't really want to deface my new clubs ;)

[@mtcollins64]

Great stuff! I'm waiting to receive my new iron set, which will include 4 wedges vs. the 2 wedges I have today. Figuring out my wedge yardage matrix will be important as I try to sort through my new choices for short approach shots.

[@Jordo21]

I've been waiting so long for this!

[@jimc6887]

Loved this clip! Great tip in a concise and clear format!! Well done boys!!

[@MarvinofMars]

Great video Just spent days doing this at my club range, with head winds and tail winds Note: Never let Gareth and Northern Ireland's PGA Graeme McDowell (GMAC) be on the same conference phone call, with you at the opposite end of the phone. : ) The exact same accents,

[@collierellis553]

Such a great practical idea! I can't wait to do this at my next range session.

[@joeboyle6728]

Many thanks - excellent content. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[@saufai74]

Amazing series. Thank you so much for putting this content together for us.

[@josephdowler9344]

I do this with my irons. Love it. Thanks guys!

[@zap0311]

Awesome advice! Going to try building out my matrix.

[@STUARTLEHRMAN1]

this is great , but more often I end up 3 -15ft off the green trying to get the in or very close to make the putt a tap in or some what easier. 17handicap

[@dukeesq]

Nice video, guys! Often overlooked and you certainly don't want to play guessing games on the course as you probably would have many other swing thoughts as well.

[@hollywood_golf]

Great video boys....very informative. I have always been told to get as close to the green as you can but it's tough to hit those shorter shots. Btw...Matt is ridiculously good!

[@darrenkeogh3321]

Another great informative video lads…I’m deffo gonna try this as I struggle on the yardages mentioned 😘👍🏼

[@georgelehman7047]

Excellent, thank you! Certainly will be working on this come early spring.

[@theroughlife873]

Can't wait for the rest of this series!

[@stevenrobertson1416]

🤯 This is SO simple and yet I haven't done it. Such an awesome way to nail down approach shots!

[@josephfrietze2762]

Love it! Now I have a plan for the range tomorrow!

[@NivekS-1224]

This is very helpful. Thanks so much.

[@dennismaginnis5755]

another great lesson. thanks for all the amazing info

[@tbeechie]

This might be recency bias, but this is my favorite video you guys have done thus far! A+++ 👍

[@stevenhocking7731]

Great video boys, very helpful. Have been practicing those shots for a while but keep forgetting to write the distances down. Definitely going to get myself some labels and get that written down. (Could be a great idea for some wedge stamping too. 😉😆)

[@clintsanderson6019]

I MUST do this! Just waiting for my PING wedge to come in that I ordered in March 🤣

[@davidlieux2558]

Game changer!!! I'm doing this ASAP

[@juliog6525]

This is so great!! Going to create my matrix next time I’m at the range

[@JMRea]

What a video, brilliant 👍🤯

[@The_sunday_lout]

Think this is absolutely brilliant, will be speaking to the club pro about a lesson practicing/adopting this. Great info guys 👍🏻

[@diogeneslantern18]

You don't need a lesson for THIS lol. Just go out and log your yardages.

[@The_sunday_lout]

@@diogeneslantern18 our pro has a quad which we can take to the grass range and get more accurate data. Yes I could walk it out, but when the tech is available why not use it!

[@keithfinley2939]

What sort of impact would real grass have on the carry distances? Greater variation? More/less spin?

[@christianhowtolife4961]

I have all these and more for literally all my clubs. It’s so useful for recovery shots with longer clubs that have to be low. I use the feeling of just the weight of the club with these shots. I’ll roll a 7 iron on green from 100 yards from behind a tree often (that’s a full swing with no power on it for me). I have these all the way down to 1/8th swing in the shorter clubs. It also allows me to hit the lowest lofted club needed and not risk blasting it past the green with a thin.

[@billglab9044]

Great stuff guys, I definitely forget my matrix numbers

[@robh316]

Loved this vid gonna practice this I lose most of my shot pitching to the green cheers guys

[@felipepacheco7655]

In the words of Brave Sir Robin ''That's easy!!!" And I really need new wedges.

[@jcstreck74]

Yup, this is awesome. Wish this had come to me years ago. Question - would you include your PW in this too? With my new set I’ll have PW (45*), 50, 54, 58. I assume yes, but thought I’d ask.

[@diogeneslantern18]

You can if you want to. The point is to get as many repeatable gapping as you can, without the system getting convoluted.

[@paulbatty007]

Any chance of a picture of the yardages on Gareth’s clubs ? Just want to see how it does it etc

[@johnnybravo9087]

Great vid! How does Matt keep the launch angle down below 30deg for the full swings? I can do it for the half swings but full swing it jumps to over 40!

[@andy66l97]

For your most lofted wedge would you recommend basing it on for example the lowest loft you can hit a decent flop shot with, or that you feel happy hitting higher chip shots with around the green, & then gapping back from there to your 9 iron / pitching wedge as appropriate? Great video👍. Would you have a separate matrix for hot v cold weather?

[@markkirk3049]

Yes, I redo the Matrix between winter and summit, I have changed my wedges, so I will redo the matrix

[@kevinyoder1004]

Great video guys! Thanks!

[@loondoo]

Is Matt choking down on the wedges at all or are the distances measured with a full length grip? Thought I’d seen in a previous video with Gareth where he’d suggested that we choke down on the wedges to get them more upright? Love the tips, I did this earlier this year and it helped my scores immeasurably! Always look forward to Gareth videos!

[@Darkskippy21]

I'm trying to figure out shafts for my gamer irons. What is comparable to the KBS-$ taper?

[@markfeldman6509]

Do you have any data demonstrating less shot dispersion and greater wedge accuracy using the jumbo oversize grips.? It seems to me that there would,be a lot less hand rotation hence much straighter shots. Any data out there?

[@iluvgol4]

How you suggest we accomplish this same familiarity with our matrix