Course Program

Thread the needle: precision wedges to the pin

Thread the needle, for a 26-handicap player, ~20 minutes at Challenge

Driving RangeAll teesProgram HCP 26.45 drills

Program Snapshot

Handicap range

25 to 45

Average HCP

26.4

Duration (single session)

2 hr 35 min

or

1 drill/day: 5 days · 31 min/day

Ideal tee

All

Skill Distribution

Precision31%
Mechanics18%
Scoring13%
Trajectory11%
Distance Control10%
Alignment7%
Aim6%
Dispersion4%

Overview

Program Structure

Thread the needle: precision wedges to the pin. Get close to pin and thread the needle. Focus on Precision, Mechanics, Scoring. For a 26-handicap player, in ~20 minutes.

Skill

Precision

Club

Wedges (LW,SW,GW,PW)

What you will improve

  • Precision
  • Mechanics
  • Scoring
  • Trajectory

Program details

Sessions
5 focused drills
Recommended
2–3 sessions / week
Total duration
2 hr 35 min
or
1 drill per day
5 days · 31 min/day

Drill Framework

Program breakdown

Each drill is designed to prepare you for the course. Follow the program or repeat the drills to improve key areas of your game.

Drill 1Drill 2Drill 3Drill 4Drill 5
01

Wedges (LW to PW) | Quadrants

Driving Range

Hit 12 balls to each quadrant using wedges only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls. Count total number of successful shots.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Wedges (LW to PW) | Quadrants
1

Set up four cones to make four equal areas around the target flag.

2

Place each cone so it marks about 5% of the way from your ball to the flag.

3

Use only wedges (LW, SW, GW, or PW) to hit 36 shots.

4

Hit 9 shots at each area (quadrant).

5

Use any wedge or area order, but finish 9 shots in each area.

6

Count every shot that stops in the correct area.

7

Add up successful shots and enter score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3230282520161285
02

Wedges (LW to PW) | Straight Shot

Driving Range

Produce straight shots using wedges only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Wedges (LW to PW) | Straight Shot
1

Pick a flag or target on the range suitable for wedge shots (LW, SW, GW, or PW). Use the same target for all 36 shots.

2

Use any wedge, switching clubs throughout the exercise.

3

Set up the ball the same way for every shot and focus on hitting a straight shot towards the target.

4

Hit 36 wedge shots, aiming all shots at the single chosen target.

5

Count a shot as successful if it lands and stops near the target.

6

After 36 shots, add your total successful shots out of 36 and enter your score in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3129262218141063
03

Wedges (LW to PW) | Takeaway

Driving Range

Work only on takeaway using wedges only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Wedges (LW to PW) | Takeaway
1

Pick a flag or marker suitable for wedge shots (use any wedge).

2

Hit 36 wedge shots, all aimed at the same target.

3

Focus on takeaway throughout all shots, using at most two takeaway thoughts or tasks.

4

Count each ball that lands close to the target as a success.

5

Enter your score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3028262218141074
04

Wedges (LW to PW) | Downswing

Driving Range

Work only on downswing using wedges only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Wedges (LW to PW) | Downswing
1

Pick a flag or target suitable for wedges (LW, SW, GW, or PW).

2

Hit 36 wedge shots aiming at the same single target.

3

Use any wedges; keep the ball setup the same, and focus on your downswing.

4

Count each shot that lands on or near the target as a success.

5

Record how many shots were successful out of 36 in the app.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3230282520161285
05

Wedges (LW to PW) | 9 Targets

Driving Range

Hit 5 balls to each target using wedges only. Hit one bucket of ~50 balls. Count total number of successful shots.

31 minFocus: Driving Range
Diagram for Wedges (LW to PW) | 9 Targets
1

Set up 9 targets around the flag on the green, spaced evenly.

2

Use two cones to mark each target. The ball must land between the cones to count.

3

Hit 36 wedge shots, 4 shots to each target.

4

Pick any wedge (LW, SW, GW, PW) for each shot. Try to land the ball between the cones.

5

Shoot to the targets in any order, but 4 shots to each.

6

Count each ball that lands between the cones as a success.

7

After all 36 shots, add up your total and enter your score in the app, out of 36 attempts.

Scoring benchmarks

Repetitions36
Handicap+9+5+151219273654
Score3028262218141074

Next Step

Ready to start this program?

Start the drills at your own pace or work with a coach to inside drills.golf.

View all programs for ChallengeTalk to a coach

Coaching here? Get featured.