A Partial Wedge Shot That Bites: The Morikawa Method
From 50 yards out, most amateurs take a swing that’s much too big and then slow down. Collin Morikawa demonstrates two shots—at 50 and 70 yards—and the principle that connects them: a short swing, consistent speed, and a club that comes down on the ball.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Before deciding on his shot, Collin Morikawa looks the lie: ball well placed, slight uphill slope, headwind, flag in the front. At 50 yards, he maintains his 60° angle and relies on a sensory system: He feels his hands at a certain height as he takes the swing, even though they actually go a little further. With the ball roughly in the middle of his stance, he sees this shot as a long pitch with a bit more cross-body motion, up to about shoulder height. He doesn’t try to lift the ball—the backswing already does that. He swings down, because Spin comes from speed, which must remain constant and never slow down.
At 70 yards, with a headwind, he doesn't force the 60°: if he swings too hard, the ball stays on the clubface for less time and comes off without the desired spin. He takes a 56° with a slightly shorter swing to keep the ball low, out of the wind. Raise your arms to about chest height, using the same crossing motion. His advice to amateurs who position the ball too far forward or too far back when “scooping” it: trust the loft and stay on the ball.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Watch the play: whether the ball is on the ground or not, whether it's going up or down.
- From 50 yards out toward a front flag, take your most open wedge and position the ball roughly in the middle of your stance.
- Raise your hands to the height that corresponds to that distance for you.
- Walk through the water until it reaches about shoulder height, maintaining a steady pace.
- With a headwind of 70 yards, use a club with less loft and raise your arms to chest height.
- In both cases, stay on the ball and swing down, even on the upswing.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Take a full practice swing for a shot this short.
- Go too high and then slow down upon impact.
- Try to lift the ball, especially when moving uphill.
- Hitting a 60° shot into the wind: the ball comes out without the desired spin.
- Place the ball very far forward or very far back to scoop it.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Two targets, at 50 and 70 yards, alternating between them
- Note the perceived hand height for each distance
- Crossed over to the shoulder, without slowing down
- Same distance using two wedges to compare ball height and stop
Your Questions
Why doesn't Morikawa use the clock system?
He's talking about a system of sensations: he feels his hands at a certain height for each distance, even if the actual position is slightly different. It's this sensation that he repeats.
Do you need to slow down to make a half-approach?
No. It shortens the backswing but maintains a constant speed—actually, a slightly more aggressive one. A backswing that’s too long forces you to slow down, and it’s speed that creates the spin.
Why 56° instead of 60° at 70 yards?
With a headwind, a 60° club swung too hard stays on the face for less time and comes off without the desired spin. The 56° club, with a slightly shorter swing, keeps the ball low and less exposed to the wind.
The ball is rising: Should we help it go higher?
No. The slope is already causing it to rise. Morikawa continues to swing down and stay on the ball.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Collin Morikawa). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.