Justin Thomas's Wedge Spin: Read the Lie and Aim Low
In this Titleist session, Justin Thomas hits four wedge shots ranging from 138 to 35 yards. He explains how he aims, why he makes his wedges fly lower, how he reads the lie in the rough, and why you should never try to scoop the ball.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
From 138 yards out, with a pitching wedge and a light tailwind, Justin Thomas is already thinking about sinking the putt: “Aim small, miss small”. As soon as he has a wedge in his hand, he looks for the best way to play the shot. From 85 yards out with his 60-degree wedge, he sees a slope behind the hole and decides to hit the ball a little farther so it rolls back toward the hole. He likes hit your wedges lower to control the spin and points out that pros more often try to reduce spin than to add it.
In the rough, It all depends on reading the lie. A high-trajectory shot will produce little spin; hit it even higher, and you’ll get a “knuckle” shot that barely moves upon landing. A good lie with the grain allows you to make solid contact with the ball first and generate spin. From 35 yards above a bunker, he explains that amateurs instinctively try to scoop the ball: You create backspin by hitting the ball downward. A slight uphill slope makes the shot easy, but a downhill slope with a buried ball changes the entire strategy.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Estimate the actual distance, taking into account the wind and the slope of the green.
- Choose a very specific point: aim small.
- Decide whether the ball should fly past the hole so it rolls back down the slope.
- Aim for a lower trajectory to control the spin.
- In the rough, read the lie: if the ball is sitting high, there will be less spin; if the lie is good with the grain, the ball will come out first and spin is possible.
- When hitting over a bunker, strike the ball downward instead of trying to lift it.
- Adjust your strategy if the ball is on a downhill slope or buried in the sand.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Scoop the ball to get it over a bunker.
- Play a shot from the rough as if it were a shot from the fairway.
- Always strive for more spin.
- Ignore the lie and the slope before choosing your shot.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Wedges at 138, 85, and 35 yards with a very precise target
- Comparison of a normal trajectory and a lower trajectory
- Shots from the rough with the ball placed high and then sunk
- Short shots over a bunker using a downward swing
Your Questions
Why does Justin Thomas hit his wedges lower?
To control spin. He points out that pros more often try to reduce spin than to add it, and a lower trajectory helps them control it.
How do you read the lie in the rough?
According to Justin Thomas, a ball placed high will come off the ground with little spin and fly higher, like a knuckle ball that barely drops at all. A good lie in the direction of the grain allows for spin.
How do you hit the ball over a bunker?
Not by scooping it up, as amateurs instinctively do. Justin Thomas explains that you create backspin by striking the ball downward.
What is the most important factor when hitting a wedge shot?
The lie. For Justin Thomas, it can make a shot easy or difficult: a slight uphill lie on a good fairway makes everything easier, while a ball buried in a downhill lie changes the strategy.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Justin Thomas). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.