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Pitching WedgesCourse ManagementWedge play = Pitching and Chipping Wedges Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 16 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Scoring from Inside 100 Yards with Tiger and Nelly Korda

From 89 to 113 yards, and then around the green, Tiger Woods and Nelly Korda explain aloud how they choose their clubs and shot paths based on the lie, the wind, and the flag position. It’s a lesson in reasoning more than in technique.

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Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

5 minSame problemJustin Rose's Tips for Making More BirdiesJustin Rose · Intermediate4 minSame problemJordan Spieth's wedges near the flagJordan Spieth · Intermediate / Expert19 minFrom the same proTips from Nelly Korda: Small Targets, Lies, and WedgesNelly Korda · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Both players start with the same idea: within 100 yards (about 90 m), these are your scoring clubs, and that's where you need to spend the most time. Nelly Korda plays with a 58°, a 54°, a 50°, and a pitching wedge. At 89 yards, with the ball at her feet and a slight headwind, she takes the 54° knockdown to reduce spin, whereas she would normally use a 58° in calm conditions. At 113 yards, she never swings her pitching wedge at 100 percent—rather, at 90 percent. Tiger, on the other hand, plays it low: he holds back on the shaft, “plants” the club in the ground, and lets the slope and the wind stop the ball.

When facing the wind, Nelly prefers a low, straight ball, because hitting a more open wedge harder adds spin and causes the ball to fall short. She comes down harder on the ball, takes a bigger divot, positions the ball a little further back, and, on a gust of wind, uses a longer club with a narrower stance to avoid wobbling. Around the green, both players see two different shots (a high chip that stops short, and a lower chip that curves into a draw), and both work. The key points: hit the center of the face, do not stand up, and slow down the movement of your arms.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Assess the lie (ball underfoot, flat, on a slope) and the wind before choosing a club.
  2. Estimate the “effective” distance—not just the actual distance—taking the wind into account.
  3. When facing the wind or on a tricky lie, use a longer club and aim for a lower trajectory with less spin.
  4. To keep the ball low, lower your body further over the ball and move it back a little in your stance.
  5. On a fastball, narrow your stance and make a pitch motion that cuts across the ball.
  6. Around the green, choose a trajectory (high, which slows the ball down, or low, which makes it roll) and go for it.
  7. On a chip shot, strike the ball in the center of the clubface, maintain your stance, and slow down your arms.

Key Takeaways

Plays within 100 yards are where practice pays off the most.
Ball underfoot and wind: less loft, lower trajectory, less spin.
Never swing your wedge at 100 percent: Nelly Korda aims for 90 percent instead.
Hitting a wedge harder into the wind causes the ball to rise and makes the shot shorter.
Practice playing three different shots toward the same flag.
On the chip, center of the clubface, no lift, slower arms.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Choose the wedge with the widest loft facing the wind and hit it harder.
  • Swing each wedge with full power.
  • Forgetting that the ball at your feet tends to veer to the right.
  • Swinging with a stance that's too wide when it's windy.
  • Chip shot: The ball comes off the tip and bounces.
  • Always practice the same flat shot.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Three Different Paths to the Same Flag
  2. The same shot played with two or three different clubs
  3. Wedges at 90% power—no more
  4. Chips in the center of the face, slowed-down arms

Your Questions

Which club does Nelly Korda choose for an 89-yard shot, with the ball at her feet and a headwind?

Her 54° knockdown wedge, to reduce spin and keep the ball flying straighter. With no wind and a normal lie, she'd likely go with the 58° for a high, soft shot.

Why not hit a wedge with a more open face a little harder when playing into the wind?

Because when you hit the ball harder, it spins more, and the wind amplifies that spin: it rises and falls short. Nelly prefers to swing down more on the ball and make it fly lower.

How does Tiger Woods hit a low, controlled wedge shot?

He grips the handle (“hold handle”), drives the club into the ground without worrying about the size of the divot, and lets the slope and the wind act as a wall to stop the ball.

Why does my chip sometimes come out too fast or too high?

Tiger shows that contact on the toe often results from lifting the club. Stay in your stance, aim for the center of the clubface or the heel side, and slow down your swing speed.

Learn More

All “Pitching and Wedges” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Course Management” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Wedge Play = Pitching and Chipping” →Find the lesson that's right for you Wedge Pyramid: Raphaël Jacquelin's Pre-Shot RoutineRaphaël Jacquelin's pre-shot routine: a pyramid of wedges ranging from 30 to 100 m, verified by radar, with fixed distances based on the wedge, grip length, and swing amplitude. Where the Chip Lands: A Lesson from the FFGolfBasic chip shot based on the landing spot, 1 to 1.50 m from the green: a slightly downward strike controlled by a club on the ground, followed by a flight/roll calibration. Using the Bounce Shot in Chipping: The 3-Step MethodA chip in three steps: lift the club to play the bounce, let your arms hang loosely with your torso providing the power, then swing through the ball. Nelly KordaAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Nelly Korda). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros