How to Hit a 50 Yard Wedge Shot: The Setup Mistake Most Golfers Make
Updated: Sep 4
How to Hit a 50 Yard Wedge Shot: The Setup Mistake Most Golfers Make
If you struggle with how to hit a 50 yard wedge shot, you're definitely not alone.
These awkward half-wedge distances are some of the most frustrating shots in golf. You're too close to make a full swing, but far enough away that simply chipping the ball isn't an option.
The result?
Fat shots. Thin shots. Wedges that dig into the ground. Shots that fly over the green. And those frustrating wedges that come up 15 yards short.
I see this constantly when coaching golfers.
In fact, one of the most common problems I see isn't actually the swing itself.
It's the relationship between the clubface and the body at setup.
Get those two things working together and hitting a crisp, controlled 50-yard wedge shot can become much easier.
Here's exactly how I want you to do it.
Why 50 Yard Wedge Shots Are So Difficult
A 50-yard wedge shot creates an interesting problem.
With a full swing, you can generally make your normal motion and allow the loft and length of the club to produce the distance.
From 50 yards, you have to take speed out of the shot.
That's where many amateur golfers get into trouble.
They start manipulating the golf club.
They slow down through impact, become tense, lean the handle excessively forward or try to scoop the ball into the air.
Instead, I want to make this shot as simple and repeatable as possible.
And we're going to start with the clubface.
Step 1: Slightly Open the Clubface
The first thing I want you to look at is your wedge face.
Rather than having the clubface completely square, experiment with having it slightly open.
Imagine the clubface is pointing at a clock.
12 o'clock = square.
I want you to rotate the face slightly towards approximately 1 o'clock before taking your grip.
The order is important:
Open the clubface first. Then take your grip.
Don't take your normal grip and then simply twist your hands to open the clubface.
We're changing the orientation of the club and then placing our hands onto it.
Why Open the Clubface on a 50 Yard Wedge Shot?
Opening the face slightly exposes more of the bounce of the wedge.
The bounce is the angle between the leading edge of your wedge and the lowest point of the sole.
You can think of it as something that helps the club interact with the turf without the leading edge simply digging straight into the ground.
This can be particularly useful on these shorter wedge shots.
Think:
Square/leading edge digging → more chance of the club sticking in the turf
versus
Using the bounce → club has more opportunity to glide through the turf
We're not trying to lay the clubface dramatically open as though we're hitting a huge flop shot.
It's a subtle adjustment.
Step 2: Match Your Body Alignment to the Open Clubface
This is where many golfers make the next mistake.
They open the clubface but leave their entire body pointing directly at the target.
Now the face and body don't work particularly well together.
Instead, when I slightly open the clubface, I want to make a corresponding adjustment with the body.
Aim your body slightly left of the target for a right-handed golfer.
Reverse this for a left-handed golfer.
You can practise this with two alignment sticks.
Place one along your intended target line.
Place the second slightly left of that line to represent your body alignment.
Now build your setup around those references.
Your clubface can remain relatively close to your intended target while your:
Shoulders aim slightly left.
And your:
Feet can sit slightly further left again.
This gives us a much better relationship between the open face and the body.
Don't Make the Mistake of Swinging Massively Left
There's an important distinction here.
Setting your body slightly open doesn't mean you need to drag the golf club dramatically across the golf ball.
We're making relatively small adjustments.
Think of it as creating enough space for the club to move through the shot naturally while allowing the bounce of the wedge to interact with the ground.
If you exaggerate everything, you'll simply create another problem.
Small adjustments are enough.
How to Set Up for a 50 Yard Wedge Shot
Here's the routine I want you to practise.
1. Hold the wedge in front of you
Don't immediately put the club behind the golf ball and build your grip.
Start by holding it in front of you where you can clearly see the clubface.
2. Slightly open the face
Imagine 12 o'clock represents square.
Move the face slightly towards approximately 1 o'clock.
Again, we're talking about a small adjustment rather than dramatically opening the wedge.
3. Take your grip
Once the clubface is in the position you want, place both hands onto the golf club.
Face first. Grip second.
That's an important sequence to remember.
4. Aim the clubface
Now place the club behind the golf ball and establish where you want the ball to start.
5. Build your stance around the clubface
Allow your shoulders to sit slightly left of your target and your feet slightly further open.
Now you're ready to hit the shot.
This gives you a simple, repeatable process rather than guessing every time you're faced with a 50-yard wedge.
The Simple 50 Yard Wedge Drill
Once your setup is correct, we need a simple swing thought.
I like:
Thumbs up → thumbs up
Take a 54° or 56° wedge and make a controlled swing.
As the club travels back, feel your thumbs working towards an upward position.
Then swing through until your thumbs work upwards again on the other side.
We're looking for a compact, balanced motion.
You don't need maximum speed.
You don't need to hit the golf ball aggressively.
And you definitely don't need to help the ball into the air.
The loft of the wedge will do that for you.
Your job is to make a smooth motion and allow the club to interact with the turf.
How Hard Should You Swing From 50 Yards?
This is another area where golfers make these shots unnecessarily difficult.
Don't think:
“How hard do I need to hit this?”
Instead, start developing a repeatable combination of:
Club + swing length + tempo
For example, your 50-yard shot might eventually become:
54° wedge + thumbs-up-to-thumbs-up swing + smooth tempo = approximately 50 yards.
That's far easier to reproduce than changing your effort level every time.
This is how you begin developing a proper wedge distance system.
Once you've established your 50-yard shot, you can use different clubs and swing lengths to start filling the other gaps in your wedge game.
Why You Keep Hitting Your Wedges Fat
If you're hitting your short wedge shots fat, don't immediately assume there's a major problem with your golf swing.
Check your setup first.
A clubface that's too square combined with poor body alignment can make it easier for the leading edge to dig.
You may then react by trying to lift the golf ball into the air.
That's when things can get even worse.
Instead:
Use the loft.
Use the bounce.
Keep the motion moving through the golf ball.
You shouldn't need to scoop the ball into the air.
How to Hit Crisp Wedge Shots Consistently
If you want more consistent contact from 50 yards, your goal isn't to create a perfect-looking golf swing.
Your goal is to make the shot predictable.
Before every wedge shot, check three things:
Clubface → Body alignment → Swing length
Start with the clubface.
Build your body around it.
Then make your controlled thumbs-up-to-thumbs-up motion.
The more consistent those variables become, the easier it becomes to control both strike and distance.
What Wedge Should You Use From 50 Yards?
There's no single wedge every golfer must use from 50 yards.
For this particular technique, I'd start by experimenting with a 54° or 56° wedge.
But your ideal club will depend on factors including your swing speed, wedge lofts, technique, trajectory and the shot you're trying to play.
That's why it's worth practising these distances rather than simply assuming one club equals one yardage.
Find a combination you can reproduce.
For example:
50 yards → 54° wedge → controlled swing
Once you've got that number, write it down.
Now you're building a wedge system you can actually take onto the golf course.
How to Hit a 50 Yard Wedge Shot Under Pressure
The final piece is having a routine you trust.
When you're standing over a 50-yard shot on the course, you don't want five different swing thoughts running through your head.
Keep it simple:
Face first.
Grip second.
Build your stance.
Smooth swing.
That's it.
The more you practise the same routine, the less you're relying on timing and guesswork when you're actually playing.
The Key to Better 50 Yard Wedge Shots
If you've been struggling with how to hit a 50 yard wedge shot, don't immediately start rebuilding your technique.
Start with your setup.
Slightly open the clubface.
Take your grip after you've established the face position.
Allow your body to aim slightly left for a right-handed golfer.
Then make a controlled, smooth thumbs-up-to-thumbs-up swing.
You're trying to let the wedge glide rather than dig.
Get that relationship right and those awkward 50-yard shots can start feeling considerably simpler.
Better wedge play doesn't have to come from a more complicated swing. Sometimes it starts with a better setup.
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