I tried Dustin Johnson’s wedge combination drill – here’s what I learned

Every golfer knows that a sharp wedge game is a real difference maker. It can elevate your lap from good to great – or send it the other way if your distances aren’t entered. As someone who used to struggle with his wedges, I was intrigued when I saw Dustin Johnson break down his wedge combination exercise on an episode of our episode. Warming up with Dylan Dethier. It’s the same routine that helped him become a great champion and world number 1.

So if it was good enough to turn him into a clutch wedge player, I thought it could help me take my wedge game to the next level.

DJ’s wedge drill

Johnson’s wedge routine is simple and straightforward. He makes half, three-quarter and full swings with each wedge – five to 10 shots per swing length – keeping track of how far each wedge travels. The goal is to land every ball within a tight distance.

It’s a repeatable system that Johnson completes before each round of competition, and the precision is what makes this combine-style drill so effective.

How I tried

Armed with my wedges (gap, 56 and 60) and my Full Swing KIT launch monitor – the same one Johnson uses – I hit the range. I started with my lob wedge and set a goal of hitting five shots on each swing length that were all within five yards of each other. However, that doesn’t mean it only took five swings. With my first club, it actually took almost ten tries before I could land my half swings in a consistent distance window.

Eventually, however, I got into a groove and was able to close my lob wedge. To give you an idea of ​​my distances, my half swings averaged about 55 yards, three-quarter swings around 60, and full swings were almost 70 yards.

I then repeated the process with my 56 degree and gap wedge, recording my distances along the way.

What I thought

This exercise was humiliating. My early sets were pretty spread out, especially the half swings with my lob wedge. But as I settled in and found a smoother rhythm, things started to click. As I got to 56 (my go-to wedge), my spread narrowed and my confidence grew. By the time I got to my gap wedge, my pace felt dialed in and my distances were no longer a guess. After about 45 minutes, I walked off the course feeling like I had more control over my wedges and was ready to tackle any shot the course might throw my way.

I’m sure this exercise takes DJ much less time, but that’s what makes this exercise so valuable: your time and consistency become a barometer of your progress. For example, the next time I go through it, I might challenge myself to complete this combination exercise in 30 minutes or less.

Although simple, this exercise is brutally honest and doesn’t let you hide your weaknesses. I love that it forces you to be aware of your numbers and trust your swing. After one session I completely understand why DJ swears by it. After all, mastering your wedges is one of the best ways to lower your scores.