Mastering Your Wedges: Lessons from Nelly Korda’s Five Consecutive LPGA Tour Wins

Nelly Korda’s impressive game was on full display when she won her fifth consecutive LPGA Tour tournament at the 2024 Chevron Championship, joining the ranks of Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez. While all aspects of her game are worth studying, this article will focus specifically on her full-swing wedges.

Korda’s coach emphasizes that precise wedge play requires finesse and tempo rather than speed and power. Maintaining a consistent tempo throughout the swing is crucial for successful wedge shots and avoiding mishits. To emulate Korda’s wedge play, golfers should focus on swinging with a smooth tempo and using a lower lofted wedge to maintain rhythm and timing.

One common mistake made by amateurs is trying to hit wedges hard or far, resulting in shorter shots due to increased spin. To avoid this mistake, golfers should focus on using a mental metronome to establish and maintain tempo in their swings. By creating a rhythm in your head and swinging to it, you can improve the consistency of your wedge shots.

Another key to successful wedge play is reducing excessive lateral movement. Setting up with more weight on your lead leg can help control low point and improve stability in your swing. This can be especially helpful for golfers who tend to slice or hook their shots.

By following these three keys – swinging with smooth tempo, using a mental metronome, and reducing excessive lateral movement – golfers can work towards improving their wedge play and achieving results similar to Nelly Korda’s precision on the course.