[Kim Maengnyoung's Golf English Conversation] "How to Use the Texas Wedge"

Around the green, a Texas wedge played with a putter is safe.

Amateur golfers often attempt approach shots from off the green exclusively with a sand wedge or pitching wedge.

In contrast, professional golfers and low single-handicappers frequently opt to use a putter instead of a wedge. The safest and wisest method from the green edge is to roll the ball toward the hole as if putting. This is because trying to loft the ball impressively often results in hitting behind the ball or topping it. Using a putter from off the green is called a Texas Wedge (A putter is called a Texas Wedge when used from an unusually long distance off the green).

The golfer who first popularized this term was Ben Hogan from Texas (Ben Hogan popularized the term ‘Texas wedge’). During his playing days, he once told his caddie, "Since the lie is bad, I’ll use a Texas Wedge for my approach." Lee Trevino, who was also born in Texas, and the "Emperor of Golf" Tiger Woods (both from the United States), also frequently used the Texas Wedge from off the green.

The Texas region receives little rainfall and is dry due to high summer temperatures. The ground around the green is often flat, bare ground with more sand than grass. For this reason, golfers used a safe putter instead of a wedge. The term Texas Wedge originated from these environmental conditions. To get the ball close to the pin with a Texas Wedge, you need to calculate two separate zones: the distance and resistance from the edge to the green, and the distance and roll from the green to the hole.

The Texas Wedge is used when the ball lies in poor conditions or when the player lacks chipping skills. At address, use the same putting grip and stance, applying about 10% more force than you would on the green. However, you must keep your wrists firm, take your arms back, and strike the sweet spot accurately to achieve perfect distance and direction (Using a firm-wrist stroke, take my arms back and through the ball).

A: What is a Texas Wedge in golf?

B: It means using the putter from off the green to try to get the golf ball close to the hole.

A: Who was the first-ever golfer to use this term?

B: Ben Hogan belonged to Texas and was the first-ever golfer to use the Texas Wedge.

Written and photographed by Kim Maengnyoung, golf columnist