Things You Need to Know: What’s a Texas Wedge in Golf?

Published 04/03/2022, 3:00 PM EDT

When watching golf live, one often comes across words and phrases that are unique to the game. Mainly related to a technique or shot, the language used by commentators can be difficult to understand in some cases. This might include the words ‘Texas wedge’, which simply means a shot off the green.

However, since it might be more of a slang term, the meaning might be lost for some fans.

"Most times, using the Texas Wedge is often the right choice."
When in Texas 🤠 pic.twitter.com/IZute5871o
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 2, 2022

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That being said, the PGA Tour is currently in Texas for the Valero Texas Open, an important stop for the tour before The Masters. As a result, they shared a small clip focusing on the Texas Wedge, which even features shots and quotes from countless PGA Tour icons.

What does the words ‘Texas wedge’ mean?

Now, anyone who knows the term, understands that it does not really have much to do with a wedge. In fact, a Texas Wedge is a shot off the green, where you try to close the distance between the ball and the hole while it remains mainly on the ground and rolls towards the hole. A golfer can choose to use the Texas wedge when there’s a flat path to the hole since there will be less chance of error that way.

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This shot also allows players to control the ball more, making it a preferred choice at times. Furthermore, a small landing area makes the use of a putter a valid choice.

In the video clip, players like Mark Brooks, Dustin Johnson, and Will Zalatories echo the same piece of advice. “You’re worst putt’s always better than your worst chip,” Johnson said. This is simply because when the ball spends more time in the air, there is more chance for error. They included small clips of legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods putting off the green, which only proves everyone’s point.

Justin Leonard speaks about the Texas Wedge specifically, mentioning that every player should have a mediocre putt. In the end, he simply repeats what Johnson and Brooks had to say.

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Why is it called the Texas Wedge?

The origin of the term is Ben Hogan, who was from Texas himself. While hybrid clubs end up reducing the usage of the Texas Wedge, it certainly does work for players even today. Additionally, Lee Trevino also helped finalize the name along with Hogan. Both greats add meaning to the word, making it an iconic shot.

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Have you ever tried the Texas Wedge yourself? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Devika Pawar is a Golf and NBA writer at Essentially Sports. A psychology graduate from KJ Somaiya, Devika has an experience with sportswriting at Republic World for around two years now. She loves NBA a little too much, and is a dedicated Golden State Warriors fan.

Edited by:

Deepika Bhaduri

Things You Need to Know: What’s a Texas Wedge in Golf?

What does the words ‘Texas wedge’ mean?

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Why is it called the Texas Wedge?