The closer you are to the green, the better your chances of sticking it close. Yet for most amateur golfers, that’s usually where things start to unravel. 

Inside 100 yards, nerves creep in and these short wedge shots feel anything but simple. You second-guess your setup, forget fundamentals and lose confidence in yourself at the worst possible moment.

Instead of letting tension take over, causing you to blade it over the green — or worse, chunk it a few yards in front of you — David Armitage, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, offers a simple solution.

“It’s all about leaning left, and staying left,” Armitage says.

With this simple phrase and the three keys below, you’ll learn how to build a solid setup every time and turn these delicate wedge shots into scoring opportunities.

Load your lead side for better low-point control

In order to execute these shots successfully, Armitage says you need to have low-point control — and it starts before you even take the club back.

“For me, low-point control is all about the setup,” he says. “What I want you to do is I want you to get about 65% of your weight on that front, lead leg. Once you’ve got that there, I want it to also feel like it’s leaning there with your sternum.”

They key here is loading your lead side completely — not just your lower body. Armitage says amateurs often let their weight drift backwards during their backswing on these short wedge shots. When that happens, it becomes almost impossible to return to a forward position by the time your club passes through impact. As a result, players hang back or lean away from the target as they hit the ball, followed by a slew of contact issues. 

By remembering to pre-set your entire lead side, you set yourself up to make ball-first contact and stay forward through the shot, helping you improve the quality of your strike and avoid a common error that can quickly break down your contact and confidence.

Keep your nose over lead toes as you swing

After you’ve loaded your lead side and established a good setup, it’s time to practice your swing. Armitage says the key here is maintaining the foundation you’ve already built at address.

“As you make a backswing, I want you to feel like your nose and your weight stays there [just in front of the ball],” he says. 

To build this feel, take a few practice swings without a ball, keeping your sternum and nose positioned over your lead leg throughout the motion. You’ll know you’re doing it right if your divot is happening in front of your ball position. 

When you bring a ball back into the equation, you should notice that your shots have a lower trajectory and more spin — hallmarks of a great wedge player.

Develop stock swings for better distance control

There are several ways to dial in different yardages with your wedges. You can open the face or grip down, but Armitage says the most reliable method for controlling distance is to adjust the length of your swing.

To do that, you need a set of defined stock swings. You can build them by creating clear, repeatable boundaries — or “triggers,” as Armitage calls them. His checkpoints are:

Much like the clock system many players use, these checkpoints give you a clear, repeatable reference for how far the club travels back and through. That structure allows you to make a repeatable swing with the same tempo every time, which is ultimately what builds dependable distance control and feel.

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The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Michigan announced Friday that Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf will not be charged for an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan at Ford Field in December.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office also denied a request for a warrant.

“On December 21, 2025, during an NFL football game at Ford Field, located in the 2000 block of Brush Street in Detroit, a 45-year-old male Lions fan, was seated in the stands behind the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bench, allegedly heckling player DeKaylin Metcalf, 28,” the announcement said. 

“At approximately 5:30 p.m., it is alleged that the fan left his seat holding a Metcalf jersey to get an autograph.

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DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers before a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 16, 2025. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

“As he approached the front railing of the stands, he said something to Mr. Metcalf. As Mr. Metcalf approached the stands, there was a brief interaction where Mr. Metcalf grabbed his shirt and pushed him back. The fan did not appear to be injured, nor did he seek medical attention at the game.”

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said the fan, Ryan Kennedy, security staff and people in attendance were all interviewed, and video footage was reviewed from various angles. After an extensive review, it opted not to charge Metcalf.

Kennedy filed a $100 million lawsuit that names Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ford Field, the Lions’ stadium, Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe as defendants.

The filing outlines nine counts, including negligence against Ford Field and multiple defamation claims against Metcalf, Johnson and Sharpe’s Shay Shay Media.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy holds a news conference at the Head Murphy Law office in Farmington Hills, Mich., Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the fan-involved altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers player DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/USA Today Network)

Kennedy’s lawyer, Jon Marko, told Fox News Digital the lack of criminal charges for Metcalf is irrelevant for their civil case. He cited the prosecutor’s lack of resources for not charging Metcalf.

“The prosecutor’s decision is completely irrelevant to our case, our civil case,” Marko told Fox News Digital. “You know, prosecutors’ offices, especially busy prosecutors’ offices and major metropolitan areas like Detroit, have priorities when making charging decisions. And they have a very limited amount of resources that they can use, and they use those resources to go after the most egregious crimes, such as homicides and things of that nature. 

“I mean, in this case, clearly, the video shows what I believe to be an assault and battery. Any reasonable person looking at it, I think, would see the same thing.

“This was out in public. There was numerous witnesses, and it was on a video, but I think that just the expense and resources necessary to prosecute this misdemeanor assault and battery … was most likely what led the prosecutor’s office to decide not to charge, not the idea that the crime did not commit, was not committed. So, it’s irrelevant for us whether the prosecutor charged or not. We’re gonna still be seeking full justice for the assault and battery through our civil case.”

Mitch Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster, the attorney for Metcalf, applauded the decision to drop the criminal charges.

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DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs during a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Dec. 21, 2025. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

“The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to bring charges against DeKaylin Metcalf related to the incident involving Ryan Kennedy on December 21, 2025. We applaud the decision and are thankful for the hard work and thorough investigation that led to this just result.

 “We are confident that justice will also prevail in the civil claim involving Mr. Kennedy. As Mr. Metcalf’s counterclaim in the civil case makes clear, Mr. Kennedy’s hate-fueled conduct has no place anywhere and especially not in professional sports.”

Metcalf was suspended two games by the NFL for the incident.

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Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy sits with attorneys Sean Murphy and Shawn Head at the Head Murphy Law office in Farmington Hills, Mich., Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the fan-involved altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers player DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/USA Today Network)

Metcalf was shown by a CBS broadcast grabbing a fan by the shirt and taking a swing at him. The NFL Network reported that the fan made derogatory comments toward the 28-year-old. Kennedy later denied the allegation.

Kennedy told The Detroit Free Press he was heckling Metcalf by calling him by his full name.

Fox News Digital reached out to Metcalf’s agent for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Top-ranked Jack Della Maddalena will battle fifth-ranked Carlos Prates in a welterweight bout in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates on Saturday at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The five-bout main card is scheduled to start at approximately 7 a.m. ET on Paramount+. Della Maddalena is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 this past November. Prates, meanwhile, won by knockout over Leon Edwards in his last match at UFC 322.

Both Della Maddalena and Prates are -110 on the money line (risk $110 to win $100) in the UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Before locking in any UFC Fight Night picks, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Kyle Marley.

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Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks are up nearly $10,000, and since May 2018, he has returned well over $21,000. The accomplished MMA analyst has provided consistent winners for SportsLine members for the past five years. His accomplishments include hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC’s brief pause in action because of the pandemic. Anyone who has followed Marley’s UFC betting picks could have seen huge returns. 

Now, Marley has studied Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates from every angle and revealed his top betting picks and best bets. Head to SportsLine to see them.

Della Maddalena vs. Prates preview 

Della Maddalena, 29, had his 18-bout winning streak stopped last November. He returns home and looks to start a new streak against Prates. Since turning pro in 2016, he has compiled an 18-3 record with 12 wins by knockout, two by submission and four by decision. The former UFC welterweight champion will be making his second fight in his home country and first since February 2023.

Della Maddalena has also earned a number of honors. Among them, he is a four-time Performance of the Night honoree and two-time Fight of the Night winner. He was named the 2024 Fan’s Choice Comeback of the Year nominee and was the 2022 Newcomer of the Year by UFC.com. He was also named 2022 Newcomer of the Year, along with Jailton Almeida. Check out SportsLine to see Marley’s picks and analysis.

Prates, 32, has won two bouts in a row and has won 13 of his last 14 matches. Prates has earned Performance of the Night honors in each of his last six fights he has won. He has the third-highest knockdown average per 15 minutes in UFC welterweight division history, and the seventh-highest knockdown average per 15 minutes in UFC history. He was the 2024 MMA Fighting Rookie of the Year.

In 30 professional matches, he has compiled a 23-7 record. He has 18 wins by knockout, three by submission and two by decision. Prates turned pro in 2012 and made his UFC debut in 2024. He was a 2024 first-team MMA all-star and 2025 second-team MMA all-star. You can only see Marley’s picks and analysis at SportsLine. 

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UFC Fight Night predictions

One of of Marley’s UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates picks: He is backing Jonathan Micallef (-218) to win via unanimous decision against Themba Gorimbo (+180) in a welterweight bout.

“Gorimbo is going to need to wrestle heavily in this matchup and win at least two rounds of top control time,” Marley told SportsLine. “Micallef is going to be the better striker, and he is also the more dangerous submission grappler. I’ll take Micallef to avoid getting laid on, and he can get his hand raised by any method.” See who else to back here.

How to make UFC Fight Night picks 

Marley also has strong picks for Della Maddalena vs. Prates and other bouts on the UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates card. He’s also backing a fighter who is “the more technical fighter,” to emerge with a big victory. He’s sharing who it is only at SportsLine.

Who wins Burns vs. Malott, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 19, 2018, and find out.

UFC Fight Night main fight card, odds 

See picks at SportsLine.
(Odds from DraftKings and subject to change)

Jack Della Maddalena (-110) vs. Carlos Prates (-110)
Beneil Dariush (+295) vs. Quillan Salkillo (-375)
Tim Elliott (+150) vs. Steve Erceg (-180)
Shamil Gaziev (-120) vs. Brando Pericic (+100)
Marwan Rahiki (-700) vs. Ollie Schmid (+500)
Tai Tuivasa (-218) vs. Louie Sutherland (+180)