Mastering the Scoring Zone: A 100-Yard Short Game Masterclass with Nelly Korda

In one of the most insightful and practical sessions on the golf course, fans were treated to a true masterclass in short game control—led by none other than LPGA superstar Nelly Korda. Joined by a fellow golf expert, the two tackled approach shots from 89 to 113 yards, navigated wind, slopes, and strategy, and shared secrets behind elite-level scoring. If you want to lower your handicap, this is the zone where you should live—100 yards and in.

They kicked off from 89 yards with the red flag tucked into a tricky position. With the ball below her feet and a slight wind from the right, Nelly opted for a knockdown 54-degree wedge. She explained that under normal conditions, she might squeeze a 58 to land soft and high, but given the stance and wind, she wanted a lower, controlled shot with less spin. “With the wind and ball below your feet,” she said, “you don’t want the ball kicking up. You want to keep it flighted.”

She aimed directly at the pin and let the wind help her straighten the shot—a simple yet effective approach. Her swing was fluid, and the result? Just about perfect, despite a little extra spin caused by firm greens.

Next, they moved to 113 yards, a back pin placement over a slight ledge. Again, the ball was below her feet. Nelly chose a pitching wedge—her 50-degree would normally be the club of choice, but in this wind, the pitching wedge offered a better option. She revealed that under pressure, she hits a pitching wedge around 125 yards, 130 if adrenaline kicks in, but she rarely hits anything at 100%. “I’m more of a 90% swinger,” she noted. That swing control translated into a smartly flighted shot that avoided excessive spin and found the right tier.

Then came the creative discussion. Nelly preferred a higher flighted shot over the ledge, while her partner envisioned a lower draw—one driven into the slope to stop quickly without ripping back. Both demonstrated their approaches. Nelly’s floated beautifully. Her partner’s low drive into the hill checked up near-perfectly. The takeaway? There’s always more than one way to score.

Moving to a new plateau with a back-right pin and 97 yards into the wind, the challenge elevated. Nelly calculated it played closer to 110 yards. She again chose to flight a lower shot, using the wind less and focusing on making clean, aggressive contact with a 54-degree wedge. “You want to get it as close as possible without the wind affecting it,” she said. “So I’ll hit a straight ball and let the wind do its thing.”

Her partner chimed in with his approach: a controlled pitching wedge with a narrow stance to reduce sway—especially important for players with longer levers. The objective was to keep the ball lower, limit spin, and neutralize the wind’s impact. Nelly agreed. “The harder you hit, the more it spins,” she said. “You want a low, controlled flight that holds the green.”

Then came short game creativity around the green—an uphill shot with a left-to-right slope. Nelly visualized a 58-degree wedge, played high with a “check, check, release” spin. Her partner saw it differently: a low draw skipping into the hill and releasing toward the flag. Both played their shots, and both were brilliant—proving that variety is essential in scoring.

“You always have to adapt,” Nelly said. “Knowing you can hit three different shots with three different clubs from the same distance? That’s the key.”

They wrapped up the session with rapid-fire tips: ball position adjustments, face contact for spin control, and slowing down for soft draw shots. Whether you’re playing a two-hop spinner or a flighted knockdown, the same principles apply—find your window, commit to your shape, and practice with purpose.

This wasn’t just a lesson. It was a reminder that scoring isn’t about power—it’s about precision, adaptability, and knowing your tools. From 100 yards and in, the best players separate themselves with shot variety, creativity, and the confidence to adjust in real-time.

If you’re serious about scoring, follow Nelly’s advice: “Spend your time here. Do the homework. This is how you get better.”