Wedges, Putting, and Where Scores Are Really Made

If you ask most golfers what they’re working on, you’ll usually hear the same things—driving distance, swing changes, hitting it straighter.

But if the goal is to lower your score, the answer hasn’t changed:

It happens inside 120 yards—and on the green.

To explore that part of the game more deeply, we spoke with Bill Totten, WedgeFit Specialist at Edison Golf, whose experience spans over four decades—from club professional to working alongside some of the most respected names in golf.

After thousands of hours working with golfers, his perspective is simple: scoring hasn’t changed—only how golfers approach it.

What follows isn’t theory.
It’s what helps golfers score.

Where Most Golfers Lose Strokes

Over time, the pattern becomes pretty clear.

Most golfers don’t spend enough time on the short game.

That includes:

• Wedge play

• Putting

• Distance control

This is where scoring happens.

But it’s also the most overlooked part of the game.

What Golfers Misunderstand About Wedges

One of the most common areas of confusion is bounce and sole design.

Most golfers are told they need:

• A specific bounce

• For a specific condition

• With a specific swing

That creates unnecessary complexity—and often leads to inconsistency.

A better approach simplifies the decision.

Instead of forcing golfers to match their wedge to conditions, Edison’s dual-bounce sole is designed to adapt to different turf and sand conditions without forcing that choice.

• Tight lies

• Soft sand

• Firm turf

No adjustments. No second-guessing.

Just a more consistent strike.

Why Distance Control Is Everything

With wedges, it’s not about how far you can hit the ball.

It’s about how far it goes—every time.

Most mishits happen slightly high on the face.
In traditional wedges, that often leads to:

• Higher launch

• Less control

• Inconsistent distance

Reduce that variability, and distance becomes more predictable.

The result is tighter distance control—and more predictable scoring opportunities.

The Short Game Connection Most Golfers Miss

Wedges and putting aren’t separate skills.

They’re directly connected.

The closer your wedge shots finish to the hole, the easier putting becomes.

It’s that simple.

Better proximity leads to:

• More birdie opportunities

• Easier pars

• Less pressure on the green

At Bell Putters, we see the same pattern over and over:

Golfers often focus on putting first…
when a lot of the outcome is shaped before the ball reaches the green.

A Different Perspective on Putting

Bill’s experience with side-saddle putting offers a perspective many golfers haven’t considered.

After years of searching for consistency—and working through the same frustrations most golfers face—he found that a simpler, more target-focused approach changed everything.

With side-saddle:

• You use both eyes to line up (binocular vision)

• There are fewer moving parts

• The stroke becomes more target-oriented

Instead of focusing on mechanics, the focus shifts to the target—similar to throwing a ball or shooting a basket.

It becomes more natural.
More athletic.
And for many golfers, far less stressful—especially on short putts.

Why Simplicity Wins

Across both wedges and putting, the pattern is the same.

The best setups are usually the simplest ones—and the easiest to repeat.

That’s something we’ve always believed at Bell Putters.

Whether it’s:

• Proper lie angle

• Head design

• Balance and weighting

The goal is to help the golfer set up naturally and make a repeatable stroke.

Not force anything.
Not follow trends.

Just build something that works.

The Bigger Picture: One System, Not Separate Parts

Golfers often treat:

• Wedges

• Putting

• Short game

As separate parts of their game.

They’re not.

They’re one system.

When you improve one, you impact the others.

Better wedge play → easier putts
Better putting → more confidence

That’s where real scoring improvement happens.

A Simple Way to Lower Your Scores

If there’s one takeaway from all of this, it’s this:

Spend more time on your short game.

Not because it’s exciting.
Not because it looks good on the range.

But because it works.

Final Thought

If you’re serious about improving your game, don’t start with your driver.

Start where the game is played:

Inside 120 yards—and on the green.