By Bill Totten
If you spend any time watching the best players in the world around the green, you’ll notice something most golfers completely miss.
This is the first of a two-part series, and it starts with a simple—but powerful—idea.
They’re not just trying to “hit a good chip.”
They’re choosing a window.
Low. Medium. High.
And right now, no one exemplifies this better than Scottie Scheffler.
What Makes Scheffler So Good Around the Greens
It’s easy to assume it’s all touch.
Or talent.
Or “great hands.”
But when you really study it, what separates him is much simpler:
- He chooses a trajectory first
- He commits to a landing spot
- And he understands exactly how the ball will release
Most importantly…
He doesn’t change his swing much—he changes the window.
That’s the foundation of what we call:
The ISZ Window System
Three trajectories. One goal: get it close.
Low Window — Predictable Roll
This is the most underused shot in amateur golf—and the most reliable.
- Comes out low
- Lands early
- Releases like a putt
Best used when:
- You have plenty of green to work with
- The shot is slightly uphill
- You want maximum predictability
Medium Window — Balanced Control
This is your “everyday” scoring shot.
- Moderate flight
- Controlled landing
- A blend of check and release
Best used when:
- You need some carry but still want rollout
- The green gives you options
- You’re not forced into anything extreme
High Window — Soft Landing
This is the shot most golfers go to too often—and execute the least consistently.
- Higher flight
- Lands softly
- Minimal rollout
Best used when:
- You’re short-sided
- You have to carry trouble
- The green is fast and firm
The Simple Visual That Changes Everything
| Window | Wedge | Setup Feel | What the Ball Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 49°–53° | Ball back, hands forward | Lands early, rolls out |
| Medium | 57° | Neutral setup | Balanced carry + roll |
| High | 57° (slightly open) | Ball forward, face open | Lands soft, minimal roll |
If you’re going to build your short game around one club, make it your 57° wedge.
It gives you the versatility to hit all three windows without changing your motion.
The Biggest Mistake I See
Most golfers think they need a different swing for every shot.
They don’t.
They need a different window.
Better players keep the motion simple and make small adjustments:
- Ball position
- Shaft lean
- Face angle
That’s it.
Bill’s Take: Simplicity Holds Up Under Pressure
After working with players at every level, I can tell you this:
The more complicated your short game becomes, the less reliable it gets.
The ISZ Window System works because it simplifies everything:
- You see a clear trajectory
- You pick a landing spot
- And you trust the rollout
“If you can see the shot, your body has a much better chance of producing it.”
3 Drills to Build Your Window Control
Drill 1: The Three-Window Ladder
Pick a single landing spot.
Hit three balls:
- One low
- One medium
- One high
Use: your 57° wedge
What you’ll learn:
How trajectory alone changes rollout.
Drill 2: One Wedge, Three Windows
Use the same wedge for every shot.
Only change:
- Ball position
- Shaft lean
- Face angle
Keep the motion the same.
What you’ll learn:
Control without manipulation.
This is exactly how elite players stay consistent.
Drill 3: Land It Here
Drop a towel or pick a spot on the green.
Your goal is simple:
Land the ball there—every time.
Then observe how each window behaves after it lands.
What you’ll learn:
Great players don’t just control distance…
They control where the ball lands.
How to Think Like a Tour Player
Before every chip, ask yourself three questions:
- Which window do I need?
- Where does it need to land?
- What will it do after it lands?
Then commit.
No extra thoughts. No overthinking.
Final Thought
Great short game players aren’t guessing.
They’re operating within windows they trust.
And when you start thinking this way, everything changes:
- Your misses get smaller
- Your confidence goes up
- And your scoring improves
Because when you control the window…
You control the shot.
What’s Next in ISZ
In the next edition of Inside the Scoring Zone, we’ll take this a step further and walk through the most common positions you’ll face around the green—and exactly which window to use in each situation. Because once you understand not just how to hit the shot, but when to choose the right window… your short game becomes a whole lot simpler.
3 comments
Dr. Tee,
That’s a great question—and it’s exactly where the window system becomes real.
The window you choose is driven by what the green is giving you, not what shot you’re most comfortable hitting.
Here’s how I think about it:
First, look at the slope between you and the hole.
If the green is running away from you (downhill), the ball is going to release more than you expect. That’s where I’ll favor a lower window, land it early, and let it behave like a putt.
If it’s into the slope (uphill), the green will help slow the ball down. That allows you to use a medium or even higher window, because you can land it a bit closer to the hole without it racing past.
Second, look at how much green you have to work with.
More green = lower window
Less green = higher window
That simple rule will get you most of the way there.
Now, on club selection:
I always start by asking, “Can I hit this with one wedge?”
If I can hit:
Low, Medium And high with the same wedge, I will. That keeps the motion consistent.
I’ll only change clubs when the situation clearly calls for it:
If I want the ball to get on the ground immediately and roll like a putt, that’s when I’ll go to a lower loft—or even a 7, 8 iron or hybrid. That’s a great play on tight lies with plenty of green.
If I need to carry something or land it soft, I’ll stay with my higher loft and adjust the window with setup (ball position, face, shaft lean).
The mistake most golfers make is switching clubs too quickly instead of adjusting the window first.
If you remember one thing, make it this:
Pick the landing spot first, then choose the window that gets the ball there—and only change clubs if your current wedge can’t produce that flight.
Do that, and your decisions get a lot simpler—and your misses get a lot smaller.
—Bill
ok—I get it, but depending on green contours, how do I pick the right window, and when do I change from a single wedge to one of lower or higher loft or even run the ball with a 7 or 8 iron or hybrid.
Great article! I would like for you to write about grip size and grip pressure and how that affects a golfers game!
Keith
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