Short Wedge

[shawnvincent]

I need some advice on hitting a full 56 degree wedge. I can't get it more than 80 yards out of it and that is center of the face, half inch diviot swing. I don't know if I don't have enough shaft lean or what the issue is. I am not looking to get 100 yards out of it (that would be great) but I should be able to get 90 no? I am a 12 handicap and hit a 9 iron between 140 and 145.

[boogielicious]

Welcome to The Sand Trap. Full swings with wedges may not the the best approach. The only wedge I will swing full on is my PW and only in certain situations. The threads below discuss partial wedge shots. You can even apply this to short irons.

 

[criley4way]

First question is what irons are you playing? I hit my srixon z585 about 140 and my Vokey 56 about 82 on a full shot. That is why I I now have a 52 and 48 deg Vokey in the bag.

 

But also a true full Sand wedge might not be a good shot with your clubs

[SteveH]

I just went through a similar situation with my 56 SW that I also like to hit full shots with, it was only going 5 yds longer than my 60. If you make a conscious effort to put the same swing on the wedge as that 9 iron i think you will see an increase in yardage.  At least that was my case, I tended to have more upright shaft at impact vs forward lean with the 9. I realize that translates to the fact I was flipping my hands at impact, lots of elevation, less distance.  I do also have a 50 A wedge and 45 P wedge.

Edited April 30, 2020 by SteveH

[klineka]

4 hours ago, shawnvincent said:

I need some advice on hitting a full 56 degree wedge. I can't get it more than 80 yards out of it and that is center of the face, half inch diviot swing. I don't know if I don't have enough shaft lean or what the issue is. I am not looking to get 100 yards out of it (that would be great) but I should be able to get 90 no? I am a 12 handicap and hit a 9 iron between 140 and 145.

If your 9 iron is 140 and your other clubs fall into a decent range, I don't really see the issue. I'd presume your PW is about 120-130 and GW is about 100-110? 

Like others have said, instead of trying to get the SW to 90, just take something off your GW. There are a couple easy ways to take yardage off and can likely be figured out in a couple of range sessions (gripping down, partial swing length, or a combination of both)

My full swing 54 degree is 120, but I rarely hit it further than 110-115. I have specific swing lengths/feels for 10 yard increments from 80-110 yards with my 54 degree, just like I have specific swing lengths/feels with my 50 degree which is my 130 club. More often than not if I'm 130 out, I'm hitting an 80% PW not a 100% GW

[Piz]

My sand wedge (a 54) goes three distances:  too far, too short, and just right.  I don't make full swings with it.  My 90-110 club is a 50 degree gap wedge and I don't take that one to the top either.

[gbogey]

Is your 56 a low bounce wedge?  I have something similar with my 58 where it is about 5 yards shorter than it should be compared to my 54?  I think it's me, not the wedge, but my theory is I think I do something different at set up because it is a lower bounce wedge.  Just a theory.  I've decided it's easier to take 5 yards off my 54 than fix the 58 distance.