How top keep from "pulling" short irons and wedges...

[nrussell]

I have been "getting it back" recently by scoring well, but not from striking the ball as well as I would prefer. I am about a 2-3 handicap when I am on my game. I am currently a 6 because I usually shut it down for the Winter and gear up again around March or April. So when I started back this year I had a 1 handicap and couldn't play to it to save my life, got a few 77, 78, and 79's posted and came up to a 6 by trading them out for some 70-74's from last year. Keep in mind, I play on a very playable wide-open course that plays 6400 yards. I struggle to break 80 when I am playing well and take my game on the road! Anyways, I shot even par 72 last Sunday, but I noticed nearly every time I got a wedge, 9-iron, or 8-iron in my hand I was jerking it a bit. When I stood back to look at my divot it was either right on target or just a shade right of the pin where I prefer to line up because I play a draw. Any suggestions on what I may be doing?

[JonnyGolf]

My experience on shots where you have a scoring club in your hand, there is an increase in expectations (getting it close to the pin) and accompanying pressure. And that results in a quick swing where the club never really gets back into position on the backswing.

My recommendation is to watch the guys on the Sr. Tour when they have a wedge in their hands. They never go after it, but swing it gently. And their results are almost always spectacular. This is very different from the PGA Tour with harder greens and tucked pins, but it has a much greater similarity to the courses we play.

So, make sure that when you have a scoring club, you can get there with a 3/4 swing and you're not trying to make an easy shot more difficult by hitting it hard.