Stop Beating Yourself Up, Dent

[Dent]

I feel ya on the wedges, been dealing with that same issue myself as of late. Just need to dedicate a little practice to them and it will work itself out. One thing for you to remember is there a lot of people out there who spend there whole lives playing and never get to where you are at 16.

You are correct, I am grateful that I am at this HDCP, I really have no idea how I got there. I don't even remember being a 9 or anything. I think when I was 13 I started tracking my handicap and I was a 12.

On the other hand: Craig what are you doing to fix that problem, what thoughts go through your head when you have the wedge in your hands about to hit that shot?

[Craig Mac]

You are correct, I am grateful that I am at this HDCP, I really have no idea how I got there. I don't even remember being a 9 or anything. I think when I was 13 I started tracking my handicap and I was a 12.

I found that my problem was two-fold. Practicing at the range, first I found I was setting up a little to close to the ball, resulting in me hitting it close to the hosel, and second I was taking a little too big of a backswing and slightly rerouting the club on the downswing and coming over the top a little and leaving the face open. When it does happen on the course I tend to get that bad image in my head(like you) and I lack confidence with the wedges, I usually just take a few extra practice swings then try to swing smooth and try not to force the wedges. The practice will help get that confidence back.

[Southpaw]

I know I'm a good golfer, I have talent to lower my handicap a little, but It's not my whole game that is bothering me, its just my wedge. This wedge problem is completely ruining my game, I get so down about shanking my wedge around the green completely right that I lose all confidence. I'll be right by the green on par 4 in 3 sometimes, geared for a good par, when I shank 2 wedge shots to end up with triple.

I used to be the same way with wedges, except that I had a problem with chunking it. I found that if I let the club fall more instead of trying to swing fast through it, I make better contact.

[Dent]

Just a little update here:

I spent 2 hrs chipping yesterday and fixed it. It's almost like I had brain damage and forgot how to chip, because when I started making contact with the ball it all came back to me and I remembered how to shoot.

Still a little shakey when chipping but I have a round today and thats where the real test of success is.