Wedge - reducing spin for a release shot

[kafka01]

Okay - this time its not about putting spin on the ball to stop it quick/bring it back, but playing more of a release kinda shot.

Lets assume an uphill lie - 100 yards to the pin which is on a plataeu and the green in front of the plataeu is an upslope. What happens if i play a standard sandwedge into the green and let the ball land into the upslope - it comes straight back - obv. the uphill lie supports a steeper attack angle and puts more spin on the ball.

How would you play the shot that it releases a bit forward? Behind the green is no go area so you cant be long..

[m11]

i'd hit a little cut

instead of using your sandwedge, i'd use your pitching wedge...open the face just a little...i'd keep my stance still basically square. Maybe a little aimed to the left..and take a nice and easy swing. The reason why you arent really aiming left like a cut lob is because you still want the ball to roll out a bit. If you really wanted to stop it...you'd just aim a little more to the left, open the face a little more...still use your pitching wedge...and take a minutely harder swing across your foot line

Because the face is slightly open, it'll take the distance off that your pitching wedge would normally have.

Of course, you'll have to tinker with it a bit. Maybe you can still use your sandwedge but i like to take an extra club.

and i'd still keep the ball in the middle of my stance...although everyone seems to move it forward. I suppose you can try moving it forward but im not a big fan. I find hitting cuts and cut lobs is just as effective from the middle of my stance----also no chance to skull it.

[iacas]

i'd hit a little cut

I think that's horrible advice. A cut will fly higher and land softer. It'll do the opposite of a "release shot."

Nick Faldo just did something about this during the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone. He advised hitting basically a little draw, and focused on releasing the right hand to square and then close the clubface through impact. An easier swing with a little teeny draw - that's my recipe for a release shot.

[wilnham]

perfect advice iacas

[bruce]

I take a gap wedge,three quarter back and three quarter through,done,nothing fancy.My gap full is 125 yrds.

[fusioncal]

I'll take my 52 deg wedge and place it about one ball forward off the center with an easy swing. I'll try to land the ball a little further to the back of the pin.

[kafka01]

I think that's horrible advice. A cut will fly higher and land softer. It'll do the opposite of a "release shot."

Thanks for the tip - will practice and try this out.

As bruce and fusionical have mentioned - taking a wedge more with less swing was the idea that came to my mind in first place too - but there is always another way to do it too.

[powerfade]

Don't coil your upper body against your lower body (creating torque). Try a backswing where everything swings back and through in unison, and produces more of an arm swing. The hit isn't as violent therefore there isn't as much backspin.

[Stacey_E]

I have some shots like this at my hilly course in Tennessee. I would move the ball up a little in my stance to catch it clean with a pitching wedge. If it's on a upslope you might find it difficult to put a full swing on it anyway, and to force the issue might make you sway a little. In this situation I like to aim right and feel like I'm really working the face through the ball and to the left. It seems the slope governs my swing down a little without making a conscious effort on my part. The upslope makes the shot play a little longer and also adds a little loft to the club at impact. I've basically turned my PW into a GW anyway.

[bigoak]

A trick from the Old Pros was to take a divot or two with the practice swing to get some dirt into the grooves. wipe off the excess. hit the shot and clean the grooves after.

[iacas]

A trick from the Old Pros was to take a divot or two with the practice swing to get some dirt into the grooves. wipe off the excess. hit the shot and clean the grooves after.

Yeah, that's cheating.

[ks8829]

My buddy just played that shot today, he was 100 yards away and hit a half pitching wedge on an elevated green it hit on the hill and took two bounces and stop within 6 feet for a birdie.

[wilnham]

Yeah, that's cheating.

really? didnt realize that ... how?

[Stacey_E]

Yeah, that's cheating.

I believe it is bending the rules, but I don't believe it is cheating. Of course you can't apply a foreign substance to the face. But if this was cheating, then not cleaning your clubs would be cheating. I always keep my clubs clean, but nothing in the rules says you have to. And nothing, that I know of says you can't take a practice swing. I'll be the first to admit I am not a rules expert, and that taking uneccessary divots is bad etiquette, but against the rules...? I don't see it.

[Crafty]

I think that's horrible advice. A cut will fly higher and land softer. It'll do the opposite of a "release shot."

Spot on.

The only other thing that i might add is that not setting your wrists as much in the backswing will help you come in flatter to the ball, thus taking some spin off.

[fusioncal]

really? didnt realize that ... how?

I think it's because why you don't see PGA tour players take divot on their practice swings before they hit the ball. It's like you're testing the grounds, perhaps?

[krb]

Don't coil your upper body against your lower body (creating torque). Try a backswing where everything swings back and through in unison, and produces more of an arm swing. The hit isn't as violent therefore there isn't as much backspin.

I would disagree if the swing you describe is a dramatic departure from your regular swing. Better to take an extra club and take a shorter swing.

[Stacey_E]

I think it's because why you don't see PGA tour players take divot on their practice swings before they hit the ball. It's like you're testing the grounds, perhaps?

But they undoubtedly take practice swings in the rough and they would admit it's to test the grounds. They want to see how the rough is going to affect the face closing (or lack thereof).