sandwedge on full shots

[Sandwedge74]

hi - In need of a little advice. I hit my 7 iron between 155 and 165 yards depending on conditions. my sandwedge (56) however only goes about 80 - 85 yards no matter how hard I swing. I also don't take much of a divot with it - sometimes no divots. I am talking about clean fairway lies by the way. Any suggestion on how to get more out of it and or/why I am not taking a divot? I play the ball in the middle of my stance for this shot. I can cut it or draw it to gain a pinch of yardadge or cut some off but I just feel like that paticular shot isn't maximizing in anyway. Having said that I don't play this shot unless its the perfect or only option. When I do play the shot - the ball stops - dead - never spins back but also never forward either - just stops. Any suggestions?? am i stressing over nothing? also it has 13 degrees of bounce incase that matters.

[Socrates]

That's about right for that club. If you want more distance, get the appropriate wedges. PW, 52, 56 & 60 is about all anyone needs to have in their bag

[Sandwedge74]

That's about right for that club. If you want more distance, get the appropriate wedges. PW, 52, 56 & 60 is about all anyone needs to have in their bag

ok not sure exactly what you meant by that - appropriate wedges do have a PW, 52 and 56. I can open up the 56 if I need a lob shot. I was wondering why no divot - I have divots with my other clubs. I feel like maybe if I take a divot I could get a little more distance and more importantly some back spin if I should choose to use it.

[Stacey_E]

My boss has the same problem. He is a 110 MPH bomber and a 4 handicap, but because he hits so clean, he only gets about 75 out of a 56*. Make sure your hands are ahead of the clubhead at impact if you want more distance with this club. You'll see a divot then for sure, although divots aren't the be all end all. I'm just guessing you are adding a little loft to your sandwedge. Your bounce shouldn't affect your distance.

[dkinser86]

Do you tend to blade shots? For the 56* SW, 13 is about right, but you have to take it into account on tight shots. I hit my 7I about 170yds and can hit my 54* SW 105 with a bit of backspin. I try to put a little more weight on my front side and pick the club up a little more on the backswing. Then, I make sure to hit down and through the ball. I keep an image of in my head of pinching the ball against the ground. Don't be scared to take a divot. As long as you hit the ball first, the divot is a good thing!

[glebert]

For whatever reason (probably a lousy swing) I have to move my ball back in my stance for shorter irons to avoid pulls. In addition to making the ball go straight it also delofts my wedges a bit, so my SW goes 105. My 7i is the same distance as yours with the ball about an inch back from center.