Wedge problem...

[og512]

I spend most of my practice time with my driver, putter and irons. The only time my wedges see any action is on the course. Thus my short game has suffered tremendously and its where I lose most of my strokes.

The couple rounds have been increasingly frustrating because a keep 'blading' the ball will the wedges. It feels and sounds like I am I hitting all ball on the very edge of the club at the bottom of the face. The ball never sees the face of the club, never gets more than 6-8 feet off the ground and I send the ball screaming over/past/thru the green.

Is this a set-up problem? Breaking the wrists?

And suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[Release]

Open your stance just a tiny bit and take a divot ( not chuncking it ).
The finish your follow through.
As you had stated yourself, maybe a little practice with the wedge on the driving range wil help?

[Scott_Tee]

Try not breaking your wrists, you'll get a more consistent shot. AND practice you wedge...somewhere... your yard, the range, by the putting green. Get some confidence, that's what its all about.

[Sandy Sammy]

Try not breaking your wrists, you'll get a more consistent shot. AND practice you wedge...somewhere... your yard, the range, by the putting green. Get some confidence, that's what its all about.

I agree, do not break wrists on the backswing, also on the down swing keep the club moving though impact, by this I mean don't let the head of the club overtake the shaft, this usually happens as the right hand gets too active and tries to lift the ball up, trust the loft on the club, keep the shaft in front of the clubhead moving through the ball at impact.

I had (are having) a sod of time trying learn to do this consistently, but getting there.

[DSMGolfLessons]

1. Check your ball position, if the ball is too far forward in your stance ~ blade city here we come! Center ball position is great for wedge play.

2. Quite often I see people rushing through their wedge swing i.e. the body gets ahead of the ball before the clubhead has a chance to make solid contact.

Do an easy tempo-drill at your practice facility: with your feet completely together take a few easy practice swings with the goal of the club head brushing the grass. (If you struggle with this focus on your balance, your swing shouldn't knock you off your feet or leave you straining in your toes to stay in balance.) Get a feel for this natural and easy swing motion. Next, take a few practice swings with your feet at normal stance width, same tempo/same feel of brushing the grass. Then step into the ball & swing with the goal to brush the grass & finish in balance.

[bigoak]

load the left heel ( if you are right handed) move ball back and hit with a decending blow compressing the ball into the turf with the club face instead of trying to pick the ball off the turf

[marpr]

1. Check your ball position, if the ball is too far forward in your stance ~ blade city here we come! Center ball position is great for wedge play.

I couldn't agree more.

[golf rules]

I agree, do not break wrists on the backswing, also on the down swing keep the club moving though impact, by this I mean don't let the head of the club overtake the shaft, this usually happens as the right hand gets too active and tries to lift the ball up, trust the loft on the club, keep the shaft in front of the clubhead moving through the ball at impact.

I agree, also, try to keep your lower body stable, with a minimum weight shift and swing smoothly, remember, wedges were designed for accuracy, not distance, if you can't reach with a smooth swing, use a longer club.

[wrx_junki]

I agree, also, try to keep your lower body stable, with a minimum weight shift and swing smoothly, remember, wedges were designed for accuracy, not distance, if you can't reach with a smooth swing, use a longer club.

Yes quiet lower body on the backswing is essential. I keep my weight around 60% on front and 40% on rear to make sure I hit down on the ball. Another is with all clubs keep my head focused on the ball and even after I hit the shot keep it in the same place so there's no bobbing.

[UP&DOWN]

I have had the exact same dealeo with my wedge play, but for me its when I am on the chipping area and have hit a dozen or so. My balls just start squirting off to the right (im RH) and low. It seemed like no matter what I did, just made them worst. However, I found a tip somewhere - forgot source - but it seems to work when I hit these. Best part it was simple for me, I was crowding the ball and just needed to scoot away a bit in my setup. Helped me, hopefully it helps you.

[og512]

left work early today and to go and try alot of what I have read. And i'll be damned.

I kept the lower body still, moved the ball back in my setup, stopped the wrist break for the most (bad habits are hard to break). This golf center has a short game practice area so I hit about 60 shots from varying distances (5 - 75 yds) on to a practice green and only about 10 of shots didn't end up in within 10 feet. the others were nothing to be desired. But if I could duplicate that on the course I would definitely drop 5-7 strokes off my round (assuming everything else plays consistent)

thank you all for the tips

[Chas]

I don't see the issue with wrist break on the backswing - shouldn't be a problem. Most importantly, keep your hands ahead of the clubface all the way through impact. That way, if the ball is properly placed towards your back foot (as many people have mentioned), you're gonna hit ball then turf and that ball is going to look mighty fine as it claws its sweet way to the apex - with some backspin on it even, to hold the green nicely.

Glad to hear things are improving. Wedge play should be the fun and confident part of your game. Now chipping to 2 ft from behind a bunker or something, that's another story.