Short Wedge Shots

[svchiefs19]

i got the cast off my left arm yesterday, finally, so im officially able to grip a club again. today after school, i took my 60* wedge to the back yard and started to hit some balls. i was just trying to hit a 20 yard shot, just to get warmed up. however, i had no such luck. sometimes i hit it fat, sometimes thin, and sometimes the ball just screamed to the right at a 45* angle to me (im right handed). totally perplexed, i threw the lob wedge back in the bag and took out my 8 iron. i took a practice swing, and lineed up a shot. with my first real swing with the 8 iron, i launched the ball into the woods, it was as good a shot as ive ever hit. so then i took out the lob wedge again, but i still couldnt hit a 20 yard pitch. any idea whats going on or any tips to help??

any and all help is greatly appreciated!

[earn_h]

Just keep your head down and point at the target. About it man.

[mike93]

just focus on keep a smooth, relxaed tempo throughout the shit - dont rush it. by far the most important thing in pitches etc.

[GaijinGolfer]

Id say get back to the basics. Open stance, open the face (make sure you grip the club AFTER you open the face), make sure you have a weak or neutral grip, make sure you body is loose, play the ball slightly foreward in your stance and relaxed and make a nice, easy, smooth, in-tempo swing.

[B.A.]

Preliminarily, I would say check your grip, probably need to loosen it. Probably taking the club back too far inside.

Do the old 1/4 swing 1/4 follow through, trying to keep the club on line with the toe to the sky on the way back and pointing the club to the target on the way through, toe to the sky again. Maintain posture, head position.

or, focus on hitting a spot 3-4 inches in front of the ball.

Hope some of this helps.

[Fourputt]

i got the cast off my left arm yesterday, finally, so im officially able to grip a club again. today after school, i took my 60* wedge to the back yard and started to hit some balls. i was just trying to hit a 20 yard shot, just to get warmed up. however, i had no such luck. sometimes i hit it fat, sometimes thin, and sometimes the ball just screamed to the right at a 45* angle to me (im right handed). totally perplexed, i threw the lob wedge back in the bag and took out my 8 iron. i took a practice swing, and lineed up a shot. with my first real swing with the 8 iron, i launched the ball into the woods, it was as good a shot as ive ever hit. so then i took out the lob wedge again, but i still couldnt hit a 20 yard pitch. any idea whats going on or any tips to help??

Ever consider that maybe the LW doesn't really fit you? I've tried any number of wedges that just didn't work for me... I couldn't get them back on the ball at impact. You may have been making an unconscious adjustment with the LW and getting away with it when you were playing regularly. The layoff may have just exaggerated the unsuitability of that particular club for your swing. It's entirely possible that you have found a problem that you were completely unaware of.

[Hidalgo]

Ever consider that maybe the LW doesn't really fit you? I've tried any number of wedges that just didn't work for me... I couldn't get them back on the ball at impact. You may have been making an unconscious adjustment with the LW and getting away with it when you were playing regularly. The layoff may have just exaggerated the unsuitability of that particular club for your swing. It's entirely possible that you have found a problem that you were completely unaware of.

WOW...I didn't expect to see that said.....

FourPutt could be EXACTLY right. I've played many different brands and designs over the years. All of them worked after a couple of days using them. BUT...most wedges are different when you change brands (or models for that fact). Clevelands are great wedges, but I have to make adjustments and have swing thoughts when I use them. That's NOT what you want with a wedge when your thoughts should be directed towards the outcome of the shot. Also, I've always liked Vokeys....but the 400 series never lent itself to my game. I'll bet that you have some friends who own other brands that you can take a swing or two with. It might be worth a try......