Any wedge masters around?

[Paddymaster]

I am a failure with the wedge. I can chip and pitch well, but when it comes to full wedge shots, I can't seem to get my distances or any kind of consitancy. Any tips on full to 3/4 wedge shots? Thanks a bunch!

[TomDonS]

If you need wedge or short game help, look into the Short Game bible from Dave Pelz. or anything he has on wedge play. Great stuff.

A couple months back Tiger did a Golf Digest or Magazine on his wedge shots that was a pretty cool article. I'll look for it in my stack and let you know the issue.

[Paddymaster]

If you need wedge or short game help, look into the Short Game bible from Dave Pelz. or anything he has on wedge play. Great stuff.

I'll take a look, thanks!

[goblue107501]

Not real sure about the consistency, but the distance is just trial and error. You really just have to find a flat hole with no wind, and a GPS or rangefinder, and hit balls into the green with different types of shots and see what happens. Over time you will just remember. You can go as far as write down the main distances and pull it out when you have a shot when your not sure. 90% of it is just feel. You need to be able to have a distance and know what to swing for that distance.

Personally, I know how far I hit wedges just from doing it over time, seeing the results and then adjusting the next time. My gap wedge is just under 100 yards full out, 3/4 grip-full swing is about 90-92, 3/4 grip-3/4 swing is around 85. (those are just the terms I use in my head, they don't mean anything in particular other than how far I choke down and the back swing) Less than that is a sand wedge and I go through the progression again down to the lob wedge. This is under perfect conditions. Uphill/downhill, wind with or against, etc. all play a part in the decision and I adjust after figuring out a good 'play as' yardage.

[Paddymaster]

I know what you mean. I need to get some new wedges. I have a good 58 degree but i have a bad 53 degree. Maybe i get a 56 and 52?

[JonnyGolf]

I am a failure with the wedge. I can chip and pitch well, but when it comes to full wedge shots, I can't seem to get my distances or any kind of consitancy. Any tips on full to 3/4 wedge shots? Thanks a bunch!

Because wedges are so lofted, you really don't see much slice, but you can be hitting it from outside - in, adding loft to the club, and reducing distance significantly.

Try working on hitting a draw with your wedges, really emphasizing an inside approach to the ball. You may find yourself making clean contact and your distance returning.

[Paddymaster]

Because wedges are so lofted, you really don't see much slice, but you can be hitting it from outside - in, adding loft to the club, and reducing distance significantly.

I'll try that, thanks!

[Paddymaster]

Also, I decided to purchase "the art of short game" by Stan Utley. He seems like my kinda guy, really putting emphasis on feel. What do you guys think? any tips from him that you guys have learned?

[NM Golf]

Also, I decided to purchase "the art of short game" by Stan Utley. He seems like my kinda guy, really putting emphasis on feel. What do you guys think? any tips from him that you guys have learned?

Had I read this thread before your post I would have told you to buy that book. Both of Utley's books are fantastic. Very simple and easy to understand they are a must for any "feel" player.

People can push Pelz all they want but Utley is a player turned guru because of word of mouth. What I like about his approach is that he teaches a stance square to the target line. Basically he wants to see most short game swings as basically a shortened regular swing. Read his book he improved my short game immediately.

[Paddymaster]

Had I read this thread before your post I would have told you to buy that book. Both of Utley's books are fantastic. Very simple and easy to understand they are a must for any "feel" player.

I have heard many success stories and positives taken from the book. I watched a few of his videos and he knows what a player might feel. Thanks for the reassurance

[lumpuckeroo]

I'm no master but I do have a simple approach to wedge play. I have a wedge that a full swing will get me 100 yards. A 75% swing gets me 75 yards, which is approx hands shoulder high, 50% swing gets me 50 yards, which is approx hands chest high, 25% swing gets me 25 yards, which is approx hands waist high.

Even if you don't have a 100 yard club you can figure out how far you hit a wedge when you go shoulder high, chest high, waist high and get better at hitting partial distances.

[TN94z]

One thing to remember is not to swing hard with the wedge. I see many of my friends really swinging their wedges hard to get distance. I don't know if its because the club is shorter or the loft is messing with their heads but that will not help your distance. Just smooth swing the wedge and trust that it will do its job.

I have read Stan Utley's book and I have started on Pelz's book. I don't think you can go wrong with either. It is basically going to be a decision on which swing type you like. Utley uses a method of pivoting around your lead leg which feels weird to some and great to others. I will say that with Utley's method...it is very hard to hit a "bad" shot. Even if you hit it then or a little fat....it still goes where you want it to. Utley basically uses the same wedge to chip, etc...with where Pelz has the 3x4 system.

[Zeph]

Don't swing hard, but don't falter either. It's important to accelerate through the ball.

[Stuart]

I don't qualify as a wedge master, but it is the best part of my game. I try to repeat a couple things though and they (I believe) are fundamental. At address your hands should be ahead of the ball. This will help you make a descending blow to the back of the ball. Keep your body level at address, and make sure not to tilt away like you may do with your long irons and woods. Stay over the ball. You should not sway with any of your golf shots, but most especially with your wedges. I think that taking a 3/4 swing as your full wedge swing will help with that. Accelerate through the ball. If you don't do any of the other things, do this. Hope this helps.

[TN94z]

Don't swing hard, but don't falter either. It's important to accelerate through the ball.

Oh yeah...very important to accelerate through!!

[Paddymaster]

Thanks guys.

The main tips I have taken is:

Get stan utley's book
Find distances with different length of swings
Swing like a wedge not another club/swing smoothly
excel through the ball

Cool beans

[Zeph]

I've ordered the Utley book myself, so I don't know what his thing is, but I was learned something.

If you have 3 wedges and 3 swing lengths you can have 9 different lengths. The important factor is to keep the same pace on every wedge shot. If you take the same length on the backswing and hit some shots fast and some slow you won't become consistent. Same tempo for every shot! To hit it longer you take a longer backswing, to hit it higher you aim to the left and open the clubface, always swinging along along the path of the body!

Let's say you got three wedges. 58º, 54º and 50º. Probably the most common combination. Make three different swing lengths. 1/4 for a small chip. 2/4 for a larger chip, 3/4 for the big chip or pitch. With a bunker in front, open the clubface and aim to the left. You'll have to practice all of them individually. The ball will travel higher and shorter if you open the clubface.

Practicing with the wedges is the most fun practice I can have. Hitting the range or putting just isn't as much fun. Practicing with wedges, chipping and pitching is very fun once you get good at it. Put yourself in difficult positions. Downhill rough, bunker edge, sidehill lie. Hitting a ball from a clean fairway or good lie in the rough is one thing, hitting the difficult shot from the woods during a round is another. That's when you must know how the wedges work and what you must to do get ball onto the green. Also practice hitting it low for times when you have branches in the way.

[Paddymaster]

I've ordered the Utley book myself, so I don't know what his thing is, but I was learned something.

I know what you mean. does a 54 degree wedge work well for a sand wedge?