Major Wedge Problem

[TheRebel88]

Hi all:

New to the forum, looks like a lovely place for a true golf addict like myself. However something has happened lately that makes me want to give up the game

First off I am a 10 handicapper, (been as low as 5), and been playing for 15 years. In the last month I have developed a problem with hitting off the hosel of my wedges between 40 and 100 yards.

I have tried all sorts of things from focusing on where my weight is in my feet, to opening my stance. I have tried the box in front of the ball method..the tees in the ground method, and still can't lick it.

The only thing that seems to work is when I set up far away from the ball and outstretch my arms in an exagerrated fashion, then I don't shank it, but control is quite difficult and full shots are an impossbility with this method.

So what is setting up far away like this with outstretched arms taking out of the equation? Obviously that is where the problem lies but I can't figure it out.

I love this game to death and never thought I'd think about giving it up but this has becoming frustrating beyond belief.

I know there are a million threads on this topic on here and I've read them all but seem to have a unique situation and if anyone can shed any light I'd be most obliged!

Help me not quit the game,
-Matt

[right handed phil mickelson]

sounds like a classic problem of not bending enough. When you go to set up, and bend at the waist, you are not bent over enough, and you're short-siding yourself. Also, you are standing too far from the ball.

Stand about 1-2 inches closer, and lean over more. This should help.

[mdvaldosta]

I just did that yesterday, hit the ball OB on a 120 yard pitch shot. Then stuck it to 4 feet for a bogey. The 2 strokes cost more than that, if you count the loss of confidence for the rest of the round!

I've found that just moving the ball an inch further away was still comfortable, and I didn't miss anymore that far inside. Looking at my ball marks, my typical shot is just inside center so that's where my misses go. I'm just gonna set up a tad bit farther from here out, as I setup pretty close with my irons as-is. I'm guessing you do too. Maybe now, a tad but out, I can hit center-center and my misses inside will still be OK.

Phil makes sense too - I just know for myself that I really do have a tight stance.

[iacas]

Most shanks are caused by swinging inside out - a draw kind of swing.

When you have to reach for the ball you tend to come over the top. That explains why that "trick" temporarily "solved" your problem.

Focus on delivering the club from more down the line and less from the inside.

[divottool]

I had the same issue going on for about a month. I know that you said that you tried the box on the outside of the ball drill, but that is how I got past the shanks with the wedges.

Something about the box being out there makes me hit in the center of the club face more often. It just seems like with the short irons that my arms want to extend out on the downswing.

Anyway good luck!

[HSip]

First off - I'm a 16+ and you're a 10, so a grain of salt may be in order. I had the same thing going on and it was driving me crazy. It turned out to be a slight lunge (and I mean slight) at the ball. I was trying to go at the ball too hard and this caused me to lunge - I couldn't even feel it. Had a trusted friend watch (didn't have video) and he picked it up. Just backed off on the swing a bit and concentrated on turning smoothly and it did the trick for me. Good luck.

[David in FL]

Must........not.........read.........the........... s#@&k; .........thread.

[divottool]

Hey also try this.........on your back swing make sure that your weight moves to your right heel and the top, and then moves to your left heel on the follow through.

See ya!

[beachbreak]

I go with iacas. Too inside out. Try cutting it a bit. Won't hurt and will make the ball stop good.

[osean79]

I also had the same problem quite recently, destroyed my confidence from 100 yds in for a week or two.

My fix was real simple, swing more upright. I natually draw all my shots, which means i have a inside out swing. It seems i over did it too much, swinging too flat and too around my body for a short wedge shot. All I did was just make sure my swing was straight up and straight down, fixed the problem. Oh and make sure you hit down, don't sweep. Sweeping tends to make me swing too flat as well... hope this helps.

[TheRebel88]

This is without a doubt the most frustrating thing ever.

I definitely draw the ball, so it is apparent that my swing with the wedge is definitely too inside out. However when I try to correct it by swing more straight back and straight through, the problem persists.

I might have focus more on the weight shift and turn as previously mentioned. Gonna hit some balls in the yard now until I get frustrated...which probably wont be too long.

Thanks for all the tips and pointers so far. If this keeps up I think I'm gonna have to break down and schedule some time with the local Pro and see what's going on...I'm open to try anything at this point (seance with voodoo dolls, wearing women's underwear...etc) ;0)
-Matt

[Fat Slice]

Does it happen when you take a very easy swing with, say, a 7-iron, trying to cover the same distance? If not, I'd try an excercise where you started with a 7-iron (for example) and aimed for 90 yards, then move to an 8-iron, 9-iron, etc., right on down the line through your wedges always going for that 90 yard mark. Wherever the problem first pops up -- IF it pops up -- go back and forth between the club where the problems first show up and the club before and try and move the feel down without the shanking. If that works, move down the the next club.

NOT scientific at all, but working on the idea that much of swing is feel - if you have something working (which of course changes a little between clubs), start with a good feeling and try to keep it.

[Guest]

I had the same problem which also carried over to hitting my driver off the heel. Tried the box deal as well as layed a head cover next to the ball at the range. 9 out of 10 times I would hit the cover sometimes sending it flying. After trying several different things I discovered I was breaking my left arm on take away causing me to "chicken wing" and shank it. Now I concentrate on keeping my left arm straight and pushing my right hand back. Hitting it pure now

[TheRebel88]

spent some time in the backyard, in the pouring rain no less. I think it may be a decelleration problem. Because I'm kind of exaggerating my follow through, exagerrating how high my right arm goes, and this seems to have corrected the problem.

course I've never read anything about decelleation causing the dreaded hosel shot (i cant bring myself to say the s word) but I guess it's a possibility.

oh well tomorrow's the test...playing 18 with my nemesis in match play tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.

thanks again for all the tips and pointers

[Guest]

Read "The Art of the short game" by Stan Utley. It is the best thing I have ever done for my game. I now have the short I always wanted.

[TheRebel88]

cool thanks Bernie I'm always looking to add books to my collection of bathroom reading material. Will have to pick it up.

Incidentally I'm thinkig now that my problem might have been not getting off my right side and not having a good weight transfer. Standing far away from the ball with outstretched arms forces you to transfer the weight to hit the ball...so this may be wherein the problem lies

[ks8829]

take your PW and practice hitting shots with the shaft parallal with the ground on the back swing and the forward swing.

The shaft should be on line with the target and the toe point straight up on the backswing and straight up on the follow through. This drill helps you feel the club turning over after impact. if you are not releasing the club the toe will not be straight up and the ball will react off line.

the video below might be helpful also

[jambalaya]

Whenever I start that, I go to a very left arm dominant swing and it straightens things out. With the short irons, I think I have a tendency of kind of pushing the club through the hitting zone with the right hand sometimes which presents the hossel to the ball so to speak. Using left arm dominant gets me swinging the club through the zone again.