No distance with my PW- any help?

[sdped1]

I hit my 9iron 140 yrds but I have a tough time hitting my PW a 100yrds. Maybe it has something to do with my physical abilities. I just can't seem to get a anything but I really high shot that lands around the 90- 100yrds. I just can't seem to extend through at impact and my body lifts up and the ball goes really high.

[Uber$winG]

You might be scooping your shots with this club.

[sdped1]

Yes your probably right, I'm really working hard on hitting down on the ball and am doing well with all clubs except this one.- Steve

[HSip]

I hit my 9iron 140 yrds but I have a tough time hitting my PW a 100yrds. Maybe it has something to do with

If you hit your 9 iron 140 yds - then there is nothing wrong with your physical abilities (unless it's only 3 ft off the ground.)

[sdped1]

If you hit your 9 iron 140 yds - then there is nothing wrong with your physical abilities (unless it's only 3 ft off the ground.)

It just seems that being a short shafted club I can't get comfortable bent over that much. I'm 55 and my back isn't that great. I'm going to try standing a little taller with this club. It just seems when I stand taller my hand are to close to my body.

[Scottydoint]

You are definitely scooping and flipping your wrists. I had this problem with my SW and LW. I used to hit the SW about 85 and LB about 50, but after working on keeping my wrist cock and having a flat or bowed left wrist at impact with my hands ahead of the clubhead. I now hit all of my clubs longer and more consistent. LW is now 90 yards, SW 115, PW 142 or so,....

[Jay-Bird]

I hit my 9iron 140 yrds but I have a tough time hitting my PW a 100yrds. Maybe it has something to do with my physical abilities. I just can't seem to get a anything but I really high shot that lands around the 90- 100yrds. I just can't seem to extend through at impact

I think that's it right there.

A pro I was playing with recently told me "It's amazing where the ball will go if you actually watch it come off of the face of your club". Meaning keep your head still (not down, but still ) and keep your eye on the ball through impact . You can easily learn to hit your PW with confidence. It will soon be one of your weapons of choice. Take 30 minutes before you play to go to the range. At the range you should resist the urge to hit long clubs. Go practice with a purpose - to get confident with the wedge. Hit 30 to 50 wedges. Don't just rip through the bucket, but play real shots to real targets. Work on hitting that wedge everywhere from 50/75 yards to 125/135. Move the ball around in your stance to find different ball flights and shots. Work the wedge and your game will improve manyfold.

[sdped1]

You are definitely scooping and flipping your wrists. I had this problem with my SW and LW. I used to hit the SW about 85 and LB about 50, but after working on keeping my wrist cock and having a flat or bowed left wrist at impact with my hands ahead of the clubhead. I now hit all of my clubs longer and more consistent. LW is now 90 yards, SW 115, PW 142 or so,....

Thanks, that's encouraging, I'll keep at it.

[ks8829]

The fact that you hit your 9 iron 140 yards, make me believe that the wedge loft may be off.

I hit my PW 130 yards and hit my 9 iron 140 yards.

try hitting someone else wedge, I believe about 47 degrees and see how far you hit it compare to yours or have someone hit your PW and see if they have the same distance problem.

[RC]

The scoring wedges really require that your hands be ahead of the clubface at impact (really all irons do.) A drill to try is to take your pitching wedge to the range and try to hit balls with your hands well ahead of the clubface -- get the grip end of the club forward near your left leg at impact. Start out hitting it very low, like a low spinning punch shot, finishing with your hands a bit lower but well around ( no higher than left shoulder high.) Then increase your swing and crank up the power, still hitting with leading hands, and a driving low shot. Make sure you are turning through the shot using your body to blast it out there. Visualize you are hitting a shot under a tree, for example, but for maximum distance. Taking the club back low and delaying wrist cock helps somewhat. This is not a shot to hit with a rapidly rising backswing.

The funny thing about doing this is once you get the feel of the low driving wedge (a good shot to have in your bag,) you will find it very easy to hit the ball higher if needed. The extra spin helps, and if you swing to a slightly higher finish, the ball will fly higher but carry a penetrating flight. Don't worry about the ball stopping -- the higher spin rate will take care of that automatically.

Balooning scoring wedges are in the air too long, get blown around, fall short, and sometimes don't carry their spin well. Maybe OK for a few special shots if the greens are soft, but unreliable for firm, fast greens.
Hope this helps.

[sdped1]

The scoring wedges really require that your hands be ahead of the clubface at impact (really all irons do.) A drill to try is to take your pitching wedge to the range and try to hit balls with your hands well ahead of the clubface -- get the grip end of the club forward near your left leg at impact. Start out hitting it very low, like a low spinning punch shot, finishing with your hands a bit lower but well around ( no higher than left shoulder high.) Then increase your swing and crank up the power, still hitting with leading hands, and a driving low shot. Make sure you are turning through the shot using your body to blast it out there. Visualize you are hitting a shot under a tree, for example, but for maximum distance. Taking the club back low and delaying wrist cock helps somewhat. This is not a shot to hit with a rapidly rising backswing.

Thanks for the drill RC, I'll be working on that tomorro- Steve