30-60yd low wedge that checks.

[Mizzy57]

Hey guys,

Been trying to work out the 30-60yd low wedge shot that bounces then checks.

I can hit full LW/SW/GW shots and spin the ball back, usually too far but I need the shot that goes about half height of a full shot that skips and stops. I've subourned to the fact I'll have to keep hitting half wedges until I get it down. Prob is, I'm acurate with full shots, my 1/2 and 3/4 shot distances are off and im usually short of what I practice at.

I've been doing the abbreviated follow thru after striking sharply down on the ball at the range, 3/4 backswing to 1/4 follow thru but cant really tell the spin at the range. This gets the ball at a lower longer flight, but it comes in pretty hot. On the course I've tried it a few times but haven't had luck as the ball seems to wanna roll out like a pitch. seems like only 1-5 tries actually gets the ball looking like it hit thick snot on the green.

Thanks for the help.

[Lebowski]

This may be somewhat hard to understand but its the only way I can describe how I go about trying to hit this shot. I use a 60° and move the ball back slightly in my stance as if i were trying to hit a knockdown shot on a windy day, and come in at the ball with just a slightly steeper angle of attack compared to a regular shot, but not to the extreme of getting the club stuck in the ground at impact. Also be sure to accelerate through the ball to your finish as this is what will get the ball spinning up the club face. The last thing, but equally as important, is to have very clean grooves on your wedges. A club with dirty grooves will never spin the ball no matter how good of a move you put on it and a 3 piece urethane covered golf ball also helps of course

[Mizzy57]

Thanks, you may have solved it for me.
I think I just need to come in at a steeper angle of attack to get added spin. I've been using my normal pitch shot, but just with an abbreviated followthru.

Do you release like a pitch or hold off like a chip?

[Lebowski]

at impact my left hand is bowed and my hands are leading ahead of the clubhead, but as I accelerate through to my finish, my left arm and club shaft form almost a perfect straight line, but the clubhead never passes over my hands at any point. Hope that helps!

[AmenCorner]

I developed this shot about a year ago and man is it a useful tool. Bobby Clampett's book taught me how.

1) Shoulders square to target, feet slightly open (to let hips clear)
2) Swing back with shoulders, through with the whole body. (Shoulders & Hips)
3) Slight weight transfer so the swing has rhythm.
4) Forward swing bottom
5) and most importantly, FLAT left wrist at impact.

extra: Finish depends on distance. Longer the shot, higher the finish. 30 yards should finish like a chip.

This shot usually goes very straight, comes in hot, and checks hard. Like any shot in golf, it's not 100% guaranteed for me, but I rarely mishit the ball significantly. Sometimes a little bit thin or thick, but not enough to produce disastrous results.

[sonicblue]

Hey guys,

Ball choice, ball choice, ball choice. In all honesty, I don't find that the shot/swing itself is all that unusual. If you can swing full and get good spin, then you already know how to make a steep strike and hit the ball first. The trick is just doing the same thing with a shorter swing, which you're admitted you're not good at. Just work on swinging shorter WITHOUT changing much from your full-swing-with-spin swing. Oh, and choose the right ball, has that been mentioned??

[Leftygolfer]

This is a shot I am good at. I was not until I got the 64. I take about a 9 oclock swing and just make sure the ball is back so I can hit down on it. I really dont think about much after set up. This wedge has really helped. With the 60, I just couldn't take enough off but with the 64 I can be smooth and hit em close. It is a cool shot.

[NotAStick]

I don't know, that's a tough shot to execute and depends so much on the green. Hitting a downslope, dry spot or even the wrong grain can really mess up the spin, so it's a shot that I don't rely on that much, though it is in the bag and I pull it out now and then, often in a strong wind from about 50 yards.

Controlling the distance at that range is so damn difficult and it gets even harder having to gauge for the spin and hardness of the green, so I tend to shy away from it a bit. When I'm relying on VERY VERY precise contact to spell the difference between "good shot" and "blew it right into the back bunker", I just don't feel comfortable.

I guess, when I think about it, I mostly use it off tight lies as well, when getting it up high isn't practical and it's easier to "pick" it clean without the worry of extra grass really messing with the spin.

[Lebowski]

When fairways are mowed very tight, the low spinner feels like a much higher percentage shot sometimes compared to a high lofted pitch or even the flop shot on certain days. The low checking wedge is very easy to repeat once you get the hang of it, even on your bad ball striking days.