VERY low and fast slice with my wedges...(52-60)

[ripping_time]

I played insanely great to start todays round(3/3 long fairways with my driver 3/3 greens with my 2nd shot all with wedges) when something crazy happened.... The next hole was a par 3 so I whipped out my 52 degree and took what SEEMED to be my best swing ever. So obviously Im looking skywards after the shot....I see a nice huge big mac divot flying through the air and outta the corner of my eye see my ball 60 yards out maybe 6 feet off the ground slicing hard to the right. And fast. I couldnt believe it...the shot felt so NICE etc....but such a horrible shot.

Anyway, something like the next 7 or 8 shots were like that didnt matter which wedge I used. Whats going on? I really cant figure it out... Im sure this is a common problem.(my first year playing btw)

[Scottydoint]

shanked it?

[ripping_time]

shanked it?

Im not really familiar with shanking but after looking it up it might be it. Does the ball really have that low of a flight path? It doesnt seem like Im hitting it on the hosel.

[ripping_time]

I actually thought, because Im really digging down witha steep swing, that the club face twisted/delofted while the ball squished into the ground. Actually the shank thing sounds more reasonable lol

[Bauer]

The ball doesn't actually squish into the ground.

[Zeph]

Sounds like you cut across and bladed the ball, or hit it very thin.

[mtsalmela80]

Im scared to pull out my wedges when Im near the green for this very reason. Its safe to say at least 1/2 the time when Im on the course and I want to lob it a short distance and drop on the green with a wedge, I hit it thin and it rockets past the green.

I guess its about practice, practice, practice.

[Phil]

Im scared to pull out my wedges when Im near the green for this very reason. Its safe to say at least 1/2 the time when Im on the course and I want to lob it a short distance and drop on the green with a wedge, I hit it thin and it rockets past the green.

Take at least 10 practice swings until you get that swing motion that you want. Then line up watch the ball drop down right where you want it to.

[shankapotamus]

Take at least 10 practice

Replace that with: Take as many practice swings as you need to, to be comfortable, and I agree.

[umpiremark]

Replace that with: Take as many practice swings as you need to, to be comfortable, and I agree.

Talking about this dude's shanks ... shankapotamus ... that's too funny (sorry, couldn't resist).

Make sure that during your practice swings and eventual contact swing, you finish with your belt towards the hole and weight on your left foot like a full shot finish. I shank the ball when my brain farts and I lean backwards expecting that high soft lob and all my weight is right and back. A shank doesn't 'go right' it SHOOTS right and then all the laughter starts from my buddies ... I need new friends .........

[Zeph]

Replace that with: Take as many practice swings as you need to, to be comfortable, and I agree.

Replace that with: Practice as much as you need to be comfortable, then go on the course and pull off those kind of shots. Hitting shots you know you can't do is a terrible feeling. That's why practice is so useful, makes it a lot more fun. I've gone from having the fear of duffing every single chip to be disappointed if I'm not close to holing it. It's what you get from practice and confidence.

10 practice swings on the course is excessive. OK if you're alone or with a buddy who isn't bothered, but take the practice off the course.

[ripping_time]

Well I solved my problem and now Im making the BEST contact I ever had with the ball. Every single one of my wedge shots(full) were great. One the club head came in too steep and got caught in the ground but the shot was still good.

The cure was stand back like a quarter inch more then usual and just take my normal swing TRYING not to think of slicing shanking etc. Just swing.

Thanks for all the replies

[umpiremark]

The cure was ... ... ... Just swing.

Please send your payment to .... HAHAHAHAHA

Glad you figured it out. Nothing in golf is more frustrating than the "Where the hell did that come from" shot!! And trying to fix what you can't understand. Good luck!

[PingGKEN]

Well I solved my problem and now Im making the BEST contact I ever had with the ball. Every single one of my wedge shots(full) were great. One the club head came in too steep and got caught in the ground but the shot was still good.

No way, its that easy?? Just.....swing?

[topspin4hand]

I'm new to the game as well ... I went through a similar funk one day. Several wedges were flying off to the right. Some were hit thin but the majority of the ones that went off to the right were because I didn't stay down on the ball during my swing. I've found that the more lofted clubs are easier to do this if you aren't wary.

I worked it out later that week at the range. Basically, I focused on staying down (head and spine angle), and second, I worked on making sure that the angle of the shaft at address was proper so that my swing plane didn't make the "right flyer" more likely. I played my best round ever the next day ...

I actually thought, because Im really digging down witha steep swing, that the club face twisted/delofted while the ball squished into the ground. Actually the shank thing sounds more reasonable lol

[irfan]

thats what sucks about the shanks... you can have a great swing thats off by 1/2" and it shoots right.

[bjw181]

One of these will creep up on me with my wedges every once in a while too. It usually happens to me when I am trying to hit at the ball rather they swing through. My hands tense up and I leave the face wide open. It feels solid, but its not.

[ham_man]

This happened to me today, and certifiably ruined my round. All my other clubs were normal (not perfect, but 80% of the shots ended up how I wanted them), but my wedges were sh*t. Several times I striped a 3 wood down the pipe, leaving me a pitching or gap wedge into the green. Unfortunately, every time I seemed to hit a ball that went hard right. IDK what the deal is, but it is annoying as all get out.