Wedge shots

[JPBayern]

I've been fiddling around with my two wedges trying to learn to consistently hit two distinct roll patterns. The first, to get the ball to land on the green and then bite and spin backwards; the second shot being a flop shot where the ball lands and stops nearly immediately.

I assume both are related to the amounts of backspin created by the stroke, but I'm relatively new to the game so I don't want to make incorrect assumptions.

Any tips or advice on how to perform these two shots would be greatly appreciated!

[shankapotamus]

Just wondering, why do you want the ball to spin back? That makes it hard to control, but to each his own.

I would suggest Secrets of the Shortgame by Phil Mickelson, to learn the flop shot.

[JPBayern]

Just wondering, why do you want the ball to spin back? That makes it hard to control, but to each his own.

I think what I'm really looking for is being able to control the amount of spin I need. I have a hard time just dropping my shots on the green without having a bunch of roll to them and find that at distances under 40 or so yards, this is something that I'm leaking strokes on. Sometimes the roll isn't bad, other times it hits and ends up rolling to the edge of the green. Maybe not so much focusing primarily on getting the ball to spin back after landing, but being able to control spin in a manner that I can control the amount of roll I put on shots (from zero spin to having it spin backwards). I hope I'm making sense here

[ks8829]

ball position and the direction of your take away and how abruptly you take the club with wrist hinges creates the different shots you mention. you will need to play with different ball position and take away to find what allows for the results you are looking for.

[JPBayern]

ball position and the direction of your take away and how abruptly you take the club with wrist hinges creates the different shots you mention. you will need to play with different ball position and take away to find what allows for the results you are looking for.

I understand what you mean by wrist hinge mechanics and I agree completely! As for take away, are you referring to backswing particulars? Could you maybe elaborate slightly on how this affects the shot? Maybe briefly describe what different take aways do to your shots (generally)?

Also, doesn't opening or closing the clubface (and opening or closing your stance to match) to an appropriate degree also affect the spin and thus the result after the ball lands? Any and all advice is appreciated!

[Power_fade]

Yes, opening your stance and the clubface and keeping the club square to the target line throughout the swing is a good way to add spin. One thing though. A flop shot will spin backwards about 95% of the time. So technically the first and second shot you mentioned would be the same thing. If you want the ball to hit the green and stop, then do a normal pitch shot using the technique I just described with your highest lofted wedge. Depending on the type of ball you use and the speed of the green it will either stop or roll out a little.

[JPBayern]

Yes, opening your stance and the clubface and keeping the club square to the target line throughout the swing is a good way to add spin. One thing though. A flop shot will spin backwards about 95% of the time. So technically the first and second shot you mentioned would be the same thing. If you want the ball to hit the green and stop, then do a normal pitch shot using the technique I just described with your highest lofted wedge. Depending on the type of ball you use and the speed of the green it will either stop or roll out a little.

Thanks for the advice! I use Bridgestone e5+ and e6+ balls for the record.

[Bear]

Thanks for the advice! I use Bridgestone e5+ and e6+ balls for the record.

Both of those balls should spin adequately enough to stop. I think you may be trying to hit the same shot two different ways. Hitting a shot that lands 3 feet past the pin then spins backwards is a LOT harder than hitting a shot that hits and releases three feet towards the hole. Harder in the sense that it's difficult to determine just how much it's going to spin back. That said, a lot depends on the firmness of the greens you're playing. Some greens are very receptive and the ball will stop dead others just won't. Knowing that characteristic is the first step in determining what shot you're going to hit. To generate a high amount of spin I concentrate on two things, acceleration and a high finish. If you're not accelerating through the ball you're not going to generate optimal spin. A high finish insures that I'm generating as much spin as possible. The second shot I use is basically a hop and stop. It's more of a high compression half swing. It helps to think of it as a pitch and run on steroids! :) The ball doesn't fly as high but when it hits it takes a hop and then just stops. In either case, practice practice and more practice is your friend!

[imtomtomim]

ok, I understand that you want to have these shots because it seems impressive or useful, but really, you gotta play to what's coming out. Controlling spin is more knowing how much spin is coming out, not increasing or decreasing spin.

anyways, if you really want to get more spin, you gotta make the ball roll up more of the clubhead. Be that angle of attack or more speed through the bottom, you gotta figure that out, but that's the basic of what needs to happen.

[MSchumacher]

Pros seem to have a chip that will stop on a dime. And then on the next hole have a chip that rolls 10ft. How do they do that?