Maintaining the Flying Wedge

[iacas]

The flying wedge - the angle between your right forearm and the club shaft - should be maintained through the downswing, impact, and beyond. It helps to guarantee that you have a flat left wrist at impact and beyond, and helps to minimize both flipping and rolling (you can't flip and maintain the flying wedge - you could rotate and maintain it but it's incredibly awkward to do so).

This video shows me maintaining the flying wedge through to where I finish. It's very easy to see at impact because that's where the camera is straight on to the angle, but as the arms and the clubhead trace the plane there's rotation (of the body) so the angle changes. If you were to follow my chest around the entire way you'd see the angle clearly maintained.

[iacas]

More here:



and here:

[saevel25]

Is that lean to the left in the first image typical with S&T, or just used for that drill?

[iacas]

Is that lean to the left in the first image typical with S&T, or just used for that drill?

I combined two drills - pre-setting the weight forward to where it should be at impact and hitting and stopping while maintaining the flying wedge.

[James_Black]

I combined two drills - pre-setting the weight forward to where it should be at impact and hitting and stopping while maintaining the flying wedge.

So should people when trying to copy this drill set their weight forward too?

[iacas]

So should people when trying to copy this drill set their weight forward too?

If they want. Let's stick to the topic though please.

[acegolfer]

The flying wedge - the angle between your right forearm and the club shaft - should be maintained through the downswing, impact, and beyond.

Maintain? Do you mean keeping the angle constant from top to finish? Or do you mean not going beyond 180*?

I'm guessing the latter. From your video, the angle at top is less than 90* but at impact it's not. It's more like 150*.

[MMouse]

For me this is where my disappointment came in with the Stack and Tilt DVD's. There weren't really any drills and such to develop it. Here's the idea, do this, don't do that, this is why and there you go.

Great drill (found similar one on youtube ) for helping with impact.

For a lot of golfers ( myself included ) this is a big hurdle in learning the swing.
What is instint, flip, twist etc the wrists to add some power. Once you get past that and learn how to maintain the flying wedge and use it in the swing , it's almost too easy.

On a side note, I've solved my lack of power issues :)

[alomar123]

I guess this helps explain what it is, but how do you keep it? Any drills for it besides trying repeatedly?

[Hollister]

Been trying hard to do it. Now I really get the idea and feel of steep shoulders plus extension on the follow thru. But I still do not get the ground contact right - currently it is a mix of shots. Yeah, I know, lateral movement not tilting back. Your drill, Erik, helps a lot to concentrate on the wrists. Brain to body...

Oh, do I have to get a green shirt to get the flying wedge drill right?

[Zeph]

Oh, do I have to get a green shirt to get the flying wedge drill right?

Nah, just get his swing and you'll be OK I think.

[iacas]

Maintain? Do you mean keeping the angle constant from top to finish? Or do you mean not going beyond 180*?

I mean maintain. It's not really there at address because the left wrist is cupped and you build it in throughout the backswing, but from there on out it's maintained.

Remember the camera angle would need to follow the chest in order for you to see the flying wedge at anywhere but impact.

I guess this helps explain what it is, but how do you keep it? Any drills for it besides trying repeatedly?

I posted a few drills to do it - just do those drills. They're the same drills (mine with the weight pre-set forward). That's about it. Impact bags work as well, I suppose.

[talismand]

I combined two drills - pre-setting the weight forward to where it should be at impact and hitting and stopping while maintaining the flying wedge.

SO if I'm having trouble with both, which is more important to work on first?

[Hollister]

SO if I'm having trouble with both, which is more important to work on first?

Just set your weight a little bit more forward then you are used to. When comfy, try more. Setting the weight simplyfies the drill and gives you a better feel for the impact position. Well, try flipping with Eriks set-up...

Back from the range - know I am having fun. Hitting half and 3/4 shots with 30-40% solid contacts. Yes, will do that the whole week. Hope to get good shots up to 50-60%.

[Paz]

By maintain the flying wedge I'm assuming you mean AT LEAST clubhead leaning forward and hands ahead of ball at impact. Because if you mean maintain a 90 degree or even less angle between shaft and right arm through impact that is just not possible. Part of the wedge has to be released on the downswing but obviously not release it so much that you flip.

This as well as a well timed hip slide are what i've been working on the most lately.

[acegolfer]

By maintain the flying wedge I'm assuming you mean AT LEAST clubhead leaning forward and hands ahead of ball at impact. Because if you mean maintain a 90 degree or even less angle between shaft and right arm through impact that is just not possible. Part of the wedge has to be released on the downswing but obviously not release it so much that you flip.

Maintaining is such a vague word. I asked what maintain means and he answered "I mean maintain."

[MikeLowry5]

Maintaining is such a vague word. I asked what maintain means and he answered "I mean maintain."

Don't question it, just do it :)

[iacas]

By maintain the flying wedge I'm assuming you mean AT LEAST clubhead leaning forward and hands ahead of ball at impact. Because if you mean maintain a 90 degree or even less angle between shaft and right arm through impact that is just not possible. Part of the wedge has to be released on the downswing but obviously not release it so much that you flip.

Who's maintaining less than a 90 degree angle? I'm looking for 135 to 150 degrees or so... and for

that angle to be maintained. Your add a little bit on the backswing and a little comes out on the downswing, but it's not wrist cock we're talking about here. The right wrist doesn't cock - that's for the left wrist to do. And in the follow through you re-hinge the club.