Pelz Clock Method Help!!

[MiddleWest]

In the offseason this year I read The short Game Bible and was encouraged by the Pelz 3x4 method with wedges. I've always had an issue with feeling the proper distances. Unfortunately in practice especially with the 730 and 900 swings I am struggling with consistency, especially hitting the ball off the heel and shanks. Anyone else have this problem and know of a solution? Thanks in advance.

[Harmonious]

I used to have a problem with making solid contact on partial shots. What helped me was to really be aggresive through the ball. Pelz says to rotate your body through the swing with "dead hands". Maybe you are letting your arms swing out a little too much rather than rotating around your spine. But again, make sure you are making an agressive turn through the ball.

[Shindig]

Aye, the pitching snap-fades. I've had these creep up on me.

Here's the thing: while the half, quarter, three-quarter wedge shots are largely defined by how far back your arms go, you still need to pivot and rotate.

At least, I believe that's what has caused them when they happen to me.

[Gerald]

4x3 system might be nice thinking and Dave Pelz has really thought things over, but it is not 12 different distances, there are so many overlaps.

Just forget that you can repeat a 7.30 swing over and over ...... in the 7.30 shots it comes to feel, experience, pratice, etc.... also the 7.30 swing results for all 4 wedges are quite identical ..... maybe it is best to use just one club for these delicate shots and practice a lot to get this right ..... it is no science !

I personally kicked out the gap wedge, it does about nothing you can't handle with your standard wedge, or if you like a classic blade like wedge better (like the Vokey) you might consider buying a 48* (or 50*) Vokey to replace your set's standard PW.

I see people with a small notepaper in there pockets, with the Dave Pelz 4x3 distances and their other distances on the other side ...... apart from probably "illegal" ..... these are not the guys with the suberb inside 50 yds play ...... watch around along the low HC players, most have developed a feel and touch using always one club for all their short game, using a lot of different strokes ..... there are so many ways......

In the same Short Game Bible is a part on bunkershots, that in my belief is the very best chapter of the book, I used to be a digger, now I switched to his delicate bunker play I come out of any bunker with only one shot ...... I even carry two Sandwedges (56/11* and 60/07*) .... some might call them a SW and a LW, but I regard them as two SW, chosing one of them depending condition of the sand, height of the lip and room to work with.

It is the same with GPS and Range finders ...... these are only interesting to know how much to carry to get over a pond or over a bunker, but mostly you will know or you can read in the course detailed booklet ...... when your drive ends up on another fairway, these things might be of great help ..... but very "illegal" of course and it also takes the charm out of golf.

[Harmonious]

4x3 system might be nice thinking and Dave Pelz has really thought things over, but it is not 12 different distances, there are so many overlaps.

Lots of misinformation here. Knowing the yardages you hit different wedges is hardly illegal. And saying that low handicap players only use one club around the green is just wrong. There are so many variables, such as lie, distance to pin, which way the grain runs, etc. that having a variety of shots to play is imperative to getting it close. Yet you say you use two different wedges in the sand, where you don't even contact the ball (if hit correctly). Doesn't make sense.

To the OP, with practice you can dial in your various swings. But it does take practice.

[Shindig]

Just forget that you can repeat a 7.30 swing over and over ...... in the 7.30 shots it comes to feel, experience, pratice, etc.... also the 7.30 swing results for all 4 wedges are quite identical ..... maybe it is best to use just one club for these delicate shots and practice a lot to get this right ..... it is no science !

The eventual goal isn't to repeat a given swing over and over. But if you know that your 1/2 PW goes, say, 55 yards, and you have 60 yards, then you know to do a little more than 1/2 with the PW. Knowing the wedge fractional distances lets you start your feel with a much smaller range to figure out.

I personally kicked out the gap wedge, it does about nothing you can't handle with your standard wedge, or if you like a classic blade like wedge better (like the Vokey) you might consider buying a 48* (or 50*) Vokey to replace your set's standard PW.

This may or may not be good advice, replacing the set's PW with an actual wedge. I replaced my 47° MP-57 with an MP-T with the same loft and bounce. But if the person has, say, one of the Cobra sets with the 44° PW, the 48 or 50 degree wedge would need to serve as a gap wedge, not a replacement.

I see people with a small notepaper in there pockets, with the Dave Pelz 4x3 distances and their other distances on the other side ...... apart from probably "illegal" ..... these are not the guys with the suberb inside 50 yds play ...... watch around along the low HC players, most have developed a feel and touch using always one club for all their short game, using a lot of different strokes ..... there are so many ways......

First, it isn't illegal to know your distances, or to consult a notebook. Watch a professional event; on Saturday, they showed Dustin Johnson's caddy several times, and I've seen students take fewer notes with them to open-note final exams. It's no more illegal to know your 1/2 PW distance than it is to know what you get out of a full 7-iron. I won't touch the piece about one club around the green; there are enough

memorable short game shots by top players using a variety of clubs.

In the same Short Game Bible is a part on bunkershots, that in my belief is the very best chapter of the book, I used to be a digger, now I switched to his delicate bunker play I come out of any bunker with only one shot ...... I even carry two Sandwedges (56/11* and 60/07*) .... some might call them a SW and a LW, but I regard them as two SW, chosing one of them depending condition of the sand, height of the lip and room to work with.

So much for one club for the short game.

It is the same with GPS and Range finders ...... these are only interesting to know how much to carry to get over a pond or over a bunker, but mostly you will know or you can read in the course detailed booklet ...... when your drive ends up on another fairway, these things might be of great help

Certainly, there's a lot of information you can get out of a course booklet, assuming the course has one. And if you're playing the same course over and over, you can certainly make one. But first few times on a course that doesn't have a pre-made one?

..... but very "illegal" of course and it also takes the charm out of golf.

Next time you go to the golf course or golf shop, pick up a copy of the rules book. You've twice called things illegal that aren't.

[MiddleWest]

Excellent suggestions Shindig and Harmonious, I tried this evening to be more aggressive on my turn through the ball and was much more consistent. Thank you guys for the assist, this was driving me crazy. Still need practice to get them honed in but much better.

[Harmonious]

Glad to hear it. Keep working at it. I know I sometimes fall into the trap of trying to "baby" my partial shots, which lead to inconsistent contact, either fat or thin. Have to keep telling myself to be aggressive.

[Gerald]

The eventual goal isn't to repeat a given swing over and over. But if you know that your 1/2 PW goes, say, 55 yards, and you have 60 yards, then you know to do a little more than 1/2 with the PW. Knowing the wedge fractional distances lets you start your feel with a much smaller range to figure out.

It isn't much different from what I say ..... it is about feel !

This may or may not be good advice, replacing the set's PW with an actual wedge. I replaced my 47° MP-57 with an MP-T with the same loft and bounce. But if the person has, say, one of the Cobra sets with the 44° PW, the 48 or 50 degree wedge would need to serve as a gap wedge, not a replacement.

I Agree !

Certainly, there's a lot of information you can get out of a course booklet, assuming the course has one. And if you're playing the same course over and over, you can certainly make one. But first few times on a course that doesn't have a pre-made one?

There are allways markers at a course at 150 and/or 100 yds from the center of the green ..... it is "easy" to figure out the about distances, there is no need for "most" of us to know exact distances, and beside that there is also ....... slopes, height differnces, contours, wind, etc., etc., etc., all coming into play on which basis the golfer decides which club is chosen etc.

Next time you go to the golf course or golf shop, pick up a copy of the rules book. You've twice called things illegal that aren't.

Maybe the note isn't, but using a GPS or Rangefinder isn't allowed in competition, but maybe in the USA things might be different ...... don't know.....

[WUTiger]

A month ago, I went to a Cleveland scoring clinic at Golf Galaxy. One piece of advice: for partial pitches and chips, rely primarily on arm swing. This helps you keep things on line better, and I have been doing it for several weeks with OK results.

So, this past Sunday I bracketed my wedges at the local driving range. The irons-only grass tee area was wide open, so I was able to pace things off with no interruptions.

I did quarter, half, 3/4 and full swing yardage for all three of my wedges.

One thing I noticed: the quarter (7:00) and half (9:00) work fine with primarily arm swing. But, for the three-quarter and full I need an iron swing (i.e., hand drop + hip turn). Otherwise, I had a hard time with consistent contact.

Also: Make sure you're not decelerating on partial shots. If you make too quick a backswing, you may slow down on the follow-through, causing weak shots.

Note: I did the test with brand new two-stripe range balls. Didn't back any shots up five feet, but they pretty well stopped where they hit. Not sure how much distance will change with three-piece ball during play.

[Shindig]

Maybe the note isn't, but using a GPS or Rangefinder isn't allowed in competition, but maybe in the USA things might be different ...... don't know.....

Sorry, this is my bad. I thought that the R&A; and USGA agreed on this rule, but I could be (and it looks like I am) mistaken.

[brgolf]

Rangefinders are absolutely allowed in UK if the committee permits them and whilst it does require some positive action on the part of individual clubs there is in the end no reason not to allow them. Most clubs are talked around to it usually with ease.

[Gerald]

No....... officially they are not allowed, but the committee can permit the use of them .....

R&A; says :

14-3 - Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment

Except as provided in the Rules , during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner:

a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or
b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play; or
c. That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:
(i) plain gloves may be worn;
(ii) resin, powder and drying or moisturising agents may be used; and
(iii) a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.

Exceptions:

1. A player is not in breach of this Rule if (a) the equipment or device is designed for or has the effect of alleviating a medical condition, (b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device, and (c) the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.
2. A player is not in breach of this Rule if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-3:

Disqualification.

Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only.

and from the FAQ :

[The Recreational Golfer]

I like the idea of a clock method, but not literally. I have swings of different lengths based on feels of different lengths. For example, when does my left arm compress against my torso going back is one length. When my left shoulder feels a certain amount stretch is another length. When my right arm feels a certain amount of folding is another length. These all make sense to me, and are predictable and constant, for me. If I keep my swing speed constant and make consistent contact, then I'll get consistent distances with these three swing lengths.

[saevel25]

Clock method is interesting, but for me short game and pitching is all feel, i would rather see someone spend the time to practice with a multitude of clubs at different trajectories from different distances.

[Harmonious]

Clock method is interesting, but for me short game and pitching is all feel, i would rather see someone spend the time to practice with a multitude of clubs at different trajectories from different distances.

That's exactly what Pelz' method is. Hit all your wedges with different length swings, then measure how far they go. Once you know your 56* 9:00 swing goes X yards, it is relatively easy to make a slight adjustment in swing length or setup to hit X+5 yards, or X-5 yards. Once you have your yardages down pat for each of your wedges, you are set to go. His main point was to understand fully your wedge distances.

[weavej2]

In the offseason this year I read

I think Pelz acknowledges that the 7:30 is the least comfortable to learn. His method requires practice. Why not make your own system ie: 8:00 and 9:30. Having 12 wedge shots for me is a bit overwhelming, having 6 may be a bit more manageable for the guy who has a job and family. I like his ideas and feel there is real value in what he writes, maybe not word for word ..but the ideas are great. I do think that practicing on a field and writing yardages on the shaft is the BEST idea he has.