Distances on shorter clubs.

[SpacklersEdge]

I have been re-tooling my swing lately, and I am VERY happy with how I have been hitting the ball. I am hitting the ball more crisply than I ever have. I have really worked on a 1-2 tempo thought and I am trying to swing "hard", simply maintain the same tempo on every swing.

I just played tonight, as an example I hit driver on only two holes, both were 260 or a tad more by the end. Nothing special. I play with TM RAC irons, my distances are (in the air) 185 with the 4 iron, 10 yard increments on down, ending with 125 on the wedge.

It seems my wedge is not travelling 125 all the time though. Furthermore, my wedges (cleveland CG-12) are going as follows.
52* - 100, 56* - maybe 90, and 60* maybe 75?

It would seem I should be able to hit the shorter clubs farther. I aim for 155 on the 7i, and 165 bon the 6i, but I have routinely hit hots over the past week or so than are normal swings and fly and extra 5-10 yards over that, but that NEVER happens with the 9i and down.

I should be hitting the PW maybe 130+, and on down to the 60 degree 90 or so based on the loft differences?

Any thoughts?

NOTE: I have noticed I catch the shorter clubs more toward the toe on occasion, but even when I don't the issue exists if this helps?!

[Rugger]

I have a somewhat similar situation. I can get great distance on 3-9, but my wedge distances don't seem to correlate like they should.

[senorchipotle]

your wedge sounds like a ball placement issue. if you play the ball too far back you're going to lose lots of distance.

[SpacklersEdge]

your wedge sounds like a ball placement issue. if you play the ball too far back you're going to lose lots of distance.

Why? I need to understand why that is to grasp it. If anything, too far forward and it will come off too high and end up short in my opinion, farther back would promote a lower launch angle and thus a farther shot right? Regardless I am playing PW-LW with the ball in the center of my feet.

[senorchipotle]

Why? I need to understand why that is to grasp it. If anything, too far forward and it will come off too high and end up short in my opinion, farther back would promote a lower launch angle and thus a farther shot right? Regardless I am playing PW-LW with the ball in the center of my feet.

a ball hit higher will always carry farther than a low shot. my best guess without seeing a vid is you are shortening your swing arc by your shoulders being ahead of the ball and literally hitting down on it. if you get to the range tomorrow, take out a wedge and put the ball in the middle of your stance, then take the same swing you would with a three iron, keeping your head behind the ball and making a wide backswing and downswing, making sure the club passes your body after the ball.

[Harmonious]

Is the trajectory of your wedges what you want? Do they spin the way you want? Are they going straight, and not fading off to the right? If all your answers are yes, why would you care how far they go? Get your distances dialed in, whatever they are, and you'll be fine.

I play my PW at about 115, my full 56* SW at 85. I don't think you are too far off. The Taylor Made lofts may be strong, which make you feel you should hit the wedges farther, but the short irons are not about distance, they are about control. Just make sure you are making solid contact.

PS: A ball hit higher does not always fly farther. If so, a 60* wedge would go farther than a 56*.

[senorchipotle]

PS: A ball hit higher does not always fly farther. If so, a 60* wedge would go farther than a 56*.

it will when it's hit with the same club, given wind is not a factor and they're both swung at the same speed.

[Harmonious]

it will when it's hit with the same club, given wind is not a factor and they're both swung at the same speed.

Try this, senor: Take an iron. Hit one with the ball played an inch or two forward of its normal position. The ball will fly higher and shorter than your normal shot. You are basically turning an 8 iron into a 9 iron, for example. Hit another with the ball played back. The ball will fly lower, and will go longer. You are turning an 8 iron into a 7 iron.

Why do you think a flop shot is hit with the ball forward in your stance? The ball flies higher, shorter and lands softer because you have added loft.

[iacas]

it will when it's hit with the same club, given wind is not a factor and they're both swung at the same speed.

The problem is that the example Harmonious gave - of a 60° wedge versus a 56° wedge - meets that criteria... "same club" effectively, wind not a factor, and swung at the same speed (they're the same length). One just throws the ball higher.

Because of spin a higher launching ball does not always go farther, no. There's an obvious spot with a driver where launching the ball too high begins to decrease distance. The same is true of a 3-iron, a 7-iron, etc. There's an optimal launch window for each club given the player's ball speed, spin, etc.

[martytilma]

Not only do I have the same problem, but I hit my wedges just about the exact same distances as you do. I'm sick of people telling me that I need to just work with those distances. That doesn't fix the problem. I must be doing something wrong that produces that distance. My average swing speed with my driver is about 110 and I average about 260-270 off the tee. I really should be able to hit my PW farther than 120! Especially when someone I play with regularly hits his driver about 230, yet can hit almost all of his wedges farther than me. And before anyone says it, I'm not trying to get into a pissing contest with him because I will usually beat him 9 out of 10 times. Its just that I have the swing speed to produce it, so why is it not happening?

There, I got that out of my system. Whew!!

[Harmonious]

Not only do I have the same problem, but I hit my wedges just about the exact same distances as you do. I'm sick of people telling me that I need to just work with those distances. That doesn't fix the problem. I must be doing something wrong that produces that distance. My average swing speed with my driver is about 110 and I average about 260-270 off the tee. I really should be able to hit my PW farther than 120! Especially when someone I play with regularly hits his driver about 230, yet can hit almost all of his wedges farther than me. And before anyone says it, I'm not trying to get into a pissing contest with him because I will usually beat him 9 out of 10 times. Its just that I have the swing speed to produce it, so why is it not happening?

Could it be ball position with your shorter clubs? Having watched the guys on tour in person, one thing that immediately becomes apparent is how low a trajectory they get with their short irons on their full swings. Watching them on the driving range as they warm up before a round, it almost seems like their wedge's ball flight is very similar to their 5 irons. Until you see the distance the ball goes, you wouldn't know what club they were hitting. Maybe you've slowly been moving the ball too far forward, or have slowly lost the pronated wrist at impact. Anyway, just a thought.

[double_j]

I'm the same way. It's not the worst thing in the world since it's easy to build into your game but it is a bit odd. A couple of points I've found:

1.) are you sure you're swinging your short clubs with the same effort as your longer ones? I generally swing my wedges about 10% slower than my longer clubs since I subconsciously think of anything within 130 yards as a 'touch' shot. This really gives me the feeling that I'm totally in control of those shots and gives me the ability to throw some darts at the green. All else equal, I prefer to sacrifice the yardage in order to gain the distance control (unless I'm looking for spin, which case I'll club up and swing a bit harder).

2.) It's possible that your wedges, etc. are a different swing weight/characteristics than the rest of your set. If the gap is really bothering you, you can always get fitted for them just as you would any other club.

3.) If you want to hit your wedges farther, you really need to deloft that club at impact by increasing lag, getting your hands in front at impact, etc. It's really no different than any other club, but it does have to be a bit more severe a motion. For me, it helps to play the ball a bit back in my stance to promote the proper down and through motion (similar to how you'd position a punch mid-iron). Just keep in mind that the harder you swing, the more spin you'll generate.

[anthony]

I've got the same issue with my 56 degree wedge. It seems like if I try anything over a 3/4 or even a little less it just goes higher. Last week at the range I was hitting my 56 around 90 yds with a full swing. Well, I had that shot on Sunday and decided to try a full 56. It landed probably 12 yds short of the green. It's a different shot everytime when I try to swing full. No big deal though, just don't swing over 3/4 with my 56.

[SpacklersEdge]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

The reason I am not satisfied with playing those distances is because I can tell that I am not making solid contact. It could be I am making contact too far up the face, which is deadening the ball? It doesn't have that same "jump" off the face like it does with a 7 or 8 iron. So essentially after reading all the replies and thinking about it more, I am saying "yes, I am not making good contact with these shorter clubs", so now I just want to figure out why. I think ball position is one factor, and as someone replied I think I might be hitting down on them too much, resulting in a strike high on the face.

Would it be beneficial to hit gap wedges off a higher tee than you normally should in order to force myself to flatten out the swing plane on those clubs and see what happens?

[sean_miller]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I remember playing a round (years before Tin Cup came out) and being faced with 110 yards to a tight pin, all over water. I hit my 60 degree hard and it landed at 90 yards - in the water. I dropped another ball and hit it pure - right at 90 yards - into the drink. I dropped another ball and hit it 90 yards - landing at the exact same spot. I hit the second and third balls harder than the first, but the ball just went higher and landed at 90 yards.

I learned something very important about my swing and hitting wedges that day. 1.) the 60 deree wedge was a very consistent 90 yards with a full swing (probably farther now with 2010 golf balls and many more years of playing - who knows - I never hit 100% with a lob wedge), and 2.) From 110 yards, I should use a 55 degree or knock down a pitching wedge.

[saevel25]

Hehe, yep... Got to love when you flush one, its soars into the sky, only to barry in the front bunker. Nothing like enjoying a shot going into a hazards ;b

[allin]

The problem is that the example Harmonious gave - of a 60° wedge versus a 56° wedge - meets that criteria... "same club" effectively, wind not a factor, and swung at the same speed (they're the same length). One just throws the ball higher.

I am a good example of what can happen. I hit my short irons as far or farther than my buddies. Because my swing is rather steep. My gaps are fairly large between short irons and wedges. Partly this is due to a lack of lateral movement, to shallow out my swing, because I have a bad hip. I only carry my driver 10-15 yards farther than my 3w. This is why I carry the FY and my next club is a 4hybrid.

[purduegolfer]

it will when it's hit with the same club, given wind is not a factor and they're both swung at the same speed.

Not all the time, it all depends on the swing, I can hit my PW 130-140 and a 56* 100-110, and my 60* 90-100, I tend to hit lower shots than everyone who I've ever played with in this club ranges, some people just open their club face with their wedges without even knowing it.