Trouble hitting my GW over 50 yards

[B-Con]

I'm not a long hitter, but lately I've improved my swing and gotten my iron and driver distances up to a respectable carry. I hit my 9i about 110 yards on an average good hit, my PW probably 10 or 15 yards shorter than that.

But I can't for the life of me get my 52* gap wedge to carry beyond 60 yards. Even when I use the best, fastest swing I can and I make good contact the ball pops up like it's filled with helium and lands maybe 55 yards away. I can't imagine getting it to carry to 100 yards (like I've heard some people claim to send their lob wedge) without skulling it. I hear about people "playing lawn darts" with their wedges from 100 yards and in. I can't pull my GW until I'm within 50.

Distance isn't the concern with a wedge, I know, but there's a huge gap between my PW and my GW and I'd like to be able to pull my GW from farther out. I think my problem is that I approach long pitches the same way I do 20 yards pitches. I play the ball back a little more but it doesn't really help my distance. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong or how to change my approach for long pitches?

(Still haven't been able to get myself videoed yet, I'm lucky to even make it to the range right now.)

[chuckanderson]

yeah i'd say you're scooping it. make sure you really hit it with a nice hands forward, descending blow

[max power]

I'm not a long hitter, but lately I've improved my swing and gotten my iron and driver distances up to a respectable carry. I hit my 9i about 110 yards on an average good hit, my PW probably 10 or 15 yards shorter than that.

Had the same problem for years with my SW. The problem still occasionally pops up with my GW-I think swinging hard (combined with scooping) actually makes things worse. Practice some half swings with your GW with your weight set excessively forward, try to get the feel of solid contact without flipping and/or scooping.

[Fat Slice]

You're scooping the ball, using your wrists and/or setup to 'help' the ball into the air. That will kill distance. Just hit down on the ball, pretend it is the 9-iron, and the club will do the work.

[kafka01]

Yep, i´m also in the scooping camp.

BTW. trying to swing hard with a wedge somehow destroys the purpose of a wedge shot, doesnt it? Just take one club more and have a better success and accuracy rate.

[zeg]

I have the same problem sometimes. As others have said, it's letting the club get ahead and increase its loft.

What works for me is to be sure I feel the clubhead turn on the backswing, sometimes even intentionally rotating it early. Then I try to hold that as long as I can during the downswing. When I do this, it helps keep my hands ahead of the ball. Note that I still get the face squared, and I think this is more of an awareness of a feeling than actually changing my swing much. When I do this right, I get my sand wedge out to about 80 yards; if I don't have that feeling, it's more like 50 or 60.

Anyway, I wouldn't advise taking detailed advice from me, I mostly just want to share that I find something about the short/steep wedge swing changes the feel a lot for me. As a result, I have to concentrate on something slightly different on those clubs than I do for the rest of my irons.

[jamo]

Probably a combination of flipping and mishitting it.

[sean_miller]

I have the same problem sometimes. As others have said, it's letting the club get ahead and increase its loft.

You just need to look at your profile photo for inspiration. Or imagine you're sweeping the ball with a broom gliding the blade through the ball then the turf.

[zeg]

You just need to look at your profile photo for inspiration. Or imagine you're sweeping the ball with a broom gliding the blade through the ball then the turf.

Yeah, he does have his weight well left and his hands well ahead of the ball at impact, doesn't he? The 3-hand gap between the hands is certainly non-standard, but every swing has its quirks.

[B-Con]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

If I'm scooping under the ball, is it possible my swing is too flat? I think I've I have issues with that right now.