Wedge trouble from the fairway?

[Cut68]

Anyone else have a hard time hitting sand wedges from the fairway? I've tried a bunch of the wedge companies (Currently have the Taylormade Z in my bag) and have always had trouble hitting that shaped club from the fairway. I'm deadly with them from 60 yards in, but struggle on a 100 yard shot. I'm considering buying a more oversized wedge that matches my set just to cure this problem. Does anyone else carry 2 wedges of similar lofts but different shapes for this reason? just curious.

[delav]

Make sure you're hitting the ball with forward shaft lean.  The bounce on your wedges will make tight shots (fairway lie) much more difficult if you are flipping through the ball.

[Cut68]

I appreciate the advice. Can you expand a bit on "forward shaft lean"? I'm not sure I'm following you

[Kieran123]

Yep, forward shaft lean, all about the leading edge

[Wet Doggg]

Can you define "having trouble"? Last summer a friend of mine was having trouble hitting 56 degree sand wedge with 14 degrees of bounce. He kept hitting full shots with the club short. He felt like he was making good swings. To me it looked like he was hitting the ball fat. But to him it felt like the club was "sliding" under the ball. After watching him a while I figured out he was lining up the face a little open. So when he took a full swing. The bounce of the club took over and actually make the club slide right under the ball. Once we got his face squared up...he started to hit much more crisp shots. Not sure if this is your issue or not. Just throwing it out there.

[Cut68]

I tend to hit it fat and/or pull it. I don't think it's bounce, I always play wedge's without much bounce. For some reason, I just can't seem to catch it crisp. I will often time end up closing the face and hitting a hard punch. This works in many situations but isn't my ideal

[mlf16507]

Originally Posted by Cut68

I appreciate the advice. Can you expand a bit on "forward shaft lean"? I'm not sure I'm following you

Go to "Reading Room" portion of the forum and check out the thread of"The Impact Zone by Bobby Clampett".

[delav]

Originally Posted by Cut68

I appreciate the advice. Can you expand a bit on "forward shaft lean"? I'm not sure I'm following you

The yellow and orange lines show Juke Donald maintaining lag into impact.  They are traced over his shaft and left arm, the center of the angle is his hands.

Notice how at impact (the thick orange line) his hands are still ahead of the clubhead?  The shaft is leaning forward here, toward the target.

Try to learn this position at impact, your ball striking with all clubs with improve big time.

[NEOHMark]

Originally Posted by delav

The yellow and orange lines show Juke Donald maintaining lag into impact.  They are traced over his shaft and left arm, the center of the angle is his hands.

Notice how at impact (the thick orange line) his hands are still ahead of the clubhead?  The shaft is leaning forward here, toward the target.

Try to learn this position at impact, your ball striking with all clubs with improve big time.

That is an outstanding graphic.  It really gives a great visual of proper arm/hand/club position through the impact and release.  It also is a good illustration of how pros tend to 'de-loft' their clubs at impact.

Thanks for posting that.

[max power]

Probably some flipping, plus the fact that you're hitting it fat and/or pulling it leads me to believe you're swinging too hard.  You don't have to hit a SW 100 yds.  Take 1 more club (GW or PW), choke down an inch, and swing smoothly.

[ControlJunkie]

Excellent image, delav!

Off topic, but guys, posts like his is the type of stuff you should be giving a thumbs up if you found it especially helpful. Just wanted to mention that because I thought his post deserved it.

[Cut68]

Originally Posted by delav

The yellow and orange lines show Juke Donald maintaining lag into impact.  They are traced over his shaft and left arm, the center of the angle is his hands.

Notice how at impact (the thick orange line) his hands are still ahead of the clubhead?  The shaft is leaning forward here, toward the target.

Try to learn this position at impact, your ball striking with all clubs with improve big time.

Amazing post, this clarifies some things for me. I am very short and tend to have a very round, flat swing to get to square. I don't think I'm swinging to hard, as I typically dial down the swing speed substantially with my short irons. This description makes perfect sense to me

[delav]

Originally Posted by Cut68

Amazing post, this clarifies some things for me. I am very short and tend to have a very round, flat swing to get to square. I don't think I'm swinging to hard, as I typically dial down the swing speed substantially with my short irons. This description makes perfect sense to me

Glad it helps.  Without turning this thread into an instruction thread...  The other piece of hitting solid wedges (every club, really) is getting your weight through the ball.  Also in that image you'll see a red and teal lines.  This is the movement of Luke Donalds hips toward the target.  Getting your hips to slide toward your target like this will help promote shaft lean and solid impact position.

[WUTiger]

Sand wedges with a high amount of bounce, as said before, can be difficult to hit from a tight lie. I said difficult, not impossible. If you hit it square, it will work. But if you hit it fat, sometime you will skip the club off the ground and partially skull the shot.

If it's a tight lie, I'll switch to a 50* or a 58*, depending on the distance. For a hardpan lie, I would sweep downward with an 8i or a PW and catch the ball first.

Another thing: do you use a pendelum pitch swing - mostly arms drop and sweep with hips following - or do you use an iron swing with a full hip turn? I can use a quarter and half swing with pendulum, but tend to spray the ball if I try a wedge 3/4 to full with just pendulum.

[golf4fun12]

on my wedge play, I always try to keep my hands pointed toward the target like what everyone is saying. but, I like to hit 80% shots. if I have to club down, I do. I try not to hit the ball harder on wedge play just cause it has to be precise. at least for me.

[Wet Doggg]

Have to agree with all that is said and believe you are trying to hit that club too far. Grab a gap wedge or even your PW and choke down. You will hit cleaner shots and be much more consistant. That image of Luke Donald is great and really makes you visualize where your hands and club should be. He is the best wedge player in the game today...

[Cut68]

I'm curious about the idea of trying to hit it too far. I typically have dialed down my swing progressively below a 9 iron. Should I plan on an 80% swing on all wedge shots? Not something I've normally done well, which is why for a long time I carried a 64 degree wedge. I've tried the gap wedge, but, because it's the same shape, I have had the same problem with it.

[allin]

Originally Posted by Cut68

I'm curious about the idea of trying to hit it too far. I typically have dialed down my swing progressively below a 9 iron. Should I plan on an 80% swing on all wedge shots? Not something I've normally done well, which is why for a long time I carried a 64 degree wedge. I've tried the gap wedge, but, because it's the same shape, I have had the same problem with it.

Maybe not your issue, but if I try to hit a wedge hard, I tend to slide my head forward a bit and get out of sequence. I agree with previous post about hips and lower body, as this helps with this and keeps you in sequence.