Wedge Distance Problems

[golfer23]

So I recently I took lessons, and my smooth has became much smoother but I've developed a big problem. I hit my PW about 150, and used to hit my 52 - 125 yards, 56 - 110 yards, and the 60 - 90-95 yards. Now with the swing adjustment my PW is still 150 while the 52 goes about 110, the 56 about 95, and the 60 about 80. I don't know what to do about this as it's tough to play with this big of game. I am currently using Vokey Spin Milled Wedges.

Second question is I am currently in the market for a 5 wood or hybrid and I can't decide which one I want to carry in my bag? I carry Driver, 3 wood, 4-PW, 52, 56, 60, putter. Any opinions would be appreciated!!

Thanks, Ty

[Jack]

I very much doubt that you hit your wedges this far. If you did, then I suspect that you would have enough ability not to have this problem. You need to,

1) Check your distances

2) Work on your technique. Find what works for you hitting partial distances.

If you have been taking lessons I'm sure your pro can help you with this.

[bkoguy07]

Just choke down on your PW if you really hit it 150.  That should help

[michaeljames92]

Chances are your pitching wedge is probably strongly lofted and longer in length than your 52. It is pretty standard that equivalent lofted blade wedges often dont go as far as a cavity wedge. So for instance a 48* PW, 52* and 56* probably wont have equal yardage differences.

[golfer23]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm going to try an choke down, and see if that helps. I have lessons next Monday so I'll bring the problem up to him for sure. And in no way am I trying to lie about my distances. I wish I didn't hit my pitching wedge that far it really causes a lot of problems for me, and affects my game greatly. Its hard having that gap and having to taking 3/4 swings because in no way am I good enough to do that with consistency yet.

Also, anyone have any opinions on the 5 wood or hybrid?

Thanks again!

Ty

[bkoguy07]

5wood or what hybrid? Typically a 3H is 19*(around there) like a 5W.

I would go try to hit both.. which ever you hit better I would take.  The hybrid you can hit out of difficult lies more often so you might want to consider that as well

[golfer23]

Ya a 3H is what I would get. I have room for either a 5W or 3H in my bag, and I'm not sure what I want. I'm thinking a hybrid, because as you said, is easier to hit out of more difficult lies.

Originally Posted by bkoguy07

5wood or what hybrid? Typically a 3H is 19*(around there) like a 5W.

I would go try to hit both.. which ever you hit better I would take.  The hybrid you can hit out of difficult lies more often so you might want to consider that as well

[bkoguy07]

Go hit both of them and see, but the hybrid could potentially get more use.

[Ctp722]

I would also vote for a 3H.

I also wonder if you're hitting the PW that far are you closing the face to de-loft the club? Try opening  the face more.

[dsc123]

Originally Posted by Ctp722

I would also vote for a 3H.

I also wonder if you're hitting the PW that far are you closing the face to de-loft the club? Try opening more the face more.

I agree with this.

[max power]

Don't hit your PW so far.  Seriously, choke down an inch, take a slightly easier swing.

[saevel25]

I know your pain,

My yardages,

60°- 100

56°- 115

52°- 130

48°- 145

Anything below 100, i just gauge down, i can usually hit a punch 56 about 80 yards, and a punch lob wedge about 65 yards. so i tend to hit a knock down shot, taking a bit off it and try to get my yardages there. Good thing about this shot is, it produuces more spin, so you really don't have to worry about the lower trajectory.

[Shindig]

What's the loft of your PW? I think this may be some of the mystery.

[rustyredcab]

I'm working on an easier swing that creates less distance but consistent distance. 150 is a very long PW for a 20 hdcp. I working on a nice 105-110. I can nuke it to 130 but what is the point? If you really hit a nice high wedge 150, I'd back off until you can control it.  If you can control it, work an some short game and get that handc down in single digits.

As for shorter than normal shots with clubs, I'm of the choke down an inch for every ten yards you want to take off and then swing normally school. If you need shorter than that, practice man practice.

[saevel25]

Length has nothing to do with handicap. When i was 14-15 years old, i hit the ball 270 off the tee and could hit my Ping Eye 2, PW 145 yards. Guess what, my handicap was around a 20, so lets put that stereotype to bed. Handicap and length are not that link, not all long hitters are scratch and not all short hitters are high handicap players. You can easily miss alot of strokes hitting a banana ball 250 yards out and 40 yards right, as you can if you only hit it 200 off the tee.

[rustyredcab]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Length has nothing to do with handicap. When i was 14-15 years old, i hit the ball 270 off the tee and could hit my Ping Eye 2, PW 145 yards. Guess what, my handicap was around a 20, so lets put that stereotype to bed. Handicap and length are not that link, not all long hitters are scratch and not all short hitters are high handicap players. You can easily miss alot of strokes hitting a banana ball 250 yards out and 40 yards right, as you can if you only hit it 200 off the tee.

I agree. Long does not mean low hdcp. However, I would suggest that IF you are long, and IF you are also a high hdcp, then you likely are not accurate and may want to back off a bit and get control.

I'm a singer. A common axiom of my current directors is, "No louder than beautiful" For me, the golf equivalent is, "No longer than controllable."

If one can control a 150 yard PW and the other short irons like the 180 yard 7-iron, and is still a 20 hdcp, then the something else is raising the scores. I'll bet a dime that a 20 hdcp who hits a PW 150 yards, is not hitting it where he wants.

[Tomboys]

Originally Posted by rustyredcab

I agree. Long does not mean low hdcp. However, I would suggest that IF you are long, and IF you are also a high hdcp, then you likely are not accurate and may want to back off a bit and get control.

I'm a singer. A common axiom of my current directors is, "No louder than beautiful" For me, the golf equivalent is, "No longer than controllable."

If one can control a 150 yard PW and the other short irons like the 180 yard 7-iron, and is still a 20 hdcp, then the something else is raising the scores. I'll bet a dime that a 20 hdcp who hits a PW 150 yards, is not hitting it where he wants.

Excellent post.  While I'm sure there's some long hitters on this site, generally, most amateurs (including myself) swing their irons at a level that generates maximum distance.  In contrast, most pros swing their irons at a level that generates a balance between maximum distance and maximum control.

[saevel25]

I advocate swing as hard as you can till you loose balance, than tone it down a few. Learning your balance speed you can really control how fast you swing the club.