100 yds and IN

[tazrestling27]

Hi everyone, lately I have been playing a lot of golf I have my score down in the low 70's and sometimes I am even breaking par on the front 9. However I am having trouble 100 yds, 75 yds, and 50 yds. My chipping and pitching is going pretty well however those half shots I am messing up at least twice in a round. I tend to take a huge divot but I chunk it. My irons are my best part of my game, do you think it could be that I am maybe just using all arms with my swing? I just want to know other peoples opinions. I tend to use my lob wedge. Full swing I hit 120 yds. So the 100 yds I do a little more than 3/4 a swing, 75 yds about little less than 3/4 a swing, 50 about half a swing. If anyone could just give me ideas. Today I was 2 under going into the final 2 holes, and I bogey and double bogey because I messed up these shots. I tend to hit my drive about 285 yds, so I am typically using a wedge in on most courses I play on. When you hit your 75 yd shot do you take a divot just like you do with your typical iron shot?

Thanks for your input anything you guys do for drills or tips would be great.

[dhanson]

these types of questions are difficult to answer because of the amount of variables involved in a golf shot, regardless of the distance. from 100 and in, i use anything from a 45* PW to a 58* SW. for a basic shot to an open green with the pin center to back, i use a 54* wedge moved back in my stance, and just try to land a low bullet ~10-15 feet short of the pin and let it release. i tend to be more accurate with this shot as opposed to trying to loft the ball up in the air.

maybe instead of trying to be perfect with these touch shots, you should consider clubbing down off the tee, setting yourself up for more of a full swing. i don't know what your yardage gap is between your driver and hybrid, but 9.5* would have to be a considerable loss in yardage. have you considered adding a 3W?

[tazrestling27]

My 3 hybrid is about 230yds avg, so there is a large gap. I do need to get a 3-wood, just have not pulled out my card to buy it yet because it seems for most par 5's I am already reaching in 2. Now when you say 9.5 considerable yardage loss, what do you mean if you don't mind me asking? You mean carry?

Thank you for the tips about trying to let the ball release, I never hit that type of shot, I always try to make it land and stick. I think that type of shot will stop my oversized divots.

[dhanson]

Originally Posted by tazrestling27

Now when you say 9.5 considerable yardage loss, what do you mean if you don't mind me asking? You mean carry?

sorry for the confusion. i meant, there is 9 1/2 degrees difference between your driver and hybrid, which would create a yardage gap.

[Lofty Lefty]

This may help a little...

[tazrestling27]

Thank you for the video, I will test it out. Today I did not have to many 100 yds and in drives were not as good, however shot 35 par on 9 holes. I will practice it. Thank you

[GaijinGolfer]

Taking big divots could be caused by a lot of things.  One thing you could try is when hitting a pitch or chip shot, (assuming you are right-handed) try putting 70% of your weight on your left side, playing the ball slightly back in your stance (maybe 2" behind center) and opening up your stance a bit.  That will pre-set you on your left side and allow your body to turn through the shot better and playing the ball back in your stances makes you hit down on the ball more, which will give the ball more spin.

It could be that in an attempt to get under the ball more you are hanging back on your right side through impact, which cause also cause you to hit fat shots because keeping your weight back makes your club bottom out farther back.  You need to get on your left side on the downswing so that your hips can turn though impact and you need to just trust the loft of the club.

You really might want to spend a little money on a lesson with a PGA pro.  In a 30 minutes lesson they may be able to fix flaws in your swing that would take you years to fix on your own.

[Leftygolfer]

One thing that might help is to make sure to not just make an arms swing.  I'd choke down a little, narrow the stance, and really focus on the sequence of events.  I don't have your issue (I'm a pretty terrible ball striker and driver of the ball) but typically pretty good with a wedge in my hand.  Another thought is maybe going to a higher lofted wedge.  I used a 64 for a while and was really good with it from 60-70 yards.  I found it easier for me to dial in on short shots.  Now I play with a 60 and open the face a bit and make smaller but connected swings.  But I was having trouble with the 60-70 yard shot before I got the 64, and it really gave me confidence in that area.

[Golf'nBiker]

The 100 yds and in have become my most relaxed shot.  i have forgone a 4 i due to the lack of differance between that and my 3 iron...who knows??  However I have damned near dialed in my wedges to perfection...my 60* is dialed in at 60 yrds, 58* @ 85 yrds, and the 52* at 110 yds.  As stated in an earlier reply, if you can reach a distance of 'perfection', you'll be pleasantly pleased with the 100 yds an in....g'luck.

[goblue107501]

It's just something you have to practice to get good at. I think you are on the right track with the abbreviated swings (just make sure you always accelerate through the ball, you can't give up on the swing). One thing I do in addition to that is varying amounts to choke down on the grip. That can give you a whole other shot dimention. I can choke down and use an abbreviated swing with my GW and hit it the same distance as my SW. This can be good so you can use a variety of shot types. If I hit the SW, it will be high and land soft. If I hit the GW, I can hit it lower and get a big bounce and stop if needed. There is a bunch of variety you can use if you just practice them and get the distances dialed in. My scores improved drastically once I stopped being afraid of shots 100 yards and in. Now, I don't mind one bit being 57 yards from the hole. I know exactly how to hit that shot and can hit it three different ways if I need options.

[ladders11]

I like the suggestion of adding a 64 degree wedge, but I think something else is wrong.

Personally, I swing smoother and slower with wedges, and try to focus on rhythm.  I don't really ever take a full backswing with my wedges, I stop with my arms at the 10:30 position.  Dave Pelz advocates this, in addition to the 9:00 and 7:30 swings, so that there are three consistent distances with each wedge.  It is helpful for me anyhow.

You also might be de-lofting your wedges or doing something technical in nature.

Case in point, this is from an old Golf Digest article about Adam Scott:

 MY YARDAGE AND LOFT

WOODS   Driver:   285, 8.5[degrees]
        3-wood:   250, 15[degrees]

IRONS   2-iron:   235, 19[degrees]
        3-iron:   220, 22[degrees]
        4-iron:   210, 25[degrees]
        5-iron:   200, 28[degrees]
        6-iron:   190, 32[degrees]
        7-iron:   175, 36[degrees]
        8-iron:   160, 40[degrees]
        9-iron:   150, 44[degrees]
        PW:       135, 48[degrees]
        SW:       115, 56[degrees]
        LW:        95, 60[degrees]

As you see his driver is the same as yours and his LW is at 95, which is a full 25 yards shorter than you.  This points to the idea that you are doing something wrong, but not whether it is philosophy/strategy or something technical.  As you already know, it will help your scores to be hitting the LW shorter and getting a consistent distance, whatever that number may be.

[Finenative]

I would agree that that lob wedge is of crazy distance. I think the greatest asset for me was learning to club down, it improved trajectory and distance control. Having said that, it has also tought me a very effective punch shot with the rest of my clubs. Its at this point where one starts becoming more of the tactition from a 100 yards and in.

Regards,

[LuciusWooding]

This video has helped me a lot on shorter shots, lately I've been good with my wedges in practice. You should use a club with some bounce and be brave with a firm swing, it'll make for some pretty good soft pitch shots. I also like the guy in the video in general.

On longer shots, say 70+ yards, consider moving the ball up in your stance. I promise you hitting a lob wedge 120 yards isn't good for much, you'd back it up off the green every time if it was pure swing speed; you're delofting the hell out of the wedge is my guess. I don't doubt you can hit it that far, but even Bubba and other tour pros seldom hit their LWs over 90 yards, regardless of their other distances. Try moving the ball forward in your stance or open up a bit with your wedges, it'll add loft and prevent you from making as long of a backswing.

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by tazrestling27

Hi everyone, lately I have been playing a lot of golf I have my score down in the low 70's and sometimes I am even breaking par on the front 9. However I am having trouble 100 yds, 75 yds, and 50 yds. My chipping and pitching is going pretty well however those half shots I am messing up at least twice in a round. I tend to take a huge divot but I chunk it. My irons are my best part of my game, do you think it could be that I am maybe just using all arms with my swing? I just want to know other peoples opinions. I tend to use my lob wedge. Full swing I hit 120 yds. So the 100 yds I do a little more than 3/4 a swing, 75 yds about little less than 3/4 a swing, 50 about half a swing. If anyone could just give me ideas. Today I was 2 under going into the final 2 holes, and I bogey and double bogey because I messed up these shots. I tend to hit my drive about 285 yds, so I am typically using a wedge in on most courses I play on. When you hit your 75 yd shot do you take a divot just like you do with your typical iron shot?

Thanks for your input anything you guys do for drills or tips would be great.

Make sure your swing controls the amount of clubface rotation with the right amount of forward shaft lean at impact and then it's really simple.  Take 3 wedges and 3 swings, 25%, 50%, and 75%.  That will give you 9 distances if your wedge lofts are correct (have them checked!).  I play 48 (PW) 52 (GW) 56 (SW) 60 (LW).  75% with a PW goes 125-130 and then it's down from there depending on club and effort.  Any shot playing 130 or less and I'm in wedge mode and out of full-swing mode.  You have to make the mental shift.  Also, as far as 25%, 50%, etc.  I don't actually know what these numbers are.  I have a shot that I feel is 25% and I have a shot that I feel is twice as hard and I have a shot that I feel is 3 times as hard.  The distances work out well that way, so I trust it and don't think about the numbers.  If I'm in-between, I pick the next highest yardage and grip down an inch or two and try to commit to that yardage and just trust the setup changes.  You'll see good results happen and it will be easier to trust it next time.  Start grading yourself on your committment level for each of these kinds of shots.  They take a lot of committment because the errors are more significant than for longer shots.

Get a buddy and some time in a flat field (easier said than done, right? :) and chalk off 5 yard increments.  Don't "try" to hit any yardage, focus on making the right effort swing and switch clubs and find out what they are.  This is the only reliable way, period.

[rwfastrax]

I generally try to course manage myself away from uncomfortable distances. Maybe hit the hybrid or long iron instead of driver if it leaves you with 115y instead of 60..etc. 100-140 is my absolute comfort zone. If I can have my approach shot in that range I'm set for a full firm swing. Being that you might not always be able to do so....getting better at these distances is the best idea and there are plenty of good ideas here on how to do so.

[inthecup]

Have you tried to groove one swing like a half swing and then change clubs to change distance.  If you groove that you can add another swing 3/4 say and create a second set of distances from the wedges.   In the end you will have more potential distances and trajectories.