Inconsistent wedge play

[k-troop]

My biggest hurdle to shooting around par consistently is my wedge play.  Sometimes I feel like I'd rather be hitting a full 8-iron into a green than a gap-wedge.

Typical faults:

1. Getting a weak right ball flight that misses short.

2. Closing the face at impact, and hitting shots that fly long and left.

3. Inconsistent distance:  hitting the ball directly at the flag, but the shot lands inexplicably short, or lands 10 feet short and spins back 15 feet.

I'm not trying to hit my wedges too far:  from a clean lie in neutral conditions, I use my 48* from 135 (max), gap wedge from 115, and 58* from 80 yards.  Normally I'm using a 52* on any shot from 115 and in unless the shot really calls for a higher lofted wedge.  What is truly puzzling is that sometimes I'll pull a PW (48*) from 135, hit a decent shot directly at the flag, and the ball only flies 110.  I should certainly be able to hit a full PW much further than 110, even on a slight mis-hit.

My "go to" wedge swing thought (when clean wedge shots elude me) is to put the ball a little back in my stance and hit down on it, as I feel this gives me the most consistent (though not most ideal) contact and ball flight.

Was reading in Golf Digest over the weekend--some discussion (by Rickie Fowler, I think) that the "best wedge players" take shallow divots with their wedges.  They don't hit down on the ball.

I've tried to concentrate on a straight left arm, shorter backswing with the arms (but still with a full body rotation), and rotating through the ball fully.  This typically produces better (and shallower) contact (if I don't shank it), but also tends to produce a shot that pulls left and flies further than intended.

Other days I'll go out and flush every wedge shot, and seemingly call up the exact distance on demand.  I can never figure out the difference between the swings on good days and most days.

[Beachcomber]

My wedges... I've been hitting them really well lately... Here are a few things I've done to help me with my consistency...

1.) - Address -

In my address - feel like I'm squatting more - like pushing my butt out and getting in an athletic stance where if someone came up and pushed me - I wouldn't fall out of my stance.  Very firm to the ground.

2.) - Alignment -

I've always been open to my target line with my feet... But I've been trying to get more square to the target, especially with my wedge when I'm taking a full swing.  On 3/4 or 1/2 swings... I'll open my feet a little more.  But I've found that taking a full swing - with my feet on line with the target has helped me be more consistent.

3.) - Grip -

I recently joined Evolvr and one thing that Mike told me in a lesson is to get my right hand - where my index finger is... Get that meaty part of the palm up on top of the golf shaft more.  I tried this the last few days and it really helped me with my wedges in particular.

4.) - Confidence -

The biggest thing for me is trusting my swing and the shot I'm visualizing.  I get into a frame of mind where I feel almost 'cocky'... Like the old Larry Bird and Michael Jordan McDonalds commercial... Thinking to my self 'Nothing But Net'.  Being highly confident in my shot is really key to me pulling off the shot.  Especially when I'm hoovering over the ball about to pull the trigger.

5.) - Balance -

I try and keep everything very still and balanced.  Centered pivot, try not to move my head, and keep my right foot and knee (see my swing thread) still through the swing into impact.  This seemed to really click with my wedges in particular the last few rounds.... Now if I could only make those birdie putts!! :D

[k-troop]

No change today.  Played 9 holes, missed 3 greens.  Two of those greens missed were with wedges (from 105 yds and 60 yds).  5 of 6 greens hit were within 20 feet, using 5i, 3w, 4i, 9i, 8i.  Seriously--I need friggin help.

[Wingover718]

4.) - Confidence -

The biggest thing for me is trusting my swing and the shot I'm visualizing.  I get into a frame of mind where I feel almost 'cocky'...

This is one of the more intangible aspects of the game that eludes me. Is it the chicken or the egg? Do I hit a shot better because I am confident in it? Or am I more confident in the shot because I am better at that shot. Some of both probably. But, at times I look at a tough shot and say to myself or a friend "watch this". And, then I am all in for having opened my mouth. Under those circumstances, albeit rare for the amount of golf I play, I play some really great shots: chip ins, long putts or the high draw or cut. I wish I could bottle up the confidence and take it with me to the next hole, or shot, or round... And vice versa, we all seem to yip on a short chip or putt from time to time due to hesitation and anxiety. I love to hate this game.

[Mordan]

Originally Posted by k-troop

I'm not trying to hit my wedges too far:  from a clean lie in neutral conditions, I use my 48* from 135 (max), gap wedge from 115, and 58* from 80 yards.  Normally I'm using a 52* on any shot from 115 and in unless the shot really calls for a higher lofted wedge.  What is truly puzzling is that sometimes I'll pull a PW (48*) from 135, hit a decent shot directly at the flag, and the ball only flies 110.  I should certainly be able to hit a full PW much further than 110, even on a slight mis-hit.

Was reading in Golf Digest over the weekend--some discussion (by Rickie Fowler, I think) that the "best wedge players" take shallow divots with their wedges.  They don't hit down on the ball.

Hmm well far be it from me to disagree with Golf Digest but that goes against what works well for me. My wedge play is a strength of my game, especially consistency with distance. And I take a pretty solid divot with all my wedges. From the fairway I'd normally take a divot about 4 - 6 inches long and deep enough for the divot to be held together by soil.

Your distances are a little puzzling too. I would hit my PW from about 130 yards, slightly shorter than you, but my 60* from 90 yards, further than your 58*. I think especially with the most lofted clubs, forward shaft lean and having the club travelling down when you strike the ball is important, at least in my experience.

[Danattherock]

I wonder if Golf Digest sees the chunks of sod flying through the air on TV every weekend.

The steeper swing plane of the shortest club in the bag will promote more of a divot.

My best wedge play comes from a deliberate downward strike on the ball with hands leading club head through impact.

-Dan

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by Mordan

Hmm well far be it from me to disagree with Golf Digest but that goes against what works well for me. My wedge play is a strength of my game, especially consistency with distance. And I take a pretty solid divot with all my wedges. From the fairway I'd normally take a divot about 4 - 6 inches long and deep enough for the divot to be held together by soil.

Your distances are a little puzzling too. I would hit my PW from about 130 yards, slightly shorter than you, but my 60* from 90 yards, further than your 58*. I think especially with the most lofted clubs, forward shaft lean and having the club travelling down when you strike the ball is important, at least in my experience.

I can hit a 58* about 105-110 if I want to, but I don't--unless I have a fluffy lie or something and really need to elevate the ball.

Honestly, that might be my problem.  I'm trying to dial back the yardages on my wedges for control and consistency, and I might be missing the entire point of "hitting" the ball.

[Mordan]

I can hit a 58* about 105-110 if I want to, but I don't--unless I have a fluffy lie or something and really need to elevate the ball.

Honestly, that might be my problem.  I'm trying to dial back the yardages on my wedges for control and consistency, and I might be missing the entire point of "hitting" the ball.

Are you more comfortable with your 58* from a fluffy lie than the fairway? With a wedge I'm trying to make my slowest full swing, but that may be because my tendency is to try and kill shots which can lead to problems. But ask me to hit a 70 yard shot with my 60* and I really struggle. So if you're trying to take 10 or 20 yards off your natural distance then I'd say that's not an easy thing to try and pull off.

[GixxerTed]

Originally Posted by k-troop

No change today.  Played 9 holes, missed 3 greens.  Two of those greens missed were with wedges (from 105 yds and 60 yds).  5 of 6 greens hit were within 20 feet, using 5i, 3w, 4i, 9i, 8i.  Seriously--I need friggin help.

You think maybe you are decelerating or possibly taking to big of a swing with a wedge?  What does your ball flight look like most of the time?

Honestly i used to be this way to. I would rather have a 7 or an 8 into a green vs 115 and in. I just worked really hard on stabilizing my lower body and not taking such a big swing with a wedge.  Now from 100 in I'm pretty accurate.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by Mordan

Are you more comfortable with your 58* from a fluffy lie than the fairway?

With a wedge I'm trying to make my slowest full swing, but that may be because my tendency is to try and kill shots which can lead to problems. But ask me to hit a 70 yard shot with my 60* and I really struggle. So if you're trying to take 10 or 20 yards off your natural distance then I'd say that's not an easy thing to try and pull off.

It's not that I'm more comfortable from a fluffy lie.  It's more that from a fluffy lie, it's harder to dial back (or spin) the GW due to fliers, etc, so it makes more sense (to me) to swing a little more aggressively with the higher lofted club.

Originally Posted by GixxerTed

You think maybe you are decelerating or possibly taking to big of a swing with a wedge?  What does your ball flight look like most of the time?

Honestly i used to be this way to. I would rather have a 7 or an 8 into a green vs 115 and in. I just worked really hard on stabilizing my lower body and not taking such a big swing with a wedge.  Now from 100 in I'm pretty accurate.

It's possible that I'm not swinging aggressively enough through the ball.  When I keep my left arm straight (something I concentrate on), take a short backswing (but with a full shoulder turn), and swing through the ball I typically get good contact and distance.  My miss tends to be long and left when I do this, but that might be an alignment or grip issue.

My ball flight is usually high (we're talking about a wedge here), but I can hit the 3/4 low spinner pretty well.

I think my biggest problem is that I don't set up and hit the ball the same way every time.  I'm going to work on the stroke I described above (since it fits more into what I'm doing with my other clubs) with some alignment aids, and work on figuring out distance a little better.  Another part of the solution might be to stop using the 52* for nearly every shot (maybe I need a 54?), and bring my distances more into consisent, discrete intervals.

[GixxerTed]

Honestly it sounds like your getting to steep on your swing.  short and right coupled with a pull (over the top) and high ball Flight sounds like a steep swing. Try flattening things out a bit.  Proper wedges should be boring and stop on the green with spin.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by GixxerTed

Honestly it sounds like your getting to steep on your swing.  short and right coupled with a pull (over the top) and high ball Flight sounds like a steep swing. Try flattening things out a bit.  Proper wedges should be boring and stop on the green with spin.

That makes sense, and is consistent with what I read in GD over the weekend.  Now I'll freely admit that golf magazines routinely publish crappy info, and they'll tell you the "secret" one month, and the next tell you a completely different (and inconsistent) "secret."  However, shallower impact and less dirt seems like the exact opposite of what I do (and my intuition about wedges), so it intrigued me.

And you're exactly right:  a pull/pull-hook coupled with weak and right is a classic sign of getting to steep and coming across the ball.  That's an error I always fight, but have remedied in my longer clubs by tucking my right elbow.

Thanks--I think I've got something to work with!!

[k-troop]

Yesterday was definitely better.  I had three wedge shots (105, 60, and 66) and all three were inside 25 feet.  The full shot was on line; both of the shorter shots were a tad right and long.  I'm trying to make a conscious effort to hold the face open on the shorter wedge shots but still come in a bit shallower.

We'll see how it goes today.

[GixxerTed]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Yesterday was definitely better.  I had three wedge shots (105, 60, and 66) and all three were inside 25 feet.  The full shot was on line; both of the shorter shots were a tad right and long.  I'm trying to make a conscious effort to hold the face open on the shorter wedge shots but still come in a bit shallower.

We'll see how it goes today.

Ok awesome. Sounds good. Something else that might help you to get the feel for wedges is to go to the range and hit some half shot. Half way back/ half way through.  Then go up to 3/4 then to a full. But make sure your ball flight is staying about the same.  Hope this helps.

[k-troop]

5 wedge shots today.  All were within 25 feet, three were inside 10 feet (from 105, 72, and 55).  Contact was good and lines were good.  It's the best wedge play I've had in several months, with 8 shots in a row hit well and with great results.