How to Hit Partial Wedge Shots - Learn your Tweener Yardages

[slightlymad]

Ok, I guess my question is; why would it be so difficult to hit a full wedge shot.

[saevel25]

Ok, I guess my question is; why would it be so difficult to hit a full wedge shot.

It's not, but why swing at the max distance when you can control your distance and your accuracy?

If I have 100 into the green and I can hit my 56 degree 100 yards on a full shot, but I can take my 52 and swing 3/4 and get 100 yards. Yet, I average 35 feet with the 56, but I average 30 feet with the 52. I rather take the 52 because I can hit it 100 yards and I get on average 5 feet closer.

Also swinging at partial wedge distances make it easier to hit it at different trajectories.

Wider variety, same distance control, and more accurate. All bonuses over a full wedge shot.

It does take practice to learn the distances and get use to partial wedge shots.

[slightlymad]

[QUOTE]Yet, I average 35 feet with the 56, but I average 30 feet with the 52. I rather take the 52 because I can hit it 100 yards and I get on average 5 feet closer. [/QUOTE] What do you mean by this, I average?(English is not my native :))

[slightlymad]

My point is I guess that I believe it to be much more difficult to dial I on those 40-75% shots. Judging distance is already pretty hard, adding the extra effort of adjusting your swing based on distance makes it even harder. A not so good player might be better off to just hit his full wedge(a full swing can be 80% btw, just what feels full swing to the player) Again Im not sure but I haven't heard a compelling argument that hitting partial shots of 100 yards would be easier and more accurate with a pw then a 56 full swing for example.

[iacas]

My point is I guess that I believe it to be much more difficult to dial I on those 40-75% shots. Judging distance is already pretty hard, adding the extra effort of adjusting your swing based on distance makes it even harder.

I don't think it is. And if it is, it doesn't take very long to sort out your 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 wedge distances.

A not so good player might be better off to just hit his full wedge(a full swing can be 80% btw, just what feels full swing to the player)

I think the opposite is more likely true. They're a "not so good" player so the bigger the swing, the more likely something is to go awry. Generally speaking.

Again Im not sure but I haven't heard a compelling argument that hitting partial shots of 100 yards would be easier and more accurate with a pw then a 56 full swing for example.

I hate "appeals to authority" and all that, but ask just about any better player and they'll tell you… it's easier to control distance with a 3/4 PW than a full-out SW (or whatever distances overlap). Unless a pro or a good amateur player needs a lot of spin, they often hit the slightly longer club a bit softer.

[slightlymad]

Ok, I'll guess I'll just try and see for myself. Do we have a thread here about 1/2 and 3/4 swings or do you have any advice to link here?( it's not in the book right, at least I don't remember seeing it)

[boogielicious]

Ok, I'll guess I'll just try and see for myself. Do we have a thread here about 1/2 and 3/4 swings or do you have any advice to link here?( it's not in the book right, at least I don't remember seeing it)

Try it!  You'll like it!

[Ernest Jones]

Try it!  You'll like it!

[iacas]

Ok, I'll guess I'll just try and see for myself. Do we have a thread here about 1/2 and 3/4 swings or do you have any advice to link here?( it's not in the book right, at least I don't remember seeing it)

It is in LSW, if that's what you mean, but… this thread is also more about pitching, while we consider these "Full Swing Motions." So let me look for a better thread…

Uh, here's the perfect one:

[slightlymad]

Cool, thanks guys. Looking in the book i now remember the part about mapping your gaps. Gonna look into this to see how this feels and if i can get a consistent 3/4 or 1/2 swing

[dave s]

Another success factor in hitting the short wedges is knowing the exact yardage to your target.  My laser yardage tool (bushnell) is probably most valuable inside 100 yards. Knowing the exact yardage helps select the correct wedge and hit the right shot.

This is especially critical when you get inside 70 yards.  If you stand next to someone and shoot the yardage, they USUALLY estimate fewer yards than the range finder says.  Any question why most people come up SHORT on the shots?!

Good information on how to hit the shots.  It's also equally, if not more important, to know the exact yards so you know which shot to use.

dave

[inthecup]

I have one partial wedge swing right now and it is more of a 3/4 swing.  It can be very accurate if executed correctly.  I dialed it in over the winter on the monitor into a net.  I take the 3/4 Shot all the way to 8 iron.  It is a good thing to have in the bag on a windy day.  The shots are flighted down from my normal trajectory and spin less so the wind effects them less.

Being there is one alternative yardage to each club I have not put labels on the clubs.  Erik suggested putting labels by the grip.  To me it makes sense to put it by the head, easier to read when pulling clubs.  I plan to put it yardages in my  Aimpoint book.

[brettfan]

I've followed this advice with great success.  I catch a lot of sh*t on the course from my buddies for carrying around a yardage book where I've written down yardages for all kinds of shots... full/half/quarter pitch shots, carry distances from bunker shots, etc.  On the other hand I get lots of compliments on my short game.  Surprisingly, nobody ever seems to make a connection between the two things... maybe, just maybe, I have a decent short game because I have an idea of how far I am going to hit every shot and am not just going "by feel".

One other thing.  I have a rangefinder but I find that I almost exclusively use it inside 100yds.  After reading LSW I realized that the sprinkler heads are usually good enough for yardage when I am a good distance from the hole... just get it on the green.  It's only when I'm close that a couple yards might actually matter to me.  I always chuckle (inside) when one my playing partner pulls out the range finder from 245 out but just "wings it" from around 60 yards.

[saevel25]

One other thing.  I have a rangefinder but I find that I almost exclusively use it inside 100yds.  After reading LSW I realized that the sprinkler heads are usually good enough for yardage when I am a good distance from the hole... just get it on the green.  It's only when I'm close that a couple yards might actually matter to me.  I always chuckle (inside) when one my playing partner pulls out the range finder from 245 out but just "wings it" from around 60 yards.

I love my rangefinder. I don't trust yardages marked on a golf course.

[AbsoluteTruths]

I did this yesterday:

1) Take all of your wedges to a course or field or something.

2) Hit 10 balls with your first wedge swinging back to whatever you want to call 1/4 position.

3) Hit 10 balls with the same wedge going to half.

4) Hit 10 going back to 3/4.

5) Hit 10 with a full swing (skip this for the lob wedge perhaps).

6) Write down the distances they carry.

7) Repeat for other wedges.

That's it.

I got these results:

These are yards for 1/4 1/2 and 3/4 swings.

PW- 15, 20, 30

50 drg- 15, 20, 25

56 dgr- 10, 15, 25

Of course lower lofts produced lower trajectories. And these are landing distances and not roll out.

Then I saw this:

This is Erik @iacas with his 1=48(PW) dgr 2=54 dgr 3=60 dgr.

I do not understand these vast differences. Either:

A- I am a weakling.

B- @iacas is a monster.

C- I am doing something wrong.

[mvmac]

I got these results:

These are yards for 1/4 1/2 and 3/4 swings.

PW- 15, 20, 30

50 drg- 15, 20, 25

56 dgr- 10, 15, 25

Of course lower lofts produced lower trajectories. And these are landing distances and not roll out.

I do not understand these vast differences. Either:

A- I am a weakling.

B- @iacas is a monster.

C- I am doing something wrong.

Do your 1/2 and 3/4 swings look like this?

http://thesandtrap.com/t/77861/how-to-hit-partial-wedge-shots-learn-your-tweener-yardages#post_1070197

[AbsoluteTruths]

Do your 1/2 and 3/4 swings look like this?

http://thesandtrap.com/t/77861/how-to-hit-partial-wedge-shots-learn-your-tweener-yardages#post_1070197

No they looked more like the ones in the flighting your wedges thread.

[mvmac]

No they looked more like the ones in the flighting your wedges thread.

Ok. I was referring more to the backswing length.

For a 3/4 pitching wedge, you're taking it back this far and hitting it 30 yards?