How to "Flight" Your Wedges and Short Irons

[mvmac]

question for @iacas or @mvmac, so when we talk about pros hitting their short irons lower than youd expect, but theyre taking a full swing/full follow thru and not "flighting" the ball as per this thread, how are they doing that?

Not sure what you're asking. If they're making a full swing then the ball will go fairly high. They do tend to play the ball a little further back than for a stock 6/7/8 iron.

[colin007]

Not sure what you're asking. If they're making a full swing then the ball will go fairly high. They do tend to play the ball a little further back than for a stock 6/7/8 iron.

Ok so on a full shot, a pro is not necessarily hitting a lower trajectory short iron? But they're still hitting a 9 iron 170 yards if they want?

[natureboy]

Ok so on a full shot, a pro is not necessarily hitting a lower trajectory short iron? But they're still hitting a 9 iron 170 yards if they want?

That's a good point. I think for many PGA pros (not all) the wedges are the only 'short irons' they really have. But they could be taking partial swings with a 9 inside 125 yards.

I do see a lot of low arm finishes and flatter swings on shots inside 100 yards.

[mvmac]

Ok so on a full shot, a pro is not necessarily hitting a lower trajectory short iron? But they're still hitting a 9 iron 170 yards if they want?

To hit the flighted shot the pros make a flighted swing.

[saevel25]

To hit the flighted shot the pros make a flighted swing.

Would you classify this as Key 4 & 5 technique.

Though I could see someone who flips at the ball and hits wedges very high or thins them could hit a normalish wedge height shot at first with a more flighted technique.

[mvmac]

Should I send this guy a link to the thread?

Would you classify this as Key 4 & 5 technique.

Though I could see someone who flips at the ball and hits wedges very high or thins them could hit a normalish wedge height shot at first with a more flighted technique.

Depends on the player. You're basically making your stock swing, just a shorter version of it. Definitely involves some Key #5 though.

[Golfingdad]

Should I send this guy a link to the thread? ;-) Depends on the player. You're basically making your stock swing, just a shorter version of it. Definitely involves some Key #5 though.

And then the LSU kid immediately followed that with a nearly IDENTICAL shot. Lol.

[oregongolfguy]

Played around with this a bit on the range yesterday.  3/4 ish swing, ball a touch back, low finish.  I was hitting my pitching wedge about 1 1/2 shorter.  It was pretty consistent distance wise, felt very controllable.  Definitely coming out lower with less spin.  I can see how this might be the smart play often times with the short clubs.  especially if you have a middle/middle back hole location, controlled strike, let it release back instead of trying to carry all the way back.

[Jakester23]

Played around with this a bit on the range yesterday.  3/4 ish swing, ball a touch back, low finish.  I was hitting my pitching wedge about 1 1/2 shorter.  It was pretty consistent distance wise, felt very controllable.  Definitely coming out lower with less spin.  I can see how this might be the smart play often times with the short clubs.  especially if you have a middle/middle back hole location, controlled strike, let it release back instead of trying to carry all the way back.

Typically when I hit this shot I don't get less spin.

[oregongolfguy]

I am only guessing on the spin part, it appeared to roll out more on the range....but you might be totally right also.

[Jakester23]

I am only guessing on the spin part, it appeared to roll out more on the range....but you might be totally right also.

With the 330's I play I get almost no roll out hitting this type of shot. It's usually one bounce forward and 3-5 ft of release depending on how hard the greens are. I've only hit this shot with my wedges though.

[Shindig]

One question that's been bugging me: when should one start this? I don't mean where on the course, but where in our development. Is this something akin to the 1/4 and 1/2 wedge shots, where I get my distances and spend a small amount of time maintaining, is useful to just about every level of player, and am able to use regularly? Or is this something for people who have a good grasp on the first however-many keys? And the less general question: is this something I should try soon? And if so, when do I decide which clubs to flight?

[Jakester23]

One question that's been bugging me: when should one start this? I don't mean where on the course, but where in our development. Is this something akin to the 1/4 and 1/2 wedge shots, where I get my distances and spend a small amount of time maintaining, is useful to just about every level of player, and am able to use regularly? Or is this something for people who have a good grasp on the first however-many keys? And the less general question: is this something I should try soon? And if so, when do I decide which clubs to flight?

I think it's a shot that a player of any ability can use. I hit this type of shot when it's windy and almost every time I hit a wedge. I should probably use it more than I do. I'm not sure about distance with my clubs longer than my pw so I don't usually use it with 9i-5i. I did this a few rounds ago on a down hill into the wind approach with a 7i and it worked to perfection. Just give it a try at the range.

[mvmac]

Is this something akin to the 1/4 and 1/2 wedge shots, where I get my distances and spend a small amount of time maintaining, is useful to just about every level of player, and am able to use regularly?

@jakester basically said it all but yeah it's a shot every level of player can/should use. Maybe even more so for the "average" golfer to help them hit more greens from 140-130 yards and in.

[Tat14]

When I first bought LSW and began commenting here, my main objective was (and still is) to take the hook out of my game and hit more GIR. I used to think about how my better playing pals would just cruise an approach shot into the green. Some would say "what club do I want to hit 140yds" instead of reaching for a default 140yd club - if that makes sense. I was always trying to muscle the shortest club practical.

This flighted approach coupled with the push draw set up has been doing wonders for my iron game. My index has dropped a stroke and I'm right at the verge of finally breaking 80.

[mvmac]

This flighted approach coupled with the push draw set up has been doing wonders for my iron game. My index has dropped a stroke and I'm right at the verge of finally breaking 80.

Nice!

[Golfingdad]

Hit one shot during my last round like this (out of necessity) and had a bit of an epiphany.  Now I'm going to make a concerted effort to be more like Erik and start working on doing this (most) all of the time from 7 or 8 iron on down.

I've been practicing this week at the range on this shot and while the overall results are overwhelmingly good so far, I have noticed that my most common miss is a fairly severe pull.  I imagine that I'm just out of sequence a bit and it'll take some more practice, but I'm optimistic at this point.  The days of trying to muscle a short iron are going to be behind me!

[Shindig]

[QUOTE name="Shindig" url="/t/82268/how-to-flight-your-wedges-and-short-irons/36#post_1150369"] Is this something akin to the 1/4 and 1/2 wedge shots, where I get my distances and spend a small amount of time maintaining, is useful to just about every level of player, and am able to use regularly? [/QUOTE] @jakester basically said it all but yeah it's a shot every level of player can/should use. Maybe even more so for the "average" golfer to help them hit more greens from 140-130 yards and in.

Alright; I'll give it a try at the range. At the moment, 140 yards out to the middle is between a 7- and a 6-iron for me (depending on hazards). But I had a few moments today when I would have liked to take a few yards off a wedge; I think I could have saved at least a stroke or two (thinking back) off my still-nice 84. So I'll give this a try with a few balls during a few future range sessions. Thanks!