The low, boring 60 degree wedge

[crazy_horst]

I went to the Barclay's this year - it was the first time in 3-4 years that I had seen the pros play up close. One shot I noticed a lot of guys playing blew my mind.

Picture about 40-60 yards from the green, fairway lie, I saw Davis Love and Aaron "Dresses" Baddeley hit this shot: they would not only take their highest-lofted club, but open it up no less, yet the shot that came out probably got no higher than 10-15 feet off the ground. It would hit and stop on a time.

It had the type of trajectory you would expect a 2 iron to have if you used it to play a pitch shot.

How on earth do they hit that? I've read where Tiger says he sets up open and then "turns it over" at impact to hit it low. Can someone translate?

Thanks

[Ben]

You sure it was a 60 degree and maybe not just a 52 or 54? Kinda defeats the purpose of using a 60 if you are going to hit a punch shot with it. However, I have been known to play 50 yard punch shots (pitches) with my 54* wedge for a one hop and stop type shot.

In the case that its a 60 or otherwise. I'd imagine it was just played well back in their stance with a short back swing and abbreviated follow-through.

[Mhinderaker]

You sure it was a 60 degree and maybe not just a 52 or 54? Kinda defeats the purpose of using a 60 if you are going to hit a punch shot with it. However, I have been known to play 50 yard punch shots (pitches) with my 54* wedge for a one hop and stop type shot.

Yeah this is actually one of my favorite shots to play from right around that range, anywhere between 50-80 or so yards.

I think the rationale in using a more lofted club is that you can take a fuller backswing, creating more clubhead speed and more spin? I don't usually fully open the face, but if you try to pinch the ball a little bit off the turf, as long as you are playing with a relatively high spin ball and go after it agressively you should get some niiiice 1-hop-and-stop action. Once you learn how to hit it it's extremely reliable for getting the ball close after big drives.

[grant_the_tank]

I play a lower "punch" shot from 70-80 yrds out with my 52*. Works very nicely and stops quickly. I find it easier to control more than lofting it up there.

[g-funk13]

It had the type of trajectory you would expect a 2 iron to have if you used it to play a pitch shot.

I am interested in this so called turn over. What would the swing thought be, an "over rotation" of the hands approaching impact?

In the case that its a 60 or otherwise. I'd imagine it was just played well back in their stance with a short back swing and abbreviated follow-through.

Does your version of shot also involve a lot of forward press of the club at setup and impact?

My teacher said that the most consistent feedback he gets from pros when he plays with them is that he hits wedges too high. I would guess that when Ben plays with higher handicaps he sees this the same way?

[crazy_horst]

You sure it was a 60 degree and maybe not just a 52 or 54? Kinda defeats the purpose of using a 60 if you are going to hit a punch shot with it. However, I have been known to play 50 yard punch shots (pitches) with my 54* wedge for a one hop and stop type shot.

Whatever it was, it was laid wide, wide open. It looked to me like they could have just as easily hit a flop shot the way the club was open.

[crazy_horst]

My teacher said that the most consistent feedback he gets from pros when he plays with them is that he hits wedges too high. I would guess that when Ben plays with higher handicaps he sees this the same way?

That's exactly what I saw. I was quite literally shocked at how low all of them played their wedges, no matter whether it was a 115 yard shot or a 50 yard shot, they all had a low, boring flight.

I can keep a 60* down quite low, but it involves so much shaft lean at impact it's almost silly. I can't imagine that's the secret. I, too, hit my wedges pretty damn high.

[JaY_B]

I went to the Barclay's this year - it was the first time in 3-4 years that I had seen the pros play up close. One shot I noticed a lot of guys playing blew my mind.

All shots depend on the situation remember, if there was no trouble between them and the flag and it was windy a low punchy spinny shot would be the best option, opening the face at impact i presume gives them enough margin for error to close the face through impact to produce the low spin shot, leaving the club face square at address would not allow the rotation of the club face through impact and therefore enough club head speed would not of been delivered to the ball to produce the desired result?

How on earth do they hit that? I've read where Tiger says he sets up open and then "turns it over" at impact to hit it low. Can someone translate?

When Tiger says "turn it over" he simply means closing the club face through impact

[g-funk13]

I TRIED IT! Except with a PW, cause I am on the road and I don't have my 60 Deg with me.

Open face, back in stance, short backswing, and "turning over" on downswing. VERY INTERESTING. Got a few really great low boring 110 yd pitches. The driving range I was on had me hitting into a steady 5-10 mph wind, and I can see just how useful this shot could be.

Thank you CRAZY-HORST!

[crazy_horst]

I TRIED IT! Except with a PW, cause I am on the road and I don't have my 60 Deg with me.

Thank me? I had no idea how to do it!

[handlez42]

most of this is just because of their experience swinging and how their bodies are tuned to a golf swing seemingly perfect in a way.

its not impossible. I know ricky fowler hit his 59* wedge about 85-95 yards. they intend to keep it low which means the shot needs to be hit a bit harder in order to go the distance. (Ex. a knockdown 9 might be a few yards shorter than a full 9) another thing is because they are using the high loft wedge they are trying to create more spin with a downward attack and lower trajectory.

i have a hard time stopping my 55* BeCu wedge but that could easily be because its not too soft (on the newer softer golf balls) and the grooves are pretty exhausted. but i know i can hit that same shot, the same distance, but i have to use my 55 because its easier to get good contact and distance (80-90) in comparison to my 60*. i just know im not coming in contact with the ball well enough with my 60. could be because it has a huge 14* "Rake" (bounce)

its all about experience on top of physical aspects. i know at a certain tournament i saw dustin johnson hitting a sand wedge into green from 120+! i know that all comes down to the weather and the climate and "altitude" sometimes but hes known to be a long-ball hitter, so i wouldnt be surprised if his avg. SW is about 115