Living up to my name...Wedge shots off the mats

[ShankyBoy]

At the driving range last night, everything was going better than ever, irons and drivers all long and straight, so much so that I had well over 50 balls left for pitching/chipping practise.

I get my 52 deg wedge out and every full swing, it squirts low and right....60 deg the same. 1/2. 3/4 pitches all fine though, but for the life of me could not get a full swing hit properly. This never happens on the course, so what's the deal hitting these wedges full swing off the mats?

Is it a matter of hitting too hard down and the club face opening on the mat?

 

[patricks148]

At the driving range last night, everything was going better than ever, irons and drivers all long and straight, so much so that I had well over 50 balls left for pitching/chipping practise.

I get my 52 deg wedge out and every full swing, it squirts low and right....60 deg the same. 1/2. 3/4 pitches all fine though, but for the life of me could not get a full swing hit properly. This never happens on the course, so what's the deal hitting these wedges full swing off the mats?

Is it a matter of hitting too hard down and the club face opening on the mat?

No range mats are infected with them, you have caught them from someone

 

[bobmac]

The mat is telling you not to use a full swing with your wedges. Stick to 1/2 or 3/4 swings, you'll be far more accurate

 

[lex!]

Agree with the pro of course. Use no more than a 3/4 swing with a wedge and nip the ball off the mat. Keep the club swinging, don't throw your arms at the ball, and if you are beset with the Barclays Banks then try and focus on striking with the toe of the club.

 

[ShankyBoy]

Does that follow out on the course too then?

I hit my 52 around 100 and 60 around 70, only with full swings though, so was trying to practice those shots which I do use a lot on the course. Should I be using my PW more then with 3/4 swing for those 100, then 52 for 70, 60 @ 3/4 for 50?

Or just never practice full swings on the mats?

 

[lex!]

Does that follow out on the course too then?

I hit my 52 around 100 and 60 around 70, only with full swings though, so was trying to practice those shots which I do use a lot on the course. Should I be using my PW more then with 3/4 swing for those 100, then 52 for 70, 60 @ 3/4 for 50?

Or just never practice full swings on the mats?

Yes, definitely. Also practice on the mats with max 75% effort. You see the best players at my place hitting wedges like this for most of their practice time. Your wedges exist to make you accurate from 100 yards in, so you want max control I would suggest.

 

[ShankyBoy]

Excellent thanks for that.

I can see where 4 wedges come in now...I only have three, being a PW, 52 and 60 as I like carrying a 3i and Hybrid...is this a normal combination when carrying 3 wedges?

As a typical newbie from 100 yards is my weak point.

 

[lex!]

Each to their own, but your set up might be considered unusual. Depends on what loft your PW has, and the gap between this and your other wedges.
I would have expected you to carry a standard 56 SW. Whilst lofts have got stronger in recent times, manufacturers of sets have had to leave the 56 SW in place as this is considered the optimum for getting out of a bunker. This created a gap between the SW and the PW, so the gap wedge was born.
I have 44 PW, 50 AW and 56 SW. Might not be a regular combination but the gaps between them are the same.

The 60 deg wedge might be considered a specialist club, a lob wedge. I have not got one, though have been thinking about it for those shots round the green where I now open my SW if I have a decent lie and I want to lift it on.

 

[bobmac]

You dont need 4 wedges, 3 is plenty.

As a typical newbie from 100 yards is my weak point

If that's the case, I suggest you learn the 'clockface drill' where you control your distance by altering the length of your swing

 

[Rooter]

If that's the case, I suggest you learn the 'clockface drill' where you control your distance by altering the length of your swing

tada!!

 

[ShankyBoy]

Cheers Rooter, had heard about this and planned to try it last night with so many balls left over...till I shanked..and shanked and shanked again! My course has a practice hole or two, will head up with a bag of balls and measure out some distances and try it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Been working hard on the wedges and had a similar affliction to the OP from nowhere but on the finesse shots and not the fuller ones. Strangely enough off grass from different yardages at the weekend I was good. Blaming the mat

 

[ShankyBoy]

Went back last night and everything was going much better. Chips much more accurate using this approach, I really like working on this part. Not one shank with the full swing (even though I was advised not too