New to forum Wedge advice needed!!!!

[bryson]

Hi All, just signed up after getting really into golf in the last 12 months, i think medically it would be diagnosed that im addicted!!!! I started off a 28 when i joined my club last June, and have had a pretty good start to the year and ive just been cut again from 24 (last november), and my new Hcap is 20 (after shooting an 82, 86 and 89 on my Par 70 course) so i can see progression.....i still have it in me to shoot in the 90's though so theres a long way to go! My question is this, i really chopped shots off my card by pitch and running from the fringe, but ive just started to try and bring a Flop shot to my game as the greens at my track are very hard and if you bump it a fraction hard you can be off the other side....making putting a headache.ive been learning with just opening the face of my SW but ive been told that a proper wedge would do the job better and i could improve the shot if i didnt have to open the face as much etc from a specialised lob wedge....any advise on degree or make, i use Callaway X18s (5 - SW - i am yet to progress to long irons lol) great forum, im enjoying reading all the posts!

 

[forerightagain]

I have the Callaway X Series in 54 & 60. The 60 is brilliant for those short flop shorts and produce good back spin with practise.

 

[bryson]

Thanks forerightagain, im heading up later so i shall have a play int' pro shop!

 

[Fyldewhite]

Welcome to the forum! The flop is a great shot to have in the armoury but can be very dangerous. Yes, a wedge with less bounce will be better but the golden rule is not to use the flop shot unless you need to, and then only if the lie is good. Even if you execute it quite well it's still probably <50% chance that you will hole the resulting putt. Weigh this against the disaster when you thin it through the green and you get my drift.

Even if your greens are hard and fast I'd say if you don't have to go over anything the bump and run is still the shot most good players would pick. You maybe need to practice this more to get better feel.

 

[bryson]

thanks for your kind reply and advice; yeah i agree, its just as you say a very dangerous shot, but often, as im not a huge hitter my 2nd or 3rd shots are short of the green leaving me a pitch and run shot over a bunker etc as well which i find really hard to control and often screw up! so i shall heed your caution and practice more just in case but will also keep working hard on the chip n runs!

 

[bobmac]

If you dont have any long irons in your bag, why not borrow a lob wedge. That will get you more height without having to open the face. Speak to your pro. He may have one out the back of his shop he could lend you.
If you don't like it, give it back

 

[bryson]

what a great idea! thanks ill try that this pm! ill report back lol

 

[drawboy]

To play the flop shot you have to open the face of your wedge and cut across the ball a la' a bunker shot so more loft will not make that much difference. A sand wedge will play the shot well enough if the correct technique is employed. Play the ball off the left heel, open the stance by sliding the right foot back a bit. Aim a little to the left of target. open the wedge face then swing down the line of your feet to cut across the ball.Aim to slide the club under the ball and DO NOT QUIT ON THE SHOT. If all goes well the ball will pop up in the air and land very softly.I play this with a regular sand iron no problem.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It is a hit or miss shot for me especially in the wet winter conditions. I only tend to take my 60 degree out in the summer to deal with the thicker greenside rough and to try and get a bit of control out of bunkers. I do find that the firmer ground helps me slide the club better in the summer and so I tend to have more success with the flop shot then