The GAP between the GAP

[Foxholer]

Nobody is being judgemental.

I think your 'irony detector' is playing up!

While I agree that throttling back tends to improve accuracy, if he's truly uncomfortable swinging shorter then that may not be the result here. I suspect that's a misconception because he does use SW for shorter shots - though if he's scoring low 90s with those distances, his short game must be pretty rubbish!

If his Pro really is happy with the swing/distances he's hitting, then that's fine. But I suspect the Pro is diplomatically suggesting he throttle back somewhat too - no need to swing so long etc. Learning to (or knowing that he can) hit 3/4 and half shots is the key imo.

I have a mate who hit those distances - actually a touch longer - but has now toned it down a bit and is no longer lost if the distance is less than 110! He has developed those short shots and has dropped from 13 to 8. So there is merit in what D4S points out. He does still have the potential to hit 'big <whatever>' a prodigious distance which can gives a lot more options.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

That's exactly what I was suggesting. I could probably hit a PW 140 yards if I really lashed at it. Problem is it would be 120 yards forward and 20 yards offline

Swing smoothly and controlled, concentrate on where it goes, not how far it goes :thup:

Sounds like you are very comfortable hitting the shots - but are you feeling them? By which I mean - if tonight you made a 3/4 swing with your pitching wedge have you any idea what would happen flight, distance, carry and 'stop' wise.

This sounds to me like the consequence of the current approach to teaching golf I've heard about (though can scarcely believe to be true) - in that basically you do the same swing for every club and let loft and hands sort out distance.

 

[Foxholer]

This sounds to me like the consequence of the current approach to teaching golf I've heard about (though can scarcely believe to be true) - in that basically you do the same swing for every club and let loft and hands sort out distance.

That's been pretty much advocated for years!

Here's a guy wo knows a thing or 2 about golf showing how he was taught and teaches http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4smKIu2uARU

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

That's been pretty much advocated for years!

Here's a guy wo knows a thing or 2 about golf showing how he was taught and teaches http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4smKIu2uARU

Fair enough - but is it really such a good thing that our man is a bit stuck with his yardages and is asking for advice on what to do about it. When to me all he really needs to do is learn some 'feel' for his approach game rather than repeating something that he has been taught to do and now feels so comfortable with that he struggles to adapt.

Anyway - I've just about said all I can on this. Except to note that - as from the Vokey SM4 wedge thread - I'm currently teaching myself how to hit 52* and 56* wedges. And in teaching myself I'm understanding what I have to do stance and swing-wise (length, hand-speed etc) for both clubs so that, for instance, I have an idea what to do to hit a 56* SW from distances of 75yds up to 95yds as well as short 'around the green' pitch shots. I'm not simply learning how to hit a 56* SW and find out how far it goes when I do.

But I guess I'm lucky enough to have been playing long enough to be able to approach learning in this way.

 

[TheClaw]

Hi Guys,

I currently have a Callaway PW (45/46 degrees I believe) a 52 Benross Wedge and a Callaway SW (56 degrees)

As you can imagine the 52 was brought in as a gap wedge which has obviously helped but I just feel there is still too much of a gap.

I hit my PW - 140 yards pretty consistently, its one club I have a lot of confidence in.
I hit my SW - 100 yards again pretty consistantly!

THe 52wedge is great for chipping around the green etc and when I hit it well it is somewhere in the middle of these too but seeing as I have room in the bag I would like to find a 50degree type club that is a cavity back similar to my irons... I just feel so much more confident when its not so thin and blade like.

Any ideas?

I rarely hit full shots for yardages of less than 130 (full PW). Anything between the green and 120ish will be a less than full swing with anything from 8i to PW (SW/LW only for short pitches over rough or bunkers) depending on where I want the ball to stop/run to.

But back to your gap. Are you hitting your SW way too high? Have you checked the ball position (not too far forward in your stance)?

 

[Foxholer]

I'm currently teaching myself how to hit 52* and 56* wedges. And in teaching myself I'm understanding what I have to do stance and swing-wise (length, hand-speed etc) for both clubs so that, for instance, I have an idea what to do to hit a 56* SW from distances of 75yds up to 95yds as well as short 'around the green' pitch shots. I'm not simply learning how to hit a 56* SW and find out how far it goes when I do.

But I guess I'm lucky enough to have been playing long enough to be able to approach learning in this way.

Haven't you been playing for rather a long time? And only now using specialist wedges - previously opening a PW for shots you are now using the SM4s for? I'm not sure whether DIY is the most enlightened way to learn, though if it suits you, that's fine! I'd advocate keeping an open mind about what to try and simply find out what works. Much more to be learnt that way rather than simply being told what to do!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

G25 PW is 46 and so I went 52 gap and 58 SW. I hit the PW about 100, the 52 about 80 and the 58 about 60. I can then play different types of shots to plug the gaps if I'm between clubs. I do think you need a degree of variability as there isn't really a one set fits all scenario to wedge set ups

 

[DaveyG]

Well thanks for your replies guys... I think

If I am honest I would still class myself as relatively new to golf... I feel I have done very well to get to the level I am now but still make silly mistakes and need to strengthen all parts of my game.

Whether its because I am so big or the fact the clubs are 1.5 inchs taller I don't know but I do seem to hit the distances we have talked about...

Taking onboard the comments from earlier... near the end of my round I stood 140 yards out and hit pitching wedges into the green.. a couple with my normal swing and a couple where I tried to go a little easier and honestly there wasn't a clear difference in distance - ofcourse hitting it easier felt nicer and was maybe slightly more accurate but they were all hitting roughly the same area.


I must admit I have really focused on just getting myself round within bogey golf for a while now so I have tuned up my game to achieve this... I pretty much play the ball in the middle of my stance every time, put a full swing on it unless I really cant in the situation, play for 2 putts etc...

I know there is a whole world of tuning up to go but feel great to just get around the course without an embarrassing score and being able to pick up pars and bogeys.

Like anything though you always want more/better so I am going to have to keep working hard. I must admit because I have been enjoying the weather and the majority of my golf I have been on the course most nights and might need to get back on the practice range a little more.

Oh and my FIR was up today... happy days!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Haven't you been playing for rather a long time? And only now using specialist wedges - previously opening a PW for shots you are now using the SM4s for?

Yup 40+ yrs. Specialist wedges didn't exist for me, at first because they didn't exist; then I couldn't afford them; then they were 'technology giving an advantage for folk who can't be botehred learning how to hit various PW shots - not golf' - yes I know...

I'm not sure whether DIY is the most enlightened way to learn, though if it suits you, that's fine! I'd advocate keeping an open mind about what to try and simply find out what works. Much more to be learnt that way rather than simply being told what to do!

My view is that if I have to work out how to get what I need then on the way I'll learn what happens if I use them this way and that way. For instance, I've discovered that for me with what may be my standard set up - just hitting the ball harder with a 56* doesn't actually make it go any further - it just makes it go (a lot) higher.

I'm also learning the difference in results I get when I hit these clubs with more open and more closed stances. Already I have worked out how to play different sorts of shots with both clubs - just now working to establish and then groove as best I can what will be my 'standard' GW and SW shots.

 

[elliottlale]

My new irons are quite jacked up!! Clevelands have a 44 PW! So I kept my 52 and 58, and stuck a 48 deg wedge in the middle, have dropped my 3 hybrid so compensate

 

[bobmac]

What type of shot do you hit from 50yds?