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Wedge distances

  • Thread starter Thread starter deanobillquay
  • Start date Start date
Something that has puzzled me on this thread. Maybe you good folk can help.

I see a few people are against hitting full wedges, for control reasons, I assume to keep the amount of spin down?

For those that do the above, do you generally spin the ball back a lot with a wedge on a full shot or is it to control the height of the shot?


My reason for asking. My wedge play is probably the strongest part of my game. I get a pretty solid strike onto a Pro V1 ball but the best I can get is a bounce and stop. I don't baloon the ball up into the air either.

Just curious as to replies.
 
My pitching technique is to use a 3/4 swing inorder to better control the club, I get just as much spin as with a full shot (if not more) as the contact is clean.
My pro basically changed my set-up for pitching (less shaft lean) leading to better hand position over the ball at delivery and impact.
 
full wedge for me, in fact full everything :rolleyes:

I can do the 3/4 thing but wheres the fun unless I'm on both toes at impact :rofl:
 
Gareth said:
Something that has puzzled me on this thread. Maybe you good folk can help.

I see a few people are against hitting full wedges, for control reasons, I assume to keep the amount of spin down?

For those that do the above, do you generally spin the ball back a lot with a wedge on a full shot or is it to control the height of the shot?


My reason for asking. My wedge play is probably the strongest part of my game. I get a pretty solid strike onto a Pro V1 ball but the best I can get is a bounce and stop. I don't baloon the ball up into the air either.

Just curious as to replies.
Click to expand...
Bounce & stop is ideal! Means that you are in control of the distance, having the ball ripping back 15 or 20ft may look impressive but is not under control.

Through experience, you can tell when you are going to get one munching all over the green. Perfect lie, soft green perhaps tilted towards you a bit, a puff of breeze into and a slightly raised green makes me think that the ball could be reappearing off the front edge whilst I'm posing with my finish!! :)

It's the that you look to hit the longer club easier so to get back to the bounce and stop.
 
Robobum said:
Bounce & stop is ideal! Means that you are in control of the distance, having the ball ripping back 15 or 20ft may look impressive but is not under control.

Through experience, you can tell when you are going to get one munching all over the green. Perfect lie, soft green perhaps tilted towards you a bit, a puff of breeze into and a slightly raised green makes me think that the ball could be reappearing off the front edge whilst I'm posing with my finish!! :)

It's the that you look to hit the longer club easier so to get back to the bounce and stop.
Click to expand...

Cheers Robo'.

So, in your case, very little to do with flight more about controlling where it finishes once it lands?

Would you change that thinking for a bone hard green?
 
There's nothing more annoying than having your playing partners congratulate a good shot. Only to hear, as you put your wedge back inthe bag, "oh unlucky - it's come off the front of the green".
 
Gareth said:
Something that has puzzled me on this thread. Maybe you good folk can help.

I see a few people are against hitting full wedges, for control reasons, I assume to keep the amount of spin down?

For those that do the above, do you generally spin the ball back a lot with a wedge on a full shot or is it to control the height of the shot?


My reason for asking. My wedge play is probably the strongest part of my game. I get a pretty solid strike onto a Pro V1 ball but the best I can get is a bounce and stop. I don't baloon the ball up into the air either.

Just curious as to replies.
Click to expand...

I would take the bounce and stop everytime.

I tend to always do easy (3/4) swings for all my wedges.
 
Gareth said:
I see a few people are against hitting full wedges, for control reasons, I assume to keep the amount of spin down?
Click to expand...

define 'full wedge'?

the clear issue is that one man's full swing is another's 3/4 (or less in some cases!); it's not a wedge issue per se

in the context of your post the control comes from less moving parts; simplicity and the associated repetition. in my case this gives the distances it does, and the spin patterns are a function of club head speed/loft for those clubs and my swing. the result happens to be a release of about 1 yard with the 52, bounce and return with the 56 and bounce and back a yard with the 60 on home greens (because they obviously have a lot to do with actual performance).

the only clubs in the bag that I ever swing to achieve max distance are the driver and 3 wood - and that's not every time either!
 
Gareth said:
SI see a few people are against hitting full wedges,
Click to expand...

A full wedge has its time and place but for me it is not my first choice, I start at a 3/4 shot and then assess if I need to do anything different. 3/5 times I probably stick with my first choice and aim for the middle or safe part of the green, leave a nice easy 2 putt at WORST, while still being in 1 putt range. If I change my mind and attack the pin then the shot may change.
 
Gareth said:
Cheers Robo'.

So, in your case, very little to do with flight more about controlling where it finishes once it lands?

Would you change that thinking for a bone hard green?
Click to expand...
I like hitting "stock" shots, I just feel they are more repeatable for me. If I have to knock one down or smash it to the clouds I will, but it's not my first thought. If the wind is blowing I prefer to let the ball go with it and try to allow for how much I think it will move and how it will react once it lands.

Yeah, a concrete green would give a big first bounce but I'd still be expecting it to grab a bit on the 2nd bounce. So you may be looking at a 10foot first bounce, grab and then a few feet futher roll out and allow for that. It's just a constant adjustment taking everything in to account (wind, slope blah blah blah) - something that can't be learnt on the range, just got to gather the experience all the time.

But that's just how I see it, I'm sure the Links guys will be controlling trajectory much more rather than having the thing blowing around like a kite!! ;)
 
I can control my distances on a full swing. I have a quick tempo which may or may not help in this circumstance. It is working on the finesse shots that is taking the time as the quicker swing is perhaps not such a blessing
 
i must be the only one that doesnt have dialed in distances for my wedges. i have a rough idea in my mind what club i need when i look at the approach, then decide what trajectory i want it coming in at depending on landing area and wind conditions. ive spent last summer trying to hit my wedges easier after bob enlightened me that my wedges were going miles high as i was hitting them full tilt.
playing with our course record holder one day i noticed that my approaches were going twice as high as his. i knew then that i had to change something.
 
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