golfrewind.com

Can't hit them at all. Took lessons, read tips everywhere I can, practice. Then when I get on the course, I am a idiot from 90 on in


Just venting

Then the secret is to get better from 91 and out.

The wedge is the hardest club to hit. You just have to practise more with the wedge if you plan on getting any better. Most people think the driver is the hardest club to hit, too much time is spent on hitting the driver, not enough on the wedge.

Shortgrass

Tell me what your bad shots are doing and I will be glad to make suggestions. My wedge gamme is great.

I never really had any problems hitting a wedge...now if you asked me to hit a 3 iron consistantly, I would give you a different answer...

Really? I love being 30-100 yards away from the pin! Wedges are great!

I sometimes have trouble connecting with the W's. In those cases, I usually grab a 8 or 9 and go 3/4's with it. Land it short of the green and have it roll on. I'd prefer to land it on the green and stop, but realistically, I score in the 90-110's. Gotta to work with what you've got. Or with what you don't have.

I'm guessing you either thin/scull them or chunk them...maybe both. Thise are the two most common mistakes. These are the clubs in your bag you must absolutley hit down on the ball. I learned by watching Freddie Couples and emulating his laaazy, wristy wedge swing...that and a lot of practice. Wedges are all tempo and feel. Smooth, slow and steady will do the job here. No swaying and no full turns (you should not see the clubhead of a wedge in your down range peripheral vision on your backswing).

Here's a tip: Find a range with the fluffy grass mat and practice your wedge shots on those. They give you a wide margin of error. This will help build your confidence. Then once you groove a good wedge swing take it to the grass.

Before comment, I think it would be nice to know what kind of wedges you are trying to hit...? Brand, length, loft, bounce...etc. Swingweight can be a big problem with wedges, normally a little heavier is good, too heavy and it's like trying to control a sledgehammer...to light and no feel!

I played a round yesterday and yes, I had issues hitting my wedge shots. After the round I went to the pitch area and spend about an hour and half doing nothing but pitching and chipping. What I can to the conclusion is it's ESSENTIAL to keep your left wrist firm (For righties) to hit good pitches, and chips.

If you break your left wrist you'll end up skulling the ball.

Though somewhat valid this is not true of all pitches and certainly not full wedge shot. One of the best pitchers of the ball I know gets up and down from 50 yards and in like you wouldn't believe cocks his wrists and flips the clubface at impact. While not technically perfect, his shots are just that. This simply proves that wedge play is just as much about feel as it is technique. This is one reason you must practice with your wedges.

You really should only try keeping your left wrist firm if you want the ball to skip once or twice and check up. If you want height on the shot you have to hinge your wrists and release the clubhead through impact as opposed to holding it off.

There can be many reasons for bad wedge shots. The wedges could have way too much bounce.
With too much bounce (12°-14° or more) on the short grass the club may not be getting under the ball... skull shot.
Or your backswing might be too upright (ball goes directly out to the right).


Or, your instructor is teaching you the wrong way to hit wedges..

here's my 2 cents... if you have the area.. put out a bucket(I started with a bushel basket...) and try to chip 5 balls into the bucket..starting at 5 yds...working @ 5yd intervals ..out as far as you can go..100 yds if possible. This practice causes you to AIM.. learn touch.. and distance control... it takes time..a lotta time
....it's not as easy as one may think.

You post is a nice add-on to my original. I do agree that having a proficient short game is definitely as much about feel as it is about technique. And yes, practice is essential.

Two words - COURSE MANAGEMENT.

Nowhere in the rule book does it say that you have to hit all out on every shot. If you have the option, play a hole to give yourself exactly 100 yards from the hole. That should give you a full sand wedge (or pick your appropriate distance).

It's a lot easier to hit a full club, then it is to hit a half club or 3/4 club shot. 99 times out of 100 I am not going to reach that par 5 in two, so rather then try and fantasize about being John Daly, I put on my Corey Pavin hat and put my 2nd shot to the 100 yard marker. And then whammo - full sand wedge right on the stick!

Sometimes it's better to be further away from the hole, rather then right on top of it with a little half shot that you'll skull or shank.