Wedge shot setup

Making a full golf swing with a lob wedge especially in windy conditions decreases your distance control and accuracy. They approach a par 4, and stripe their tee shot down the middle of the fairway. Their second shot is yards from the flag, but their approach shot is into the wind. They then take out their pitching wedge and hit a low flighted, partial wedge shot that ends up 10 feet from the hole.

In regular conditions they could hit their full pitching wedge around yards. But by reducing trajectory and swing speed, they can maximize their precision. The average amateur would use their yard club and try to hit a full shot with a high spin rate. Even if the golf club hits the ball in the sweet spot perfectly, the shot will likely fall short. Using the correct club in the right situation is just as important as how the golfer hits the golf ball.

For example, if a golfer is presented with a ball that is on the fringe or just off the green, most players would choose to hit a chip shot.

In fact, the best option is usually to putt the ball rather than chip it. When hitting a chip shot, the golfer could skull it over the green or hit a fat shot. The golfer could also misjudge the length of their backswing and the backspin put on the ball. On the other hand, a poorly judged putt is likely to still be on the green.

Of course, good wedge players can control the trajectory and distance of their shot. However, they also know when to use certain wedges and when to not use a wedge at all.

Having this skill can make your golf game improve rapidly. When a player asks me how to hit solid wedge shots, I usually start by telling them to select the right club. When most amateur players get ready to hit a wedge shot, they reach for the most lofted club in their bag—usually something around 58 degrees. Then they make a full swing at maximum speed.

Hitting a high-lofted wedge is going to heighten the trajectory of your ball flight, making it difficult to control ball spin and distance. My advice is to start pulling out a wedge with a lower loft. Try something around 54 degrees. The sand wedge has just enough loft to get the ball up in the air without sacrificing distance.

Your lob wedge is your most lofted club in the air, meaning it is the best option when you need to get the golf ball up in the air fast. There is also not a lot of distance between you and the hole. This is the optimal time to hit a high and soft golf shot that lands softly and rolls up next to the hole. Another great opportunity to use a lob wedge is when you are hitting a pitch shot around 30 to 50 yards from the hole.

Once again, you would generally be in a position where you do not have a lot of green between you and the hole. This would be a perfect time to hit a high backspin pitch shot with your lob wedge. This will improve the consistency of your contact.

Swing your wedge to test your setup. Many players find that this is a comfortable position from which to play their wedge shots. If you feel a bit "cramped" in this position, you can move your lead foot back slightly from the target line. Simply use the club shaft on the ground as a guide and move your lead foot straight back a couple of inches. This opens your stance slightly and makes it even easier to turn through the ball. Learn this position until you're confident you'll remember it.

On the practice range, you can lay a club on the ground, but Rule of the Rules of Golf forbids it during a round. Before long, this setup will be so comfortable that you won't need the club anymore. North Carolina native Mike Southern has been writing since He is the author of the instructional golf book "Ruthless Putting" and edited a collection of swashbuckling novels. Southern was trained in electronics at Forsyth Technical Community College and is also an occasional woodworker.

Most Popular. We try and decide what kind of bounces you use based on how you use them. Ian Poulter is a very good example of someone who has a very high bounce sand wedge. He then has a very low bounce lob wedge and that wedge is free to create flexibility and freedom. It creates lift and gives him some different shots around the green that he might not be able to hit with the higher bounce club.

Your 50 will likely be the same regardless of where you play and if it has eight or 12 degrees of bounce.

The thing you need to pay attention to is the 54 and the Which is the dominant short game club? Most players will say 58 is the dominant short game club. Have you got the right bounce on your wedges?

Not many people know more about wedges than Titleist's Aaron Dill, and he explains why wedge bounce is individual to your swing and the courses you play byAaron Dill June 2, Kit.