Considered our scoring clubs, hitting solid contact with a wedge is a challenge for most amateurs. Generally, the closer we are to the green, the easier it is to hit a solid wedge shot. There are many variables that constitute a solid shot, but generally we are more confident the closer we are to the pin. Have you ever wondered why this is so or the fact that controlling distances with wedges can be a challenge. Well, today you are going to find out why the phenomenon is so prevalent in the amateur golf game.
There can be many reasons for ‘chunking’ your wedges and for now let’s put that aside. There are three fundamental aspects of hitting solid wedges offered in the video and at the end I will provide a fourth often overlooked wedge fault that amateurs should consider. For now, take a look at what Todd Kolb from US Golf TV has to say:
Todd touches on ball position, weight distribution, and swing plane as keys to hitting solid wedge shots. I agree with is assessment and would like to add on other aspect not often talked about for great wedge play.
Over hitting our wedges is a huge problem. What I mean is trying to hit to a distance with our wedges that cause us to try and muscle the ball. We try to hit our gap wedge 110 yards, when in reality 90 yards is the comfortable distance to hit with this club. Many amateurs, including myself in the past, think that hitting a wedge longer is better when in fact the opposite is true.
With the short clubs, swinging hard has a tendency to know us off balance. Our weight shit is usually off and our contact point varies with each swing. My recommendation is to follow the 80% rule for swing speed and accept the distance your wedge travels. We have 14 clubs in the back and maximizing their efficiency is important and key when using our scoring clubs.
If you are having a challenge making solid contact with you wedges, I recommend you follow the tips in the video and try to hit at 80% of your natural swing speed. You will find that all four of these tips will help you hid solid wedges and perhaps lower golf scores.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
First, I agree with you 100% about our tendency to want to make too big a swing with our wedges. They are supposed to be our scalpels not battering rams.
My gap wedge for instance can reach 120 if I’m on the range trying to crush them. Which I do on occasion. But on the course, I’m clubbing up at 90. I just don’t want to swing past shoulder height with a wedge in my hand because I know that brings bigger misses into play. I’m happier hitting it between 70 and 80 yards to be honest. That’s it’s sweet zone where I can get them close most often.
But that’s talk about longer shots. We have as much or more trouble connecting on the chips and pitches we hit with wedges and that’s due to a lack of information too. A wedges leading edge is meant to dig in. Cut through too, but mainly dig in. But a wedge also has bounce. The angle from the bottom of the leading edge to the bottom back of the club. And bounce is what can save us from digging in and chunking a shot. Activating the bounce isn’t hard once you understand how.
It basically boils down to two setup changes. First, we swivel the club (not with the wrists) open some and second we grip the club more in the palm of the hand than the fingers. Exactly opposite of what we’re trained to do with a full shot. The reasons for this is simple. First by swiveling the club open a little, we move the bounce below the leading edge. And by gripping the club more in the palm we will hold the club more upright rather than hands forward.
Doing those should allow you to swing and bruise the ground rather than digging in. Even in the Bermuda grass we have down here that is famous for grabbing clubs you can bruise the ground when you do both of those and follow the directions in the video.
The only other tip I can think of at the moment is we often find ourselves on uneven ground when hitting our wedges. Leveling our shoulders to the slope we’re on will help us keep from digging in too.
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Thanks Kevin. All great tips for all levels of golfers.
Cheers Jim
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