The Golf Jock

The wedge shot is a potent short game weapon, maybe the most potent . Players with high handicaps hit wedge shots from the rough, a trap, or just behind the cart path. While players with low golf handicaps hit them in the fairway with a full swing , because they do the necessary things to get there.

Low handicap golfers all have the same key elements in their wedge play . Below are descriptions of those key steps.

1. Be Sure Your Stance Is Open

Good wedge players keep the lower body quiet . You don’t need a lot of power to hit a wedge and you don’t need a lot of lower body involvement . But you can’t hit a sound wedge shot without opening your hips. The open stance allows you to use your arms and shoulders to hit the shot without requiring the help of your lower body.

2. Allow the Wrists to Hinge

Poor players try sweeping, scooping, or lifting the ball in the air with a wedge . Good players hit down and through, creating a divot. One of the secrets to hitting down is wrist hinge. If you don’t hinge your wrists, you’ll sweep the ball of the floor . Hinge early in the backswing. Start your wrist bend in the start of take away. If you wait until the backswing mid-point , you may never hinge.

3. Adjust the Distance of Your Backswing

Tempo is a constant in golf . Backswing length isn’t. Never add speed or stop short to control the distance of a shot. The length of the backswing , not the speed of the swing, determines shot distances with your wedges–actually with any of your golf clubs. Learn how far you hit each wedge with 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent backswing lengths. Since the full-swing wedge shot we’re talking about could be 36, 42, or 53 yards away, you’ll now have options with which to hit the shot. Remember adjust your backswing, not your tempo.

4. Hold the Front Shoulder Position

Poor wedge players often lift their heads when approaching the ball. While that in itself isn’t a major crime, it forces you to bring your front shoulder up and out. That is. It’s a fault I emphasize in my golf lessons and golf tips. Work on allowing your head to rotate along with your back shoulder as it swings underneath your chin. Rotating facilitates the shifting of weight to the front side, keeps the spine angle intact, and allows the back shoulder to move toward the target.

5. Always Finish In A Low Position

Keep your hands low after impact on a full-swing wedge shot, almost as if you were about to shake hands with someone to the side of you. Why? One sign of a solid wedge shot is low hands after impact, which indicates hitting down and through. Finishing high tends to negate weight shift and hinders your ability to hit down and through the ball. So keep it low after impact and you’ll approve the result.

6. Adopt a Pose

A good swing and a good finish usually go hand in hand . Take a few practice swings not with the focus on mechanics but on making a good finish. So take some practice swings and finish by posing for the camera before hitting a wedge shot. Think finish first in this situation. It can help generate a smooth swing and a better result.

Assuming you have the correct golf equipment, adopting these key elements will lower your handicap.

Golf irons get old and obsolete and must be replaced after continued use. Maybe you’ve outgrown them or there useful live is history. While purchasing new ones there are four important specifications to consider to be sure to get the most appropriate clubs for your game.

1. Style of Clubhead
The clubhead style can make a big difference in how well you hit the golf ball. There are two main types of clubhead styles, cavity back perimeter weighted and traditional blades. Perimeter weighted golf irons are more forgiving . The thing you sacrifice for this forgiveness is the ability to work the ball left and right with as much ease as the blade style . Most mid to high handicappers use this style of clubhead, although you do see them in some pros bags.

Forged style blades usually have a very small clubhead and a much smaller sweet spot. The advantage is that you can hit any shot with a blade style club . When you hit it dead center in the sweet spot you barely feel it . It’s a great feeling. Low handicappers and pros usually use this style of club .

2. Shaft Material
This is usually a very easy decision. The two main choices are steel or graphite. There are some other exotic metals and nano fibers available but we are only dealing with the two most popular shafts . Graphite shafts have a slightly softer feel which is great for a golfer with bad wrists or elbows because they offset the vibration that is sent up the shaft to your arms. Steel shafts give more feedback on how well you struck the shot and are very durable .

3. Flex of the Shaft
Shafts come in 4 basic flexes, regular, stiff, senior and lady. Your pro shop can calculate your swing speed and suggest the correct flex . The flex that is right for you will be so for steel or graphite material. Having the proper flex shafts is most important to your game.

4. What kind of grip
Most overlooked are the golf grips. There are many different types of material and sizes that can be installed. Some grips use space age polymers to give the grip a soft feel. Other grips are coarse with woven cord material throughout. Jumbo size grips are good for people with larger hands or arthritis. Keep these four points in mind when choosing your new golf clubs. Getting the correct golf equipment will help you shoot lower scores and increase your enjoyment.