Golf Wedge Tips

Author:

Frank Johnson

Golf Wedge Tips

The best way to lower your handicap quickly is to focus on your short game, and the fastest way to reduce your number of putts per round is to improve your pitch and chip shots.  Mastering your golf wedges is the best and fastest way to lower your handicap.  Most average golfers are fearful of their wedges and are not comfortable using them around the green.  The fear is ingrained after many balls skip across the green or are 'chili-dipped' 20 yards short.  I will provide some simple golf wedge tips that will hopefully take some of the fear out of those wedges.

Variety of Wedges

It is important to have at least two or three different wedges in your bag to give you the most options for any given shot.  By having different wedge options you will be able to choose the easiest shot for the best results.  I like to carry 52, 56, and 60 degree wedges which gives me various shot options depending on the distance needed, the lie of the ball, and how much green I have to work with.  It\'s far more important to have 3 or 4 wedges compared to 3 or 4 woods.

30-Yard Pitch Shot

The 30-yard pitch is an invaluable golf wedge tip that you should practice and be comfortable with.  A good 30-yard pitch can help you save par or give you a chance for birdie, and it\'s invaluable when an obstacle like a bunker or water hazard stands between you and the green.  The first step is to use the right wedge.  56 degree if you have some green to work with or a 60 degree if you need to fly the ball to the hole.  The setup begins by keeping the ball back in your stance with your feet closer together and more weight on your lead foot (left foot for righties).  Commit to the shot!  It\'s important to know exactly where you want the ball to land, pick a precise spot, keeping in mind how far you want it to roll once it lands on the green.  Make a consistent, rhythmical, swing. The back swing should be even in tempo with the finish.  The most common error average players make is decelerating the swing; a quick back swing followed by a sudden stop once contact is made with the ball.

Green-Side Sand Trap

Sand Traps should be fun, but typically they are not.  An article dealing with golf wedge tips wouldn\'t be complete without talking about the beloved bunker.  Most average golfers make sand trap shots more difficult than they have to be.  Again, it\'s important to have the right wedge, most of the time a sand wedge or 60 degree wedge is the best option.  Setup to the ball with a slightly open stance, your feet should be aligned left of the hole, 2-3 feet. The ball should be back in your stance, off of your back heel (right foot for righties), with your weight shifted to your lead foot (left foot for righties).  Some golf-wedge tips suggest you should dig your feet into the sand, which can help you get under the ball, but don\'t get too carried away with it.  Dig too deep and you won\'t get the ball out of the bunker because the club will bury into the sand.  Maintain a long consistent swing with an even tempo.  Focus on hitting a spot in the sand about 2-3 inches behind the ball.  The sand will push the ball out of the bunker and toward the hole.  It\'s the only shot in golf where you don\'t actually strike the golf ball.

Green-Side Rough

Essentially you can play a green-side rough shot with the same fundamentals as the green-side bunker.  If your ball is in a 4-inch rough you will need to apply the same technique; open the clubface, open your stance and aim slightly left of the hole, use the bounce (back of the club) of the club to get underneath the ball, and swing with a smooth even tempo.  Don\'t stop your swing at the ball, the follow through should mirror the back swing.

Practice, Practice, Practice

I hope some of these golf wedge tips were helpful to you.  The benefits will come to you if you practice these shots often.  Get comfortable with your wedges and you will definitely see your handicap go lower.  If you have any other great golf wedge tips visit my website and drop me a line.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-wedge-tips-3993676.html

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