Great wedge play starts with understanding how solid contact is created. Many golfers struggle around the greens because they unknowingly make the game harder than it needs to be. By focusing on a few key fundamentals (impact, ball position, balance, and feedback) you can improve contact, control distance more effectively and hit more shots close to the target.
1. Stop trying to lift the ball
Golf can be a very counterintuitive game. Many golfers who struggle with wedge shots, or even full swings, do not fully understand how the golf ball gets into the air.
A common mistake is trying to help or lift the ball off the ground. When golfers attempt to scoop the ball into the air, it often leads to poor contact, making it nearly impossible to control distance or consistently hit shots close to the target.
2. Understand impact
On a properly struck wedge shot, the club makes contact with the ball first and then the ground. The loft of the clubface does the work of launching the ball into the air.
When the ball is compressed against the clubface and struck in the center of the grooves, the club’s loft creates the trajectory. In most solid golf shots, the club contacts the ball before taking a small divot after impact.
There are many great videos that demonstrate this concept. One of my favorites to share with students is a compilation of well-struck divots that clearly shows the club entering the turf after impact.
3. Ball position is key
Ball position is important throughout the game, but it becomes especially critical in wedge play from short grass.
Avoid playing the ball too far forward in your stance. When the ball is positioned too far forward, the club often reaches the bottom of its swing arc before it gets to the ball, causing the club to strike the ground first.
If you frequently hit heavy wedge shots or take excessive turf before impact, check that your ball position is closer to the center of your stance. This simple adjustment can dramatically improve contact and consistency.
4. Finish forward
During the downswing and through impact, allow your weight and momentum to move toward your lead side. Avoid falling backward or trying to lift the ball into the air.
A balanced finish with your weight over your lead foot promotes better contact and more consistent results. A great way to check this is by holding your finish after every shot. If your weight moves away from the target, poor contact often follows.
One excellent habit is to hold your finish until the ball stops rolling. Not only does this improve balance, but it also provides valuable feedback about your movement through the shot.
5. Monitor face contact
Pay attention to where the ball is contacting the clubface. This is one of the best ways to make adjustments and improve your strike quality.
Often, you can see the impact location directly on the clubface after a shot. If not, impact spray can be applied to the face to leave a visible mark where the ball was struck.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: golf.com
