Why do more amateurs not do this....

[Obee]

Play with an abbreviated follow-through and "flight" more lofted iron and wedge shots?

 

Think Charley Hoffman, Charles Howell III, Paul Azinger, Zach Johnson.

 

I see so many guys hit wedges with big, high, full finishes, many of whom cannot control distance well and who, when the greens are receptive, absolutely cannot control the spin of their shots and end up ripping the ball off the front of greens far too often.

 

This was something I learned very early in my golf life because I saw it as absolutely essential to play my best golf and scoring my best from ~70 to ~150 yards (back in the day that was a 3/4 LW to a 8/9 iron for me).

 

I'm always surprised when I ask a decent golfer to hit this shot, and it's like they've never even attempted it. I get a lot of "Oh, yeah, I don't have that shot..." Or, "I can't hit that shot. Never been comfortable with it."

 

Thoughts?

[MelloYello]

I see so many guys...end up ripping the ball off the front of greens...

 

Really!?

 

 

I don't think most amateurs struggle with over-spinning shots. I agree on the premise of learning to swing in balance though.

 

That all said, the ability to get to a level where you're swinging your wedges "effortlessly" is not an easy thing to do.

[rcb1586]

The vast majority of golfers want to swing hard and hit their 56* wedge 140 yards like they see the pros do it.

I admit to struggling with that a bit.

I did play a couple of rounds with nothing but 3/4 shots and did pretty well. Going to try it out more this year.

[Obee]

I see so many guys...end up ripping the ball off the front of greens...

 

Really!?

 

 

I don't think most amateurs struggle with over-spinning shots. I agree on the premise of learning to swing in balance though.

 

That all said, the ability to get to a level where you're swinging your wedges "effortlessly" is not an easy thing to do.

 

I should have clarified. I meant more the younger guys in the ~4 to ~10 handicap range who have some significant clubhead speed and have gotten decent at the game and con "compress" the ball fairly consistently.

 

I've played with a lot of these types of players over the years. Good golfers. Want to get better. Willing to put in the time, etc. And that's one shot I really don't see that any of them have (or want to learn).

[Obee]

There was a good WRX article on this a while back: http://www.golfwrx.com/419872/5-keys-to-flighting-your-wedges-lower-for-better-control/

[davep043]

Play with an abbreviated follow-through and "flight" more lofted iron and wedge shots?

 

Think Charley Hoffman, Charles Howell III, Paul Azinger, Zach Johnson.

 

I see so many guys hit wedges with big, high, full finishes, many of whom cannot control distance well and who, when the greens are receptive, absolutely cannot control the spin of their shots and end up ripping the ball off the front of greens far too often.

 

This was something I learned very early in my golf life because I saw it as absolutely essential to play my best golf and scoring my best from ~70 to ~150 yards (back in the day that was a 3/4 LW to a 8/9 iron for me).

 

I'm always surprised when I ask a decent golfer to hit this shot, and it's like they've never even attempted it. I get a lot of "Oh, yeah, I don't have that shot..." Or, "I can't hit that shot. Never been comfortable with it."

 

Thoughts?

You might as well ask "Why aren't more amateurs plus handicaps?" Most amateurs just aren't that good, and never will be. Certainly the flighted controlled short iron is a valuable tool, but most amateurs are working to get a single swing that works, and haven't had the time to start working on variations of that swing.

[MelloYello]

I should have clarified. I meant more the younger guys in the ~4 to ~10 handicap range who have some significant clubhead speed and have gotten decent at the game and con "compress" the ball fairly consistently.

 

I've played with a lot of these types of players over the years. Good golfers. Want to get better. Willing to put in the time, etc. And that's one shot I really don't see that any of them have (or want to learn).

 

Yeah, I understand. I know of a few like that. Some just legitimately don't have the touch yet. They're strong players but they really don't have any understanding of how to flight anything. For them, wedges are where they get exposed--especially on delicate pitches.

 

I think it's something to learn in time. A lot of guys learn the game now not by working the ball but by hitting it hard.

[theboypinoy]

Abbreviated follow throughs are great.

 

Tommy Fleetwood uses it even in the longer clubs, and he is pure :)

[The General]

I think EVERYONE should choke up a 1/2" on every club.

 

Watch the scores drop ladies and gents. Thank me later.

[Obee]

Play with an abbreviated follow-through and "flight" more lofted iron and wedge shots?

 

Think Charley Hoffman, Charles Howell III, Paul Azinger, Zach Johnson.

 

I see so many guys hit wedges with big, high, full finishes, many of whom cannot control distance well and who, when the greens are receptive, absolutely cannot control the spin of their shots and end up ripping the ball off the front of greens far too often.

 

This was something I learned very early in my golf life because I saw it as absolutely essential to play my best golf and scoring my best from ~70 to ~150 yards (back in the day that was a 3/4 LW to a 8/9 iron for me).

 

I'm always surprised when I ask a decent golfer to hit this shot, and it's like they've never even attempted it. I get a lot of "Oh, yeah, I don't have that shot..." Or, "I can't hit that shot. Never been comfortable with it."

 

Thoughts?

You might as well ask "Why aren't more amateurs plus handicaps?" Most amateurs just aren't that good, and never will be. Certainly the flighted controlled short iron is a valuable tool, but most amateurs are working to get a single swing that works, and haven't had the time to start working on variations of that swing.

 

I actually think learning that shot helps people learn what the golf swing is really about, in my mind: A "connected" move from shoulder-high to shoulder-high.

 

I almost feel like that's the FIRST shot instructors should be teaching. It shouldn't be viewed as an "advanced" shot at all. Instructors, I would love to hear your feedback.

[cardoustie]

Agree with Obee

 

Most people that play with me for the first time think I am skulling wedges and short irons as they come in low ... and then are shocked they hop and stop so fast. I use the term low growler and it is great on partial shots as well from inside 70 yards. I hear "why aren't you following thru all the way" as well

 

I'm talking a PW from 110-120 that is 18-20 yards high and not 35-40 yards in the air "blooping."

 

I know quite a few caps four or less than cannot hit low knockdowns ... very strange

 

I LOVE WINDY DAYS FOR MONEY GAMES !!!!

[davep043]

 

I actually think learning that shot helps people learn what the golf swing is really about, in my mind: A "connected" move from shoulder-high to shoulder-high.

 

I almost feel like that's the FIRST shot instructors should be teaching. It shouldn't be viewed as an "advanced" shot at all. Instructors, I would love to hear your feedback.

I like the shot, not a real knockdown, just a slightly easier and controlled shot, I use it more and more. And I agree, the mechanics are pretty much the same, a small set-up variation, and slightly decreased effort, but the same sequence. It SHOULD be easier to learn, and could be a positive step towards full-speed swings. I think others are right, though, in that players generally learn a truly full swing, and want to use it at all times. And these are the same players who, as 20 handicaps, want to curve the ball both ways in order to attack pins on each side of the green. Sometimes what we want isn't what we need.

[Jacob Mac]

9-3 for days. Right fellas?

[spoonek9]

Not that I can't pull off the shot, I'm just not as confident with the distance control vs the full wedge or short iron. I can take off 10-15 yards, with 75%-85% confidence, but after that it a crap shoot. Also, my dispersion seems to go up with this shot, mostly a pull. To add, the more wind there is the less confidence I have and the greater the dispersion.

 

I never practice these shots because I never practice, it's all feel for me.

[Z1ggy16]

I don't do it at 150 yards (maybe I should??) but I 100% do this almost always for shots inside 100. Rarely am I trying to rip a 58* 100 yards.... I'll gladly take out a PW and smoothy one in there. 60 yards?? Smooth SW that I feel as "half way back, half way through" with smooth tempo and minimal aggression into the shot.

 

This almost promises me that I won't be ripping any balls back away from a back pin. Maaaaaaybe if there's a really good reason and a front pin right at 100 yards, I'd hit a 80-85% SW or something, but I haven't found the need to very often. One thin bullet that almost murders somebody beyond the green and you don't play those shots anymore.

[BeerPerHole]

Funny. Without thinking about it, after my recent swing change with my pro, I am starting to do this abbreviated follow-through.

 

Funny game...

[KC13]

I think it has a lot to do with the mindset of "getting the most yardage out of each swing" and I must say, sometimes I fall into that mindset out of bad habit. Shoulder to shoulder is the single greatest thing I have learned over the past year of working very hard to understand my swing. It has helped on windy days, bad lies, troubled tee shots, etc... I've found a shoulder to shoulder swing goes the same distance if not further and not to mention better contact via shorter swing that equals less movement. "Compact" is the word....

 

Here is a good video in my opinion regarding the movement between shoulder to shoulder.

 

 

- KC

[juststeve]

I'm with Obee on this one. Seldom do I hit a full shot with anything less than a 7 iron. Much more accuracy and distance control hitting the ball low with a short controlled swing. The idea is to get it close, not to hit it far.

 

Steve

[augustgolf]

When I moved to Texas from the upper midwest, I learned this shot - or, I learned to flight the ball down - hitting the wedge "knee high to a grasshopper"

 

When I was working WAY too many hours in the pro shop, but was expected to tee it up in the Friday pro-am, I utilized this swing many a time to keep the score near or under par, not the easiest of feats when you never have time to practice.

 

And, I think this swing actually provides a much more consistent and dependable distance control wth just about every club.

 

We saw guys on the Tour in Hawaii hitting some cut-off driver swings (bunt swings we call them with the driver) to control the positioning of the second shot.

 

Obee - scoring and learning the swing to hit the proper shot really do go hand in hand. Try teaching this to someone who just wants to take their driver for each "practice session"

[cardoustie]

funny for me I find the low shots to be the STRAIGHTEST .. no pulls or pushes

[Obee]

I'm with Obee on this one. Seldom do I hit a full shot with anything less than a 7 iron. Much more accuracy and distance control hitting the ball low with a short controlled swing. The idea is to get it close, not to hit it far.

 

Steve

 

The thing is, you can hit the ball plenty far with this shot, because you are de-lofting the face anywhere from a bit, to a lot, depending on the desired effect.

[MelloYello]

The thing is, you can hit the ball plenty far with this shot, because you are de-lofting the face anywhere from a bit, to a lot, depending on the desired effect.

 

If you're talking about using feel to adjust trajectory and spin in order to control distance on a shot...isn't that sort of the definition of advanced iron play?

[Obee]

The thing is, you can hit the ball plenty far with this shot, because you are de-lofting the face anywhere from a bit, to a lot, depending on the desired effect.

 

If you're talking about using feel to adjust trajectory and spin in order to control distance on a shot...isn't that sort of the definition of advanced iron play?

 

Definitely not talking about feel. In my mind, this is a standard (95%?) effort shot just like any other iron shot with a "full" finish would be. You're not "dialing back" or "feeling" those shot, you are aggressively attacking the ball, but with a different type of swing. Again, see Charlie Hoffman:

 

Charlie is going at the ball full, but he's using a 3/4 to 3/4 swing. I love this kind of shot, and it works really, really well when greens are soft (like most amateurs play on), or to back pins if greens are firm.

 

[oikos1]

Honestly, I think it's just a lack of knowledge, practice and priorities. You're right about the high, full finish. Many ams take a normal backswing, which is way too much for a touch shot, and either nuke it over the green or decel and leave it short or fat. Personally I don't mind, unless it's my partner in match play, as it's a huge advantage when you know there's a good chance the guy who's 20 yards ahead is still going to struggle to make par..

[MelloYello]

Definitely not talking about feel. In my mind, this is a standard (95%?) effort shot just like any other iron shot with a "full" finish would be. You're not "dialing back" or "feeling" those shot, you are aggressively attacking the ball, but with a different type of swing. Again, see Charlie Hoffman:

 

Charlie is going at the ball full, but he's using a 3/4 to 3/4 swing. I love this kind of shot, and it works really, really well when greens are soft (like most amateurs play on), or to back pins if greens are firm.

 

Well, advanced iron play doesn't necessarily always mean difficult.

 

I think the moves you're talking about are advanced in that even if they're not the most physically challenging for the experienced player, they still take a lot of golfing maturity in the form of understanding mechanics, club position, weight transfer, etc. in order to be implemented correctly. If a player understands how to effectively manipulate the club and how to compress the ball, they can swing like that. But that's very high-level iron play IMHO.

[gripandrip]

The thing is, you can hit the ball plenty far with this shot, because you are de-lofting the face anywhere from a bit, to a lot, depending on the desired effect.

 

If you're talking about using feel to adjust trajectory and spin in order to control distance on a shot...isn't that sort of the definition of advanced iron play?

 

Definitely not talking about feel. In my mind, this is a standard (95%?) effort shot just like any other iron shot with a "full" finish would be. You're not "dialing back" or "feeling" those shot, you are aggressively attacking the ball, but with a different type of swing. Again, see Charlie Hoffman:

 

Charlie is going at the ball full, but he's using a 3/4 to 3/4 swing. I love this kind of shot, and it works really, really well when greens are soft (like most amateurs play on), or to back pins if greens are firm.

 

[media=]

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Man... I miss the hair.

[J295]

Obee. I agree completely. Interestingly, I was visiting two weeks ago with one of our better players here on this very issue, and know that I need to get better at flighting the ball to improve on my six handicap. This seems especially important as we play in a wide variety of temperatures with a fair amount of wind (10-20 mph).

[cardoustie]

Do others not know their 3/4 swing yardages with all their short irons ?

[scottyc15]

I can only speak for myself, but this is something that has been instrumental in my tournament success the last few years. I use the "clock system" to control my arm swing and my wedge game has never been stronger. I rarely hit a full wedge and rely more on flighted one hop stop type of shots from inside 130 yards. I shot 3-over in the first round of the U.S. Mid-Am last year and needed a solid second round to get into match play. I hit nothing but flighted irons and wedges in that second round which for me just feels like I have more control over the golf ball.

[Krt22]

Two issues. The main one you highlighted, guys trying to nuke wedges with full shots. Hitting delofted flighted wedges is something I now spend 1/3 of my time on. The second is most ams have flawed swings and get out of position early, so simply can't hit less than full shots since their swings are full of compensations that take time sequence