| Problem: It has been said that being able to control your distance is one of the most important aspects of good ball striking. This couldn’t be truer, especially when talking about becoming a great wedge player. In order to hit your wedge shots consistent distances, you first have to be able to hit the ball solid on command. Many amateurs struggle with their contact. Some fluctuate between striking too much ground before the ball, which causes them to come up short of their target, or they strike no ground and rocket thin shots, which end up going too far past their target.
What To Look For: Assuming other fundamentals are in order, your problem could simply be caused by making too much of an “arms swing.” This is caused by incorporating little, if any, body motion through the ball. If the body stops shifting and rotating through the shot, the bottom of your swing arc can tend to be too far behind the ball, which leads to a mixture of fat and thin shots. |
Try: Hit wedge shots by swinging and holding a finish position just like Zach Johnson’s (see above) the next time you go out. Observe how his weight has shifted to his lead leg and his hips have opened towards the target. Also, notice how his hands and arms have stayed right out in front of his chest. This indicates that his arms and body worked nicely together through the shot. Practice getting into this finish position and the bottom of your arc will move forward, which will help you to get that consistent solid contact needed to control your distances and become a great wedge player. |
