Wedge Distance

Question
QUESTION: Hey Eddie,

I recently was at a US Open Qualifier at my local course, Cross Creek Plantation.  It was so cool to see great players up close.  M and my Friend were the only ones on the course watching, and we were able to walk on the tees and greens and fairways with the players.  Michael Sim was there an?d aced the 250 yard 8th hole.  Really cool.

Anyway, One of the holes, these guys were hitting their drives to where I would, from the upper tees....:-), and anyway, they were hitting sand wedges from where I would  hit an 8 iron.  All the shots were surprisingly low, and didn't look like they were going that far, but they did!

I noticed these same things with all the players there, alot of Nationwide tour guys, and I can't figure out how the wedges go that far.  I chech my fundamentals all the time, divot in front of the ball, ball hits in the middle of the face, and I usually hit high little bloops, maybe 40 yards. Lob wedge by the way, and my gap wedge is maybe 60 or so, but how are these guys hitting their wedges like this?  And how do I?

ANSWER: Hi Garrett:

Simple, the angle of the shaft at impact of those players is leaning forward towards the target, while yours is leaning away from the target.  If you took your gap wedge, say 54 degrees, and leaned the shaft forward towards the target, what happens to the loft?  That is what they do when they actually hit the shot.  To hit good, solid wedge shots, players (good players) are trying to lower the flight and reduce the spin.  How do you do that?  The swing is controlled by the swinging of the arms and the body, not the hands.  I will lay a bet you use your hands incorrectly and try to "get under" the ball and get it up in the air.  Good players do just the opposite.  So practice making some swings with very little hand action, especially through impact, and making sure the shaft (controlled by the arms) is forward through the impact area.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is it possible to have your divot in front of the ball and yet have the shaft leaning backwards?

Answer
Hi Garrett:

No, that would mean the trailing edge hits the turf pressing down the grass, not really taking a divot.  A divot is taken by the leading edge of the club, and in order to achieve that, the shaft angle must be forward.  If the shaft is leaning backwards, then the trailing edge will hit the ground.  Again, practice hitting wedge shots real low.  Take the loft off the club and keep the shaft forward.  Minimize your hand action and see what happens.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member