Wedges

Question
I have been playing golf for 1 1/2 years and I use the Jerry Heard Super Swing. I'm told I'm a long hitter by amateur standards (280 off the tee and 160 with 7 iron)but I'm having a heck of a time hitting full shots with my wedges. I went through a spell of being dead on outside of 100 yds, but lately I've been blading all of my wedges horribly. I'm usually around the green in regulation, but this short game is really piling up the bogeys and double bogeys on my score card. I was down to mid 90's last fall but since then, I'm back to shooting 100's. Any ideas or suggestions?

Answer
Dear Dennis,

It sounds like you have a lot of potential to be a good player.  If you are blading your short irons it means your clubhead is coming up slightly before you make impact.  Blading is hitting the ball as the club is coming up from the ground and topping occurs when you hit the ball on the way down to the ground.

Ideally, of course, you make clubface-to-ball contact just prior to reaching the low point in the downswing.

Without seeing you, my guess would be that your ball position is too far forward with your short irons.  Try moving the ball back...maybe the width of one ball to start with.  If necessary, move it back two ball widths.  It shouldn't take more than that.

That should take care of the impact issue.  One more thing, however, make sure that you adjust your clubface when you move the ball back.  You will probably need to square up (close) the clubface slightly so you don't leave the shot out to the right (assuming you're a right handed player).

Good luck and feel free to write back to let me know if that adjustment did the trick.

Sincerely,

Paul Dolman