When you need to hit a shot on the fairway that starts high and stops quickly, it is essential to learn how to use the bottom of your club – The jump – properly. If your wedge digs into the ground, you may react by trying to avoid the ground completely, which often leads to blade shots.
Hitting the ground is NO problem – the correct use of the club jump IS. This is just one of five ways you can avoid chipping the ball. See them all below.
1. Use a bounce club
Choosing the right club is critical. For a real shot, you should use a raised wedge with a jump:
- Sand Wedge: 54–56°
- Gap Wedge: 50–52°
- Wedge with bulb: 58–60°
The bounce helps the club slide through the ground instead of digging in. It provides forgiveness if you contact the ground a little early and gives you the confidence to hit the ground without fear of chipping the shot.
2. Position of the ball
Ball position greatly affects the way the club interacts with the ground. To encourage the club to slide, play the ball slightly off center.
With the club centered in your stance and the ball just ahead of this line, you maintain both loft and bounce. If the ball is played too far back, the shaft naturally bends forward – reducing loft, reducing bounce and increasing the chance of digging.
3. Lean shaft
Leaning the shaft forward takes bounce out of the club, making it more likely to dig. At address, the glove should point from your center—or even slightly behind it—to add loft and expose the bounce.
You can favor your lead side with your weight, but be careful not to combine it with the front axle. This applies to both address and impact.
4. Roll and release
Your movement through the ball is just as important as your organization. A proper swing of the step allows clubhead to releaseinstead of holding corners and bending the shaft forward.
Feel your trail hand to help the club leader reach – or even slightly exceed – the glove. Finish with your weight forward, using a little pivot so the club can sweep the grass under and behind the ball. Avoid falling back or trying to “help” the ball in the air.
5. Correctly fitted wedges
Great technique is important, but wedge fit also plays a big role in how the club interacts with the terrain. Your wedge lofts, jumps, and pitches should fit your swing and course conditions.
I send most of my students – and my family – to True Spec Golf for club fit. Having wedges that slide instead of digging in can significantly improve your short game consistency.
If you want more information on how to execute the various short game shots and a calibration system to lower your scores, consider exploring my short game course, which covers both chipping and pitching situations.
