Breaking wedges is a common issue for amateurs, so Top 100 GOLF Instructor Doug Spencer says this ultimate guide can help eliminate the problem.
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Breaking a wedge shot he may be angrybut doing it when you’re hitting an elevated green can cause a complete mental breakdown.
That’s because when you’re hitting a flat green, you have a little more forgiveness if you get it wrong – as the ball can still hit the putting surface, not necessarily near the pin. But when the green is elevated, disaster can happen, causing the ball to come up short and roll…roll…roll back down the hill you’re standing on.
How many of us have experienced the below before?
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So if you’re someone who routinely wedges near high greens (or in general), GOLF Top 100 Teachers Doug Spencer has a guide to help you overcome the problem.
From the correct reading of the lie to the determination what a short game shot has the highest chance of success, Spencer shares an easy-to-use process in order to finally curate pieces, helping you become a better wedge player. See what he had to say below.
How to stop chipping wedges around raised greens
How can you start making better contacts and experiencing better results? Spencer lays out a plan that will help you avoid all those frustrating mistakes.
“Here are some strategies for creating a suitable guide with questions to address,” he says. “So instead of making a costly mistake, you’ll find ways to consistently get your ball closer to the hole.”
Assess the situation by asking these questions
1. Determine the lie of the ball: how is it sitting on the grass?
Is the ball buried or sitting? Once you have an idea of this, you can figure out what kind of shot you need to hit and how much loft you might need in your club.
2. Take inventory of the slope: what is the slope for your stand and what is the slope of the green for your chip target?
Are you hitting from an uneven lie where the ball is either under or over your feet? How will this affect your club route and contact? And how much do you need in your shot to reach the elevated green? If you have some space in front of you, you’ll need to make sure you get more club to avoid any chance of the shot coming up short and rolling back down.
3. Consider course conditions: is the grass wet, dry, muddy or something else?
This is one thing that many amateurs forget to do when hitting any type of shot, not just a wedge shot. Your contact and score will absolutely be affected by course conditions, as moisture can get between the ball and the clubface at impact. Likewise, the ball will roll less after landing if the greens have moisture on them. These are important factors to know.
4. Review the smell: is there a smell and how strong is it?
Similar to the above, you need to consider the wind from every direction. If it’s in your face, get more club. If it comes from behind, take a little less club. And if it comes from the right or left side, adjust your aim accordingly.
5. Confirm that your best option is to chip: is there an opportunity to roll the ball onto the putting surface, is the grass too thick or do you need to clear an obstruction?
Depending on how close you are to the putting surface, you can always choose one Texas Wedge Type — which simply refers to the idea of using a club (or a low pitched club) when off the green, rather than trying to hit a wedge. But before you think that, you not only have to see what’s in front of you, but you have to check that the grass is short enough to roll.
Ask these questions to help choose the right club
1. Which clubs are you most satisfied with this situation?
OK, so you’ve practiced with all kinds of wedges and figured out which club gives you the best chance for success – can you use it here? If you’re routinely chipping your wedge, don’t even consider it an option. Instead, lean on the one you’ve seen good results from and commit to making it here.
2. Do course conditions dictate the need for more loft and bounce or less?
How soft is the ground and what does your lie look like? These are just two things to consider when figuring out which club to use and how much (or how little) bounce you need. Additionally, are you close to, or do you have room to roll the ball onto the putting surface to the pin? By observing and understanding this, you will be able to use the correct club for the stroke in hand.
How to hit a successful chip shot
Now that you have a handy guide to help stop short wedge shots, Spencer shares his top tips for getting out there and hitting a great chip shot on an elevated green.
“A good chip shot requires first contact with the ball,” says Spencer. “For a right-handed player hitting a green turtle from a flat, muddy lie, set up with a tight stance, where your right side is higher than your left and the bottom of the bow your swing is in front of the ball (head forward, chest turned to the left and the ball slightly back in the middle of your stance).
after calling in your setupSpencer says it depends on which short stroke you feel most comfortable with in this situation.
“Whether you need to hit high or low, your structure writes the script,” he says. “So practice hitting from different lies and adjust your club, stance, ball position and delivery, which should help build your confidence for all types of shots. Spend time in the practice area to better understand the impact of these changes. This allows you to confidently deliver the right technique with precision and ultimately eliminate wedge shots.
