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how to hit a golf ball with a pitching wedge

by Dr. Anais Greenholt Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How to Hit a Golf Ball With a Pitching Wedge

  1. Grip. Your right hand pinky finger should over lap with your left hand index finger. ...
  2. Stance. The ball should be centered between your feet and your knees should have slight bend in them.
  3. Backswing (Shake Hands With Your Left Hand) When in your backswing, your front (left) arm should be locked out completely. ...
  4. Roll the Hands and "Close the Door" When swinging, your left hand should be on top and your right hand should be underneath the club. ...
  5. Follow Through. When you follow through with your swing, you should look like this. ...

Part of a video titled Pitching Wedge Techniques - YouTube
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If we were trying to hit it down a little bit one of the big mistakes is to ever get the ball way upMoreIf we were trying to hit it down a little bit one of the big mistakes is to ever get the ball way up front on a pitching wedge or a short iron. So about in the middle of our stance.

Full Answer

How to hit a pitching wedge [step by step guide]?

With this in mind, here’s how to set up to play a wedge shot on the practice range:

  • Select your target and pick a spot between the ball and target where you will visualize your target line.
  • Take an extra club (this is allowed only on the practice range!) and use it to mark the ball position on the ground. ...
  • Take your stance with the club centered between your legs. ...
  • Angle your lead food in the direction of the target. ...

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What is the best pitching wedge?

  • Best Overall: Cleveland Golf Pitching Wedge
  • Best Value: MAZEL Golf Pitching Wedge
  • Best Budget: Founders Club Pitching Wedge

How far does a pro hit a pitching wedge?

The average distance PGA Tour professionals hit a pitching wedge is 130 to 135 yard, 115 to 120 yards for a sand wedge and between 75 and 95 yards for lob wedges. Players on the LPGA Tour by comparison hit pitching wedges between 105 and 110 yards on average and sand and lob wedges between 75 and 90 yards.

How to hit better wedge shots with a low trajectory?

  • Make sure the grooves on your lob wedge, sand wedge and pitching wedge are clean.
  • Work on your pitch shots around the green. This will help with feel and touch.
  • Your backswing should not be too long. Partial wedge shots are easier to control and typically have less trajectory.

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How do you hit a golf ball with a wedge?

3:467:23How to Hit Solid Wedge Shots (STOP CHUNKING WEDGES) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipShot you want to stay a little bit more stationary. So that's the second thing start 60 60 make sureMoreShot you want to stay a little bit more stationary. So that's the second thing start 60 60 make sure you shift your weight. But only a little bit. So at the top of your backswing.

When should I use pitching wedge?

A pitching wedge should be used when on the fairway or rough for approach shots, or when doing some higher trajectory short pitch shots around the green. They are great for creating spin and distance, while also giving you the control you need to keep your short game tight and accurate.

Is a 52 degree wedge the same as a pitching wedge?

Golfers who have a 52-degree wedge in their bag typically have a pitching wedge that's between 47-48 degrees. 52-degree wedges are a lot less common, and the reason is that pitching wedges are normally 44-46 degrees. Having a 6-8 degree gap between clubs is a bit too much, and that's why 50-degrees is more common.

Where should a wedge be in your stance?

As a rule of thumb, following the above guidelines, the wedges will be in the center of your stance and the woods will be near your front foot with the driver opposite your front instep. Back to the wedges. Learn to sole your club flush to the ground from front to back edge.

Should I chip with a pitching wedge?

Should You Chip With A Pitching Wedge? For the average golfer, chipping with a pitching wedge will produce the most consistent results when the ball is sitting up in the rough. A club with too much loft will slide under the ball and you'll have a lot of shots that end up short.

What is the easiest wedge to hit?

The easiest wedges to hit are cavity-back wedges like the Cleveland CBX 2 and the Callaway Mack Daddy CB. This style of wedge makes it easier for players to get the ball up in the air quickly, even without making perfect contact.

How far should you hit a pitching wedge?

How Far Does The Average Person Hit A Pitching Wedge? On average, recreational golfers hit their pitching wedge 116 yards, but the range can be between 100 and 140 yards. For shorter pitches or shots that require a 1/2 swing, the average distance will be much less.

What degree wedge is best for chipping around the green?

Most people would agree that something around 56 degrees of loft is going to be best for chipping. A wedge with this loft seems to have the right amount of height, spin, and maneuverability to help you get shots around the green completed with ease.

What 3 wedges should I carry?

Know your pitching wedge loft. If it's 45 degrees or less, add three more wedges that are spaced apart by no more than 4-5 degrees each. So generally think about putting in a gap wedge that's 48 or 50 degrees, a sand wedge that's between 54 and 56 degrees, and a lob wedge that's between 58 and 60 degrees.

Where do you put the ball on a pitching wedge?

Fairway--80 to 100 yards This is the ideal spot to use your pitching wedge. There's nothing complicated here. Play the ball in the middle of your stance and take a full swing with a high follow-through. Keep your head down and watch the face of the club make impact with the ball.

What happens if ball is too far forward in stance?

Ball position; it's one of the oldest fundamentals in golf. If it's too far forward, it may be causing you to hit thin or fat shots and miss shots to the left. If it's too far back, you could be hitting tops, chunks, and missing the ball to the right.

Where should the ball be placed on a pitching wedge?

1:004:44Pitch Shots: Wedge Selection, Ball Position, Range of Motion - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe ball is the easier it is to make the ball stay low the more forward of center the ball is placedMoreThe ball is the easier it is to make the ball stay low the more forward of center the ball is placed the easier it is to make it go high when you're hitting pit shots.

Can you use a pitching wedge on the green?

Golfers are also allowed to hit any kind of shot they want on the green in the interest of getting the ball closer to the hole. That means a golfer can use a wedge or an iron to chip or pitch their ball closer to the hole, even while on the putting green.

Can I use a pitching wedge in sand?

Pitching wedges are not great out of sand traps or if you are shooting to a pin that is in the very front of the green. The spin that you get from a pitching wedge will be similar to the spin that you get from other irons.

What 3 wedges should I carry?

Know your pitching wedge loft. If it's 45 degrees or less, add three more wedges that are spaced apart by no more than 4-5 degrees each. So generally think about putting in a gap wedge that's 48 or 50 degrees, a sand wedge that's between 54 and 56 degrees, and a lob wedge that's between 58 and 60 degrees.

What degree wedge is best for chipping around the green?

Most people would agree that something around 56 degrees of loft is going to be best for chipping. A wedge with this loft seems to have the right amount of height, spin, and maneuverability to help you get shots around the green completed with ease.

How to hit a pitching wedge: Weight forward

The first thing to note is that you should adopt a narrower stance than you would for a normal full swing, keeping the weight fractionally more towards the front foot – around 60 per cent.

Three-quarters back and through

With a pitching wedge it’s rarely wise or necessary to swing flat-out. The objective here is distance control and accuracy rather than out-and-out distance and that’s easier to achieve when you’re not swinging flat-out. If you need to hit it further, you can always go up a club or two!

Grip down for more control

Another great way to enhance that feeling of control rather than distance is to grip down the club a fraction more than usual.

Stay connected

Because power is not the goal with a pitching wedge, there can be a temptation to do it all with the hands and arms.

Improve your pitching wedge striking

Flicking at it with the hands is a common issue with pitching wedge shots. This little drill will help you compress the ball against the turf and get it zipping up the clubface, improving your strike and bringing added control.

What is a pitching wedge?

The pitching wedge is used to loft the ball into the air with a lot of elevation instead of a line drive shot. This wedge would be used to hit over water, trees, and other obstacles that you can hit through. 1. Golf Club (in this "how to" we will be using a pitching wedge) 2. Golf balls of any kind. Ask Question.

What hand should I use to swing a golf club?

When swinging, your left hand should be on top and your right hand should be underneath the club. When you are in your backswing, your club head will be "open" like a door. As you begin to swing, the club head should start to "close" like a door, your hands and forearms will "roll" over and the club head will become flat against the ball.

How to watch the ball in backswing?

When in your backswing, your front (left) arm should be locked out completely. Your left arm should be in a position to shake someone's hand if they were standing behind you. Keep your head down. This is described as watching the ball with your eyes when hitting. Don't look away from the ball.

Which finger should be on the lap of the hand?

Your right hand pinky finger should over lap with your left hand index finger. Your left thumb should be in the up right position on the handle and it will be overlapped by your right hand.

What is a pitching wedge?

A pitching wedge, named for its common use of hitting pitch shots (longer than chip shots but shorter than full iron shots), is an iron with a clubface loft of around 43°-49°. This is generally the lowest lofted wedge in the bag, between a 9-iron and a gap wedge. The pitching wedge has a shaft length of around 34-38 inches and a bounce ...

Why are pitching wedges not used?

Pitching wedges are not typically used for bunker shots, balls that are sitting down in the rough, or other soft lies, because the bounce doesn’t promote sliding the club underneath the ball. Unlike a sand wedge, which has a relatively high bounce, a pitching wedge and most other irons have a tendency to dig into the ground, ...

What wedge to use for chipping around the green?

The Chip Shot. A pitching wedge can also be very useful for chipping around the green. It’s best to experiment with different lofts and clubface orientations to get the trajectory you want, whether it be a low roller or a higher shot with less rollout. In general, the longer the iron, the lower the trajectory and the more rollout there will be.

What is a flop shot?

The Flop Shot. Pitching wedges, although less ideal than higher lofted wedges like the lob wedge, can be used to hit flop shots. The general idea is to open your clubface wide, adjust your alignment, re-grip the club, and accelerate down through the ball. You should only really consider a flop shot for tight or fluffy lies.

How to get a higher trajectory in golf?

If you want a higher trajectory that lands softer (but also doesn’t carry as far), open your clubface, re-grip the club, and align left of the target ( for a right-handed golfer) to compensate. You can also use a gap wedge or lob wedge instead to produced the desired result. Avoid using a sand wedge on tight lies because the higher bounce makes ...

What is a pitch shot?

The Pitch Shot. When you’re 100 yards or less to the flag, in the fairway, first cut or even the rough, a pitching wedge will often be just what you need to hit it high and soft into the green. The pitching wedge was once called the “10-iron” and it follows the normal loft progression of the numbered irons, so it would seem reasonable ...

Should you hit a flop shot for fluffy lies?

You should only really consider a flop shot for tight or fluffy lies. Flop shots and the techniques used are explained in much detail in this article, and I strongly recommend you go there if you’re interested in learning how to hit a flop shot.

How to get a wedge in golf?

Step 1. Make sure you don't lead too much with your hands and drag the wedge behind them on the shot. Fight the tendency to push your hands forward on a short stroke because you're bound to make poor contact with the ball when you do.

What is a pitching wedge?

A pitching wedge is one of the more versatile clubs in your golf bag because it can hit high shots that can drop on the green with a little backspin or lower chip shots when you need to pun ch the ball onto the green and let it roll close to the hole . Mastering the various uses of your pitching wedge takes time and practice, ...

How many yards does a chip shot need to hit the green?

A pitching wedge used from 120 yards might require a full swing to reach the green, while a chip shot from 10 yards off the green will only need a half-swing or less.

How to hit a wedge shot?

The next time you’re on the course preparing to hit a wedge shot, you’re going to: 1 Think about the club you’re using and select a wedge with a lower loft. 2 Position the ball a little farther back in your stance—just behind center—and make sure there’s a little forward lean on the shaft at setup. 3 Focus on shaping your swing motion so it’s about ¾ the length of your regular full swing. 4 Your final swing thought should be making your best possible swing and trying to strike the ball in the center of the club face.

How to make a wedge shot in golf?

However, when you’re preparing to make a golf wedge shot, your best bet is to position the ball slightly back of center. Then, while your ball is in this behind-center position, move your hands slightly in front of the ball.

How far can a pitching wedge hit?

Firstly, it can be used to hit a golf ball an average distance between 90 and 130 yards (depending on how far you hit the ball).

How does a lob wedge affect distance control?

Making a full golf swing with a lob wedge (especially in windy conditions) decreases your distance control and accuracy.

What is a lob wedge?

Your lob wedge is your most lofted club in the air, meaning it is the best option when you need to get the golf ball up in the air fast. For example, a great opportunity to use your lob wedge on the golf course is when you’re off the putting green and chipping from in the rough.

What is a partial wedge shot?

Partial wedge shots are easier to control and typically have less trajectory. Good wedge players also have many different shots that they can hit. For most amateurs, the only wedge that you should use a full swing with is your pitching wedge. Distance control and direction become more difficult as you add loft and speed.

What is the biggest mistake most amateur golfers make with their wedges?

The biggest mistake most amateur golfers make with their wedges is hitting the ball too high. It’s true. You can see remarkable improvement in your wedge shots just by bringing the trajectory down. And I’m going to explain how you can do that by making three super easy adjustments to the way you hit your wedges.

How to play a golf ball in a sandbox?

Line up with your feet about hip-width apart and the ball midway between your front foot and your back foot. Make your your shoulders, feet and hips are aligned parallel to your target line.

What is hybrid golf?

Hybrid clubs are, as the name suggests, a hybrid of the woods and irons, but with a very low center of gravity that makes it easy to hit the ball high in the air.

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