Low Checker

[PooOnU107]

How do you hit a low shot with a 60* wedge that skips a couple of times and then comes to a complete stop?

 

Thanks :dntknw:

[Pole_Position]

I can hit this shot with the right conditions:

 

1. Premium 3 or 4-piece ball (Titleist ProV1, Nike Platinum, etc.)

 

2. Good wedge and grooves

 

3. Lie has to be right - sitting up on the short grass - so that you can get the club under the ball so that the ball hits relatively high on the face (this gives the low trajectory, IMO) while allowing no grass to get between the face and the ball (this gives the high spin)

 

Here's how I hit the shot (or at least what I think I'm doing):

 

1. I take a fairly normal pitch stance - open to target, ball slightly forward of center and weight slightly forward (I don't hit down or try to pinch the ball or cut across the ball on this shot)

 

2. I swing back and through the same length (if anything, the follow-through is shorter). I set the wrists early in the backswing and try to maintain the wristcock throughout the swing (might look like I'm chicken-winging it on longer pitches). I try to keep the path rather shallow through impact - no or very small divot - and finish low.

 

3. The key for me is to accelerate through the ball with soft hands. This is an absolute must - the more you accelerate, the more spin you generate, IMO. However, I don't accelerate the club with my hands or wrists - once the wrists are cocked they stay that way - but rather with my body and arms. This is a big muscle shot, IMO.

 

For me, my setup and backswing are very similar to a flop shot, with the main differences being the lie (wouldn't normally play a flop off a relatively tight lie) and not releasing the club like I would for a flop.

[Zach Heusser]

Flat or bowed left wrist with a slight decending blow at impact

[mizuno]

I agree with Pole Position you have to have the correct lie, but for me the key is to play the ball back in my stance (off my right instep), accelerate the club and make a low follow through.

[slicefixer]

How do you hit a low shot with a 60* wedge that skips a couple of times and then comes to a complete stop?

 

Thanks :dntknw:

 

I THINK your talking about the mid to low "driving" wedge shot that hits, bounces, and then checks on a dime........IF the green is "accepting"......

 

 

Ball back of center......almost off of the right instep.....

 

Body open.....especially the stance/lower body.......

 

Face SLIGHTLY open to the target (MORE if you want to cut-spin-check.......(this is VERY important.....square face and it will check and release some......closed face and it will check and really release......variations on the same shot...)

 

Weight set 80 - 90% on the left side and it stays there in the swing....NO weight "transfer"....

 

Spine/upper body slightly tilted AWAY from the target......left leg is angled towards the target indicating the weight is left......spine is vertical or close to vertical.....

 

Core/arms/club work away together.........left forearm rotates to set the club, shallow the shaft, and open the face.......

 

Left arm rarely travels any further than "9 O'clock" and the shaft is set at least 90 degrees to the left forearm......."L" position.......

 

The left side rotates HARD left "pulling" the "core" left and the angles of the arms that were set at the "top" remain constant and the "butt" of the club works DOWN and then "left".........you'll more than likely "feel" it in the legs/knees/hips/lower trunk.......Venturi described it as "hitting with the knees" or something to that effect......very well defined "pulling" feeling........

 

The strike is a definite "trap" down against the turf "compressing" the ball into the turf.......for a really quick hop-check open the face a lil' more at address......to hit it higher simply move the ball more forward......

 

The clubhead travels low and left immediately with the body after impact........

 

The angle/set of the right wrist set at the "top" is retained well into the throughswing..........

 

Once you have the basic technique down you can experiment by taking the club more down the line........less forearm rotation.........taking the club outside......inside.........open and close the face........move the ball back and forward......tight lies....fluffy lies......hardpan......your ONLY limited by your "imagination".........TONS of highly different shot shapes/spins/trajectories can be "dialed" in at address and by taking the club back in differing directions........When I was a kid I LOVED to mess around with this shot to produce all kinds of different shots......REALLY helps the player to ingrain "feel"/"touch" around the greens.....

 

Good Luck...........