1/2 to 3/4 Wedge shot

[FormerBigDaddy]

This year I’ve been finding myself with a lot of 1/2 to 3/4 shots and I have not be handling them well from the fairway. I normally hit a full 60* wedge between 95-100 yards and the tight lie shots from 50-75yds are totally in my head. Thins and fats galore. 
 

What is your go to set up and club selection for these shots that has the largest margin for error? I also carry a 56-52 but most times I have to get it up in the air a bit to elevated greens. Open to anything though really. I need something to go to that I can practice and build confidence that I’m going to get it on the green from the fairway and not chunk it halfway there. 
 

Thanks in advance. 

Edited August 3, 2023 by FormerBigDaddy

[North Butte]

The good news is, I know the proper technique for those shots (at least "A" proper technique anyway). So it's really about just setting up correctly and trusting my swing.

 

But that's the bad news, too. The trusting part is the worst part of my game Except for putting, I am doubtful of EVERYTHING. And those 3/4 wedge shots are so punishing of any decceleration or flipping. Fat 'em and they go nowhere, blade 'em and it's a lost ball in the woods over the green. Hence the lack of trust, it's a vicious cycle. 

 

FWIW, open the stance a variable amount according to the length of the shot, open the clubface to match the stance, ball just inside back foot. And for me the key is, from that position go ahead and make a normal swing and DO NOT CUT ACROSS THE BALL. 

 

Somewhere in the deepest recesses of my brain there was something lodged when I was a beginner telling me "open face and open stance, swipe across the ball and try to slice it". I know that doesn't work but as soon as that lack of trust creeps in I seem to automatically swipe across the ball rather than swinging down and through like any other iron or wedge shot. Disaster follows. 

[Golf_Goof]

This has been spoiling some holes for me too lately. I purposely lay up to avoid these shots and prefer 90 yds. and out. These should be relatively easy,,, like a short putt, and maybe that's part of the (mental) issue. 

Edited August 3, 2023 by Golf_Goof

[MountainKing]

I almost never hit a full 60, or really a full anything involving a wedge.   I almost always drop down and do a 3/4 shot.  Even if it's too an elevated green, there's still a lot more control.  Biggest key with a 3/4 shot, you still swing hard, distance is just controlled by the backswing and follow through.  Swinging easy is when you get into the fats, thins etc.

Edited August 3, 2023 by MountainKing

[Kuuuch]

I hit literally 98% of shots from inside 100 yards, including chip shots with my 54*. Gpa was a scratch golfer and teacher and he told me to pick a club to chip with and use it for almost every chip shot. Worked so well I decided to do it for my wedge shots. 

 

I really hate hitting a 60 from the fairway unless I absolutely have to. I just feel like its sooo easy to have the ball ride up the face and come up short. 

[Bakes0]

Same issue, I hate these shots and do everything in my course management power to not leave myself any number between 45-75. In the first cut or rough and it's fine but off the fairway its an embarrassing display for a low cap. Waiting on the replies for some technique/thought tips to try out.

[ShortGolfer]

I have Callaway Mac Daddy CB wedges with plenty of bounce.  I carry the 60 but also have the 58.

Good ball first striking can get the ball closer to the pin.  But there is a risk reward issue if you miss.

The bounce allows you to slide the ball under the ball and get it close enough for a decent two putt.

For many, that is the smarter strategy.  Just get the ball on the green and don't hunt for pins.

 

Boring golf that leads to lower scores.

Edited August 3, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[Louis_Posture]

48 minutes ago, FormerBigDaddy said:

This year I’ve been finding myself with a lot of 1/2 to 3/4 shots and I have not be handling them well from the fairway. I normally hit a full 60* wedge between 95-100 yards and the tight lie shots from 50-75yds are totally in my head. Thins and fats galore. 
 

What is your go to set up and club selection for these shots that has the largest margin for error? I also carry a 56-52 but most times I have to get it up in the air a bit to elevated greens. Open to anything though really. I need something to go to that I can practice and build confidence that I’m going to get it on the green from the fairway and not chunk it halfway there. 
 

Thanks in advance. 

 

A 64* wedge makes much easier the 40-70 yard high trajectory carry shots.

[DFS PFD]

A shag bag and a practice green is your best option here, just need practice and confidence. Experiment with ball position and club selection. I can hit 60* about 100 yards with a full swing, but typically hit a 55* with a 2/3 swing and slightly open face/stance with the ball forward from 50-80 yards. Just manipulate the club face and ball position to control trajectory. Nice smooth tempo through and through. 

[getitdaily]

Setup is critical...posture can get lazy here. Make sure your posture is good. 

 

Ball position is critical too. Not too far forward, not too far back.

 

Watch this video. I moved to the clock method for these shots. What I thought was a 3/4 swing was really a full swing with less energy in the downswing. So much easier to "apply the same force down, but shorten the backswing". 3/4 swing is now 9 o'clock with the lead arm. 

 

 

[golfwb]

Hate to be that guy but unless your playing a scramble or something, you can control how far out you are.

If you stink from 35-75(i know i do) avoid leaving yourself that distance in. 

Edited August 3, 2023 by golfwb

[TLUBulldogGolf]

Almost certainly your backswing is getting too long. For me it's not much different than a full 60, which is what I will use for this range pretty much all the time. I narrow and slightly open my stance, play it in the middle, and a waist high arm swing should go about 75 yards with my 60. For shorter I would generally open the face slightly or shorten the swing even more. You can really get into the clock system for various yardages but some of this has to be solid natural feel for the shot. 

Edited August 3, 2023 by TLUBulldogGolf

[North Butte]

2 minutes ago, golfwb said:

Hate to be that guy but unless your playing a scramble or something, you can control how far out you are.

If you stink from 35-75(i know i do) ovoid leaving yourself that distance in. 

If I were good enough to pick my exact distances for the next shot, I’d be good enough to hit the green from 50 yards. 

[Chunkitgood]

Well…when you play by adding loft, short wedge shots are often where the truth reveals itself.

[North Butte]

49 minutes ago, Chunkitgood said:

Well…when you play by adding loft, short wedge shots are often where the truth reveals itself.

It's like you've peered into my soul...

[GoGoErky]

Fix the swing. It sounds like there’s a lot of arm/wrist action and changing of levels. Getting quick, yanking the shaft, improper pressure in the swing 

 

Look up videos of stricker and day hitting wedge shots. Monte has some good videos on wedges

Edited August 3, 2023 by GoGoErky

[Roejye]

Get shorter😜, a 75 yard is generally a full 56 for me. I wish I could help you with the ~60 yard range as that's my trouble area too.

 

I will say that what has helped me is not trying to use my wrists at all, and having bookmarks of my body position for specific distances. It's basically the clock method but not thinking oh that's 8, I need 9. I'm very confident in for 40 yards, that's a 56 with setup about normal width, slightly open stance and clubface, rotate until left shoulder touches chin, follow through until right shoulder touches chin.

[Pepperturbo]

4 hours ago, FormerBigDaddy said:

This year I’ve been finding myself with a lot of 1/2 to 3/4 shots and I have not be handling them well from the fairway. I normally hit a full 60* wedge between 95-100 yards and the tight lie shots from 50-75yds are totally in my head. Thins and fats galore. 
 

What is your go to set up and club selection for these shots that has the largest margin for error? I also carry a 56-52 but most times I have to get it up in the air a bit to elevated greens. Open to anything though really. I need something to go to that I can practice and build confidence that I’m going to get it on the green from the fairway and not chunk it halfway there. 
 

Thanks in advance. 

IMO, chunking shots is tied to poor mechanics, not so much wedge specs.  Also has more to do with laying up to a preferred yardage; mine is 100-150yds.  Sounds like you hit the ball as far as you can, only to face the yardages and clubs you haven't mastered yet. 

 

Dial back the first shot means NOT hitting driver as hard/far as humanly possible or choosing a different club or maybe choosing different tees.  When I am concerned about the 2nd shot into the green, ordinarily I use 2 iron or 3 wood off the tee, knowing I am good with long - mid irons.

[alittleoverpar]

The two things I think about when hitting partial wedges is keeping most of my weight on my front foot and maintaining a smooth tempo.

[Haroputt]

I’m in the do not use full LW or SW from 90-100 yards camp   I rather not hit with full out with those wedges 

I prefer 3/4 PW or 1/2 GW for the 70-110 yards 

After trying several wedge my cut off its at 52 degrees or lower for GW 

 

[mark m]

When I practice, approximately 40% of the balls hit every time are 50 to 80 yard partial wedge shots with my 56 and 60. I am just just grooving a solid and simple 9 to 3 motion. It helps my tempo/rhythm as well when I move to longer clubs. If you devote the time you can become confident on these shots. I am tall, and follow Ernie’s advice regarding weight on front foot.

 

 

[DaveGoodrich]

Ugh.  Another thread where folks are recommending "laying up to a preferred distance."  The data says otherwise.   Everyone thinks they are "special," most people aren't.  The data really does apply to you. So even if you think you suck from 50 yards, you are almost certainly closer from there, on average, than you are from 100.  It just feels worse to hit it to 20 feet from 50 than it does to hit it to 30 feet from 100.  Practice those short shots, and you will be way closer.  As mark m said above, much of your practice time should be spent on partial wedges.  Those shots are scoring opportunities, and that kind of practice spills over into all ball striking, as it is focused primarily on making consistent, solid contact.

 

I recommend Monte's original "Use the Bounce" video.  Ball forward, square to very slightly open face and stance, shallow swing, near vertical shaft at impact - let the weight of the club head control the release.  Although mostly intended for shorter shots around the green, I think that technique works well out to 60 yards or so, and even farther depending on green speed, pin position, etc.  Very simple and forgiving, IMO.  For me, a kind of Stricker-esque, less wrist-hinge swing also helps improve my consistency of low-point on these shorter wedge shots.  

 

Also, if you are swinging a high lofted wedge hard, that is your first mistake.   Its a lot harder to skull it over the green when you are using less loft, and swinging less hard.  Skull an easy 56 and it might roll to the back of the green, skull a hard 60, and...(you know).  

Edited August 3, 2023 by DaveGoodrich

[ac6]

I often have the same struggles. A tendency to get too far behind the ball in the backswing leads me to get flippy with wedges, and you just can't do that on these short shots. I set up with the ball a bit back in my stance and try to feel very centered on the backswing with very limited wrist set, and then rotate smooth and level through impact. If I feel like I have to manipulate things with my hands to generate spin, hit it hard, etc--that's when I get in trouble. 

 

I do second the idea that you shouldn't lay up to a preferred distance. Even at 50-75 yards, though I might have slightly less confidence than I should, the results speak for themselves. A big miss from 50 is no worse a result than the small miss from say, 120, which is my preferred gap wedge distance. 

[SNIPERBBB]

A couple things that over the years that have made these shots easier for me...

 

Stand a bit closer to the ball.

Let your arms control the backswing. Keeps your from sucking the club inside and and limits torso rotation in the backswing.

Firm up your wrists to keep from getting flippy.

[Bsudgolf]

I don't carry a 60 only have a 54 and 58. Also I never hit a wedge full except for PW. Just learn control and feel it's much better that way 

Edited August 4, 2023 by Bsudgolf

[North Butte]

22 minutes ago, SNIPERBBB said:

A couple things that over the years that have made these shots easier for me...

 

Stand a bit closer to the ball.

Let your arms control the backswing. Keeps your from sucking the club inside and and limits torso rotation in the backswing.

Firm up your wrists to keep from getting flippy.

I suspect you and I are wired very differently. If I let my arms control any swing (full swing, wedge swing, pitching, chipping) sucking the club inside on the takeaway is the inevitable result! That seems to be just what my arms are programmed to do. 

 

My golf coach has had me do drills where I kind of lock my upper arms against my body and just hit wedge shots with body turn only. 

 

It's crazy how one person's "must do" can be another's "must NOT do"...

 

P.S. One key for me, don't remember if I mentioned it before, is to keep my weight centered under the middle of my feet. For some reason I want to lean out on my toes. I think that's one thing your "stand closer to the ball" helps with.

[bluedot]

20 hours ago, TLUBulldogGolf said:

Almost certainly your backswing is getting too long. For me it's not much different than a full 60, which is what I will use for this range pretty much all the time. I narrow and slightly open my stance, play it in the middle, and a waist high arm swing should go about 75 yards with my 60. For shorter I would generally open the face slightly or shorten the swing even more. You can really get into the clock system for various yardages but some of this has to be solid natural feel for the shot. 

I think this is the most common flaw among ams.  The backswing gets too long, and then the brain screams on the way down that the ball is going to go too far.  The body stops turning, the club slows down, and the result is terrible contact of one sort or another.

 

Many, many years ago, Pelz recommended having three swings of different backswing lengths with each wedge, and then knowing how far each one went.  I think it’s still great advice, if only because it prevents a too long backswing AND because it provides a focus for practice.  And like everything else in golf, focused practice is is the key to improvement.

[SNIPERBBB]

44 minutes ago, North Butte said:

I suspect you and I are wired very differently. If I let my arms control any swing (full swing, wedge swing, pitching, chipping) sucking the club inside on the takeaway is the inevitable result! That seems to be just what my arms are programmed to do. 

 

Yep I can see that. But when I Do What I am talking about, the club goes back on almost straight down the line. Its more of a lift. If you try to just rotate the shoulders, you end sucking it inside.

 

My full swing isn't much different. It's  the no turn drill on steroids. Still get a full shoulder turn .. just not trying to get a shoulder turn. When I use to try to get a full turn, I went past a full turn and ended making a flat turn that was a nightmare on film.

Edited August 4, 2023 by SNIPERBBB

[golfwb]

16 hours ago, DaveGoodrich said:

Ugh.  Another thread where folks are recommending "laying up to a preferred distance."  The data says otherwise.   Everyone thinks they are "special," most people aren't.  The data really does apply to you. So even if you think you suck from 50 yards, you are almost certainly closer from there, on average, than you are from 100.  It just feels worse to hit it to 20 feet from 50 than it does to hit it to 30 feet from 100.  Practice those short shots, and you will be way closer.  As mark m said above, much of your practice time should be spent on partial wedges.  Those shots are scoring opportunities, and that kind of practice spills over into all ball striking, as it is focused primarily on making consistent, solid contact.

 

I recommend Monte's original "Use the Bounce" video.  Ball forward, square to very slightly open face and stance, shallow swing, near vertical shaft at impact - let the weight of the club head control the release.  Although mostly intended for shorter shots around the green, I think that technique works well out to 60 yards or so, and even farther depending on green speed, pin position, etc.  Very simple and forgiving, IMO.  For me, a kind of Stricker-esque, less wrist-hinge swing also helps improve my consistency of low-point on these shorter wedge shots.  

 

Also, if you are swinging a high lofted wedge hard, that is your first mistake.   Its a lot harder to skull it over the green when you are using less loft, and swinging less hard.  Skull an easy 56 and it might roll to the back of the green, skull a hard 60, and...(you know).  

Just out of curiosity where are you obtaining this data set?

Edited August 4, 2023 by golfwb
spelling

[sjn1]

You could try the Daniel Grieve approach (theres a thread on this ) , where  partial  wedge shots are played more like long pitch shots rather than as small 'full swing' shots