Question/Tips about my 60* wedge

[NSalvatore]

HELP

Guys...as you can see by my post count I am new here...I have a question about my 60* Vokey Oil Can Wedge.

I am a decent golfer, I shoot lows 80's consistantly. But my Lob Wedge is a very frustrating club for me. When I am 50 yards out from a hole...I am the MASTER at hitting a 90 yard line drive over the green.

A few things I FEEL I am doing wrong...1. I am taller, 6'5" so its easy for me to skull the ball, I really have to make an effort to hit down at the ball. 2. I am not trusting the loft of the club, I'M trying to lift the ball myself...because of the two above issues I'm getting that lack luster ressult. Further, point 3, becuase of the above 2, mentally I have no confidence in the club, which is more detramental then anything.

To compensate for the above, I am using a 56* Vokey Oil Can, which I do hit MUCH better and have more confidence in...I hit this from 60-70 yards. (I also have a 50* Oil Can and a 48* P, I cycle these based on course). If I am inside 30yards of the green, I chip with my 7 iron, ala links style. I am very creative and am very very good with a chippy 7 around the green. The problem comes when I am between 30-50 yards, or if i have to go OVER a trap in front of the green, on a tight or even fairway lie. Obvioulsy I try to leave myself out of these situations as much as possible.

I am currently working with my local pro at my home course which I live on...with out my first lesson yet, on the phone he has mentioned placing the ball to the middle or rear 3rd of the stance and also, having the shaft forward of the club head at the target....

Any other thoughts and ideas from you guys would be appreciated. Its a frustraiting topic for me, I have a Brother in low, who shoots in the 113-120 area can run all around the course with his lob wedge with no issues....arg.

TIA guys.

[Placebo]

Well for starters you are a much better golfer than myself. That being said I suffer from the exact same 60* lob wedge phobia that you do. It is by far the worst part of my game and my most immediate goal in terms of remediating. One of the first steps I have taken is purchasing Dave Pelz Short Game Bible. This is a great book that has been recomended by many and I am having trouble putting the book down because its that good. So until I can finish this book and apply what I learn to my wedges, the 60* will stay out of the bag. Best of luck and let me know if you come across something that works well for you.

 

Oh yeah I almost forgot. Welcome to the boards! :birthday:

[slicefixer]

Yep....2 come immediately to mind......

 

 

1. The wedge IS too short IF its standard length...35.5".......you need at least 1/2" to 1" of extension......

 

2. I'd bet big money that you don't have your weight distributed properly........make sure that at least 70% of your weight is ON your left side at address and keep it there.......you'll feel like your lower body is "leaning" towards the target a bit........once you can "trap" the ball against the turf and take a consistent divot then you can adjust the distribution to attain the trajectory/spin you desire. Make SURE that your weight is favoring your left side at address and that your spine is tilted slightly away from the target......or vertical......but NEVER leaning towards the target.......then maintain the "set" of your right wrist from the top of your backswing through impact and into the throughswing by "turning through the ball with your lower trunk"/hips.....NO slapping/flipping/swiping at it with the wrists/hands.......just "turn" through it.......

 

- Make sure the clubface is square to the intended target (90 degrees to the target line)

- Make sure your body, espcially your lower body, is SLIGHTLY open to the target line....shoulders can be fairly square.......

 

IF you can "handle" these changes in your set up and then ingrain the "turn through it and hold the "angle" " concept........you'll be able to handle any wedge shot in the game eventually.......all it takes are set up changes to hit any type of shot you want based on this "technique".......even lob shots........

 

But first, get that wedge extended........try it to see if you can swing it effectively as it will gain 6 swing weight points by extending it 1".....I like HEAVY wedges, but, some people don't.......if the weight bothers you then the flange will have to be drilled out to get the weight back down........which is NO big deal.......

 

Good Luck!

 

:birthday:

[nikkthestikk]

What I recommend is that you not carry this club in your bag.

 

It will cost you much fewer strokes if you replace it with a club with less loft, or learn to hit the SW and PW for the length that you are looking to cover with the LW.

 

Most people (who do not practice 1-3 hours a day) that appear to run the course with their LW also waste shots in a round because of the nature of the 60 degree wedge.

 

This club offers a sharp leading edge to the ball (for thinning it), and conversely in heavy grass an opportunity to pass under the ball completely because of the lack of face that a 60 degree club presents to the ball. Don't beleive me? Take a look at the profile of your 60 degree wedge from the toe. This is not an easy club to get a ball on the face of.

 

Even a 58 would treat you better...

 

Good luck...

[NSalvatore]

Thanks for the tips above guys.

 

I am going to open my stance slightly and really just working on swinging with my arms, and letting the loft of the club do the work.

 

Very interesting on the point of % of weight on my left side...this, thinking about it seems odd. When trying to get the ball in the air, one would think put your weight on you back foot, get behind it, get the ball in the air. I guess thats the thinking that got me in trouble.

 

I will try a few of those things....right now my 56* seems to be the best option. I am also noticing as I am working on these 40 yd shots, that my natural ball flight on these shots is leaking off slightly (a yard or two) while decending. Is this something I should compensate for by aiming left of the target or is this a mechanics issue that should be adjusted so this shouldnt happen, as I said, I dont really work with the 60* that much, so I am unsure as to the answer.

[slicefixer]

THIS statement says it all........:birthday:

 

"Very interesting on the point of % of weight on my left side...this, thinking about it seems odd. When trying to get the ball in the air, one would think put your weight on you back foot, get behind it, get the ball in the air. I guess thats the thinking that got me in trouble."

 

 

 

One of the OLDEST "cliches" in golf is this.......

 

Golf is a game of "opposites,"......you hit down on it and it goes up........you swing up and it has a tendency to go down.......you swing left and it has a tendency to go right........you swing right and it has a tendency to go left..........swing down the line and the ball will rarely go there......etc. etc. etc........:)

 

Just as I suspected initially, this IS YOUR problem, your NOT striking wedges with the appropriate technique.......which is VERY typical of beginners and higher handicappers.......even 10 - 15 handicappers.......IF you want to improve your ENTIRE game then you need to learn how to strike "down" on the wedges.......its absolutely essential IF you REALLY want to improve your ballstriking........swipin' at it with your arms off of your right side isn't a very good way.....no its an AWFUL way.....to try and play golf..........I call it "flat footed flappin' "............:birthday:

 

I hope I don't offend you, but, you'll NEVER reach your golf potential unless you take the time to make some changes........you might eventally end up having the ability to overcome poor technique well enough to slap it around the course, chip/putt, and score half way decently. However, you'll always have a LOT of golf "potential" that is "untapped" if you continue "doing what your doing."

 

Good Luck with your game! :D

[NSalvatore]

THIS statement says it all........:birthday:

 

"Very interesting on the point of % of weight on my left side...this, thinking about it seems odd. When trying to get the ball in the air, one would think put your weight on you back foot, get behind it, get the ball in the air. I guess thats the thinking that got me in trouble."

 

 

 

One of the OLDEST "cliches" in golf is this.......

 

Golf is a game of "opposites,"......you hit down on it and it goes up........you swing up and it has a tendency to go down.......you swing left and it has a tendency to go right........you swing right and it has a tendency to go left..........swing down the line and the ball will rarely go there......etc. etc. etc........:)

 

Just as I suspected initially, this IS YOUR problem, your NOT striking wedges with the appropriate technique.......which is VERY typical of beginners and higher handicappers.......even 10 - 15 handicappers.......IF you want to improve your ENTIRE game then you need to learn how to strike "down" on the wedges.......its absolutely essential IF you REALLY want to improve your ballstriking........swipin' at it with your arms off of your right side isn't a very good way.....no its an AWFUL way.....to try and play golf..........I call it "flat footed flappin' "............:birthday:

 

I hope I don't offend you, but, you'll NEVER reach your golf potential unless you take the time to make some changes........you might eventally end up having the ability to overcome poor technique well enough to slap it around the course, chip/putt, and score half way decently. However, you'll always have a LOT of golf "potential" that is "untapped" if you continue "doing what your doing."

 

Good Luck with your game! :D

 

 

No offense taken. I am regualry in the low 80s and once in every 4 rounds I go high 70s. Its just the major part of my game that is the weakest. That I need to improve on. I guess I dont understand your last comment though...you come across as I am not willing to spend the time, and am try to cut corners to get the same result...something I am not.

[slicefixer]

VERY sorry I came across poorly.......I was just trying to make a point that its VERY difficult to reach your potential IF you cannot repeat a reasonably repetitive and fundamentally sound impact with a short iron/wedge. The basic "physics" and body moves are the same whether its a 50 yard L wedge or a 280 yard driver.......therefore if your having trouble with striking a short iron properly you most probably have a similar problem with your driver.......but the driver is on a tee and hanging back is more conducive to striking a driver and NOT a wedge.......

 

Understand that this a BROAD "generalization' and in NO way is a reflection on YOUR game........just hoped that something in my "diatribe" might help you!

 

Keep up the good work!

[ce_me_golf]

What I recommend is that you not carry this club in your bag.

 

It will cost you much fewer strokes if you replace it with a club with less loft, or learn to hit the SW and PW for the length that you are looking to cover with the LW.

 

Most people (who do not practice 1-3 hours a day) that appear to run the course with their LW also waste shots in a round because of the nature of the 60 degree wedge.

 

This club offers a sharp leading edge to the ball (for thinning it), and conversely in heavy grass an opportunity to pass under the ball completely because of the lack of face that a 60 degree club presents to the ball. Don't beleive me? Take a look at the profile of your 60 degree wedge from the toe. This is not an easy club to get a ball on the face of.

 

Even a 58 would treat you better...

 

Good luck...

 

That's exactly the conclusion I came to after numerous skulled shots with a 60* wedge. The clubs is very limited in terms of the distances and lies you can use it on. Having said that it is a club that can be mastered if you are willing to put the time into it. Besides a ptiching wedge I now have a 54* low bounce wedge that I use as my sand wedge and a 50* gap wedge. I find these clubs to be much more versatile.