"Flying Wedge"

fats · January 20, 2009

....... is one of the greatest 6 weeks transformations in the history of golf.

Speaking reverently of golf's history everyone should know it was Tommy Bolt who invented the "flying wedge". JFF dts

"I launched far more (clubs) because they expected me to than I did because I was mad at anything that had gone wrong with my golf. After a while, it became showmanship, plain and simple," claimed Bolt.
Ben Hogan firmly believed had Bolt only been able to mask his emotions better and accept failure, his record would have been even better. "If we could've screwed another head on his shoulders, Tommy Bolt could have been the greatest who ever played," Hogan once said.
It was Hogan whom Bolt credited with resurrecting his career. In 1955, perplexed by a hook that worsened under pressure, Bolt sought Hogan's help. Often undone by the same malady early in his career, Hogan invited Bolt to practice with him during the off-season.
"I went to him and all but got on my knees for help," Bolt wrote in his book, The Hole Truth. "He put my left hand on top of the club, gripped it in the back three fingers of the left hand and the thumb down the shaft. It took me about a month of constant practice to get acclimated to the new grip, but I learned not to fear the hook."
Armed with that confidence, Bolt became one of the best ball strikers of all time. He also got a grip on his temper in time to win the one title he coveted, the U.S. Open, in his home state of Oklahoma in 1958. He birdied Southern Hills' treacherous 12th hole three consecutive times and finished four strokes ahead of Gary Player.
While the Open was his pinnacle, Bolt will tell you of another great moment in which the student bettered his mentor, Hogan, as well as Gene Littler, in an 18-hole playoff to win the 1960 Memphis Open. All even through 16, Bolt fired a 2-iron tee shot stiff to the flag on the par-3 17th. "When Ben said, 'Nice shot!' it was like a double clap of thunder to me," Bolt recalled. "It was the only thing he said to me all day."
Long before there was a senior tour, Bolt won the 1969 PGA Seniors' Championship and 11 other senior titles in the U.S. and Australia. He was one of the pioneers of the Champions Tour, laying the groundwork in a memorable six-hole sudden-death playoff with partner Art Wall against Julius Boros and Roberto De Vicenzo in the 1979 Legends of Golf, won by Boros-De Vicenzo.
When Nielsen ratings indicated approximately six million households were tuned in, PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman was convinced to support the senior initiative, which evolved into what is now the Champions Tour.

http://www.wgv.com/hof/member.php?member=1024

Yup...and I miss him deeply as he was very kind to me over the years of a long long friendship...great sense of humor and a very colorful individual...deeply religious in his later years...great person....taught me an awful lot about the game which I cherish.

Cmartingolf · January 21, 2009

Is there a max right flying wedge angle, and how do you know if its too much... or too little

Yes this determines the angle of approach of the right forearm and the degree of shaft lean at impact

Max flying wedge right forearm appears well forward of the ball and clubhshaft with lots of lean...

Minimum flying wedge looks like throwaway

Good thing you didn't let this guy hit wound balata balls.... I think he would have made a smile or two. That is among the worst throw away pics I've ever seen!

Don't forget that on top of the worst throw away pics ever...it is one of the greatest 6 weeks transformations in the history of golf.

That's a strong statement. But it is pretty darn good;)

For a young guy, it gets my applause. If that guy was 60, I'd bow down.

logan91201 · January 21, 2009

Is there a max right flying wedge angle, and how do you know if its too much... or too little

Yes this determines the angle of approach of the right forearm and the degree of shaft lean at impact

Max flying wedge right forearm appears well forward of the ball and clubhshaft with lots of lean...

Minimum flying wedge looks like throwaway

Good thing you didn't let this guy hit wound balata balls.... I think he would have made a smile or two. That is among the worst throw away pics I've ever seen!

Don't forget that on top of the worst throw away pics ever...it is one of the greatest 6 weeks transformations in the history of golf.

That's a strong statement. But it is pretty darn good;)

For a young guy, it gets my applause. If that guy was 60, I'd bow down.

Ha yes I was being facetious.

But I have seen plenty of young people with throw away like that who never get it to that second picture, let alone in that short of a time period.

David Orr · January 21, 2009

Is there a max right flying wedge angle, and how do you know if its too much... or too little

Yes this determines the angle of approach of the right forearm and the degree of shaft lean at impact

Max flying wedge right forearm appears well forward of the ball and clubhshaft with lots of lean...

Minimum flying wedge looks like throwaway

Good thing you didn't let this guy hit wound balata balls.... I think he would have made a smile or two. That is among the worst throw away pics I've ever seen!

Don't forget that on top of the worst throw away pics ever...it is one of the greatest 6 weeks transformations in the history of golf.

That's a strong statement. But it is pretty darn good;)

For a young guy, it gets my applause. If that guy was 60, I'd bow down.

This kid passed his PGA PAT this past year! With one round under par I believe!

He is in the Top 3 of my best students...

One our Assistant Deans of the School of Business, Dr. Carl Broadhurst, here at Campbell University at the age of 65 went from shooting 125 to Shooting several 72's and 73's and now is consistently in 70's to low 80's a 9 handicap in just 3 years! That's a transformation!

Jeff Evans · January 21, 2009

Is there a max right flying wedge angle, and how do you know if its too much... or too little

Yes this determines the angle of approach of the right forearm and the degree of shaft lean at impact

Max flying wedge right forearm appears well forward of the ball and clubhshaft with lots of lean...

Minimum flying wedge looks like throwaway

Good thing you didn't let this guy hit wound balata balls.... I think he would have made a smile or two. That is among the worst throw away pics I've ever seen!

Don't forget that on top of the worst throw away pics ever...it is one of the greatest 6 weeks transformations in the history of golf.

That's a strong statement. But it is pretty darn good;)

For a young guy, it gets my applause. If that guy was 60, I'd bow down.

This kid passed his PGA PAT this past year! With one round under par I believe!

He is in the Top 3 of my best students...

One our Assistant Deans of the School of Business, Dr. Carl Broadhurst, here at Campbell University at the age of 65 went from shooting 125 to Shooting several 72's and 73's and now is consistently in 70's to low 80's a 9 handicap in just 3 years! That's a transformation!