Selecting the proper wedge around
the green can be a big stroke saver
Whether it’s playing with club members or amateurs in pro-ams,
I’ve often observed golfers who have good fundamental pitching
techniques, but who still produce sub-par
results around the green. Most of the time, these results are based
on a bad club choice.
Many players carry three wedges: the
pitching wedge, the sand wedge, and a lob wedge. Each club has its
own advantages, but the key is matching those benefits with the right
situation. How do I pick the right wedge? The first step is to understand
how each club performs.
• The pitching wedge has the least amount of loft, a 25-percent
carry distance and a 75-percent roll.
• The sand wedge has a 50-percent carry distance and a 50-percent
roll.
• The lob wedge has the most loft, a 75-percent carry distance
and a 25-percent roll.
Here are some guidelines to help you
decide which wedge will help you make the shot:
Look at the lie of the ball
When the ball is sitting down or buried,
I recommend the pitching wedge or sand wedge and keep the shot simple.
Strike the ball with a descending blow and understand that it will
come out on a lower trajectory and roll more.
Examine the terrain
When on a down slope, the ball will
come out lower and run further than expected. In this case, I recommend
staying away from your pitching wedge and instead grabbing one of
the higher-lofted wedges, like the sand or the lob wedge, which have
a higher trajectory and less run.
Determine where the hole is and what
the carry distance is to the hole.
Generally, at this point, you will
have eliminated one of the three wedges. Now you will need to use
your best judgment to select the wedge that will give you your desired
outcome.
These are some of the basic guidelines
I use around the green each and every round. By consistently practicing
and experimenting with your wedges you will eventually develop your
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Dan Dwyer |
own pre-shot routine. Incorporating all three wedges in your short
pitches will better prepare you for all scenarios that arise on the
course and should shave some strokes off your scorecard at the end
of the round.
Dan Dwyer is in his fifth year as the assistant pro at Bass Rocks GC in Gloucester after a two-year tenure as the head pro at Mt. Hood GC in Melrose. Known for his razor-sharp short game, Dwyer is one of the top players in the NEPGA and no stranger to the leaderboard in state and regional events. A native of Melrose, Dwyer currently resides in Leominster with his wife, Sandy.
