A pitching wedge and sand wedge are considered scoring clubs, simply it means it is a short club in length making it easier to hit than most of the others in your bag. Depending on your skill level you should either be getting up and down in two to three shots when you have them in hand.
I’ll be covering the below topics in this article.
- Understanding the Grip and Stance:
- The Golf Swing Mechanics:
- Distance Control and Shot Selection:
- Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Conclusion:
The bottom line both can be used for many shots including full shots, half shots and shots around the green. When broken down it is actually very simple to use and just requires your normal technique when hitting the ball. Let’s dive into some details below.
Understanding the Grip and Stance/Alignment:
Grip:
Gripping the club correctly is extremely important when it comes to hitting any club, not only the pitching wedge. Use a firm yet relaxed grip, position your hands in a neutral to strong grip on the club. This allows for control and consistent power throughout the swing. I get into some more details in this article.
Stance/Alignment:
Your stance and alignment will depend on what type of shot you are playing.
- For full shots you should stand with your feet, hips and shoulders square to the target, this will ensure your ball has the best chance of starting on your intended line. Your stance should be shoulder width apart, helping your turn correctly and keep balance throughout your swing.
- Half or three quarter shots must be aligned the same except you can open up your feet just a little, this will help you rotate on your downswing as you aren’t swinging full. You can narrow your stance just a little bit too.
- Shots around the green are slightly different. Again you want to align yourself to the intended target. But now your stance will be narrow, about 6 inches apart is ideal. Your feet and hips should also be slightly open, this will help you turn and release the club through impact.
The Golf Swing Mechanics:
Backswing:
Breaking down the golf swing, we start with the backswing. For full and half shots focus on a controlled and gradual takeaway, avoiding excessive wrist movement. Aim for a full shoulder turn while keeping your head steady. This establishes the foundation for a smooth swing.
When using the pitching wedge and sand wedge around the green you won’t need to hinge your wrists as much as you won’t be taking the club back very far.
Downswing:
Transitioning into the downswing, initiate the motion with your lower body. Drive your hips forward and shift your weight onto your front foot. It is crucial to get your weight going onto your front foot, which will ensure good contact and promote extra distance.
Impact:
At impact, keep the clubface square and make crisp ball-turf contact. This allows for maximum transfer of energy from the clubhead to the ball, resulting in accurate and powerful shots.
You also want to make a downward impact on the ball, another term is to have a negative angle of attack. This will help you compact the ball, generate spin and distance.
Ideally you want to have an angle of attack of around -3 to -5 on both the pitching wedge and sand wedge.
Distance Control and Shot Selection:
Distance Control:
Controlling the distance with a pitching wedge and sand wedge requires a good technique. Experiment with different backswing lengths to gauge the correct distance. Develop a consistent tempo and rhythm to achieve better control over clubhead speed.
Your impact or strike on the ball will impact your distance control tremendously, focusing on good contact will improve your distance control.
When working on different distances with your pitching wedge and sand wedge, I like to have three stock swings and then manipulate the shot from there. The three I use are a full, three quarter and half swing.
Test how far each shot goes with each swing and either write it down or memorize it. Then when you are on the course when it comes to a particular shot you will know how far each swing goes.
Shot Selection:
Selecting the right shot is crucial for optimal results. When approaching your shot you need to take a number of things into account
- Wind
- Elevation (downhill or uphill)
- Stance (above feet or below feet)
- Lie (fairway, rough, sitting up or sitting down)
- Temperature
- Rain
Depending on what situation you find yourself in above, you will need to determine if the pitching wedge is the right club, if it is not enough you will need to take out a 9 or 8 iron, or if it is too much you will need to hit it three quarters or half, or club down to a gap wedge.
The same goes for the sand wedge, you may need to change your club depending on the situation you find yourself in.
In windy conditions it is always advisable to take more club and hit it softer, this will control the spin and make your shots more accurate, as the wind tends to exaggerate side spin.
The sand wedge as its name suggests can also be used out of the sand when you are in a bunker around the green or on the fairway. The green side bunker shot is tough to master, but once perfected can get you out of a lot of trouble.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Grip and Tension:
Avoid gripping the club too tightly, as it prevents a smooth swing and reduces clubhead speed. Maintain a firm yet relaxed grip to maximize your potential.
Body Alignment:
Ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are parallel to the target line. If done incorrectly it can lead to inaccurate shots. Take time to establish the correct body alignment before each swing.
This can take practice, see the steps below to work on your alignment.
- On the range pick a target and align to it
- Take your club or alignment stick and place it against your toes
- Step behind the ball and see where it is aiming
- If your alignment is off make adjustments accordingly
- Practice make perfect
Falling Backwards:
Falling backwards can cause strike issues when hitting a sand wedge or pitching wedge. Poor strike can lead to inaccurate shots and loss of distance.
Check this article out to see a great drill on preventing yourself from falling back at impact.
To Wrap it up
Mastering the pitching wedge and sand wedge is a valuable skill in golf. By understanding the grip and stance, swing mechanics, developing distance control techniques, and selecting the appropriate shots, you can really take advantage of your wedges.
Avoid common mistakes such as gripping too tightly, poor alignment or falling back.
Practicing will make it easier to perform the three quarter and half shots as well as the shots around the green.
