The bounce angle on the sole of a wedge is designed to keep the clubhead from digging not only into the sand but the turf as well. A lot of amateurs forget this, especially when faced with a short wedge shot from a tight fairway lie.
JD Cuban
To make solid contact off a firm lie, you must not be afraid to hit the ground with the club, and the bounce should give you some confidence. Here’s how to adjust your setup and swing to utilize it. First, open the clubface a few degrees. Next, set up with your sternum in front of the ball and the shaft neutral—or straight up and down—and lean your body slightly toward the target (above). This brings the low point of your swing forward, just in front of the ball, and gives you all the loft you need to hit the ball high and land it softly.
Here’s the key: Make a big swing with very soft hands and arms, brushing the ground underneath the ball with the sole of the club. Much like a greenside bunker shot, you want the sole touching down first and kicking up a few blades of grass (top). Keep your lower body stable, as this will allow you to achieve a consistent low point. A great drill to help steady the lower body and keep the clubhead from bottoming out too soon is to hit shots with your right heel off the ground. You can even do this for real on the course. Just remember to swing your arms smoothly and skim the turf with the bounce.
Alana Swain, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, teaches at the PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
