Belly the wedge every time?

[Gibby]

I've been told something to this effect on several occasions:

----> [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90CYXfDSHVE&feature=related[/media]

But I'm pretty sure my best wedge contact occurs first relatively high on the clubface, like this:

----> [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrLoWa9oO4[/media]

In a way, this is sort of a continuation of my other thread about pinching/trapping. Does mr. mango shirt's interpretation have any merit? Is it just another feeling vs. reality thing?

 

[twitch127]

But I'm pretty sure my best wedge contact occurs first relatively high on the clubface, like this:

I would have thought your best contact is when the clubhead is going down out and forward on the inclined plane. What part of the ball it is contacting first is relative to ball position.

This idea of pinching the ball is laughable and I'm pretty sure that Peter Kostis smokes something funny before doing media work!!

 

[Gibby]

I would have thought your best contact is when the clubhead is going down out and forward on the inclined plane. What part of the ball it is contacting first is relative to ball position.

Basically my question is, should the blade (sharp edge of club) ever contact the ball? That is what the orange guy i n the video seems to be suggesting.

 

[twitch127]

Basically my question is, should the blade (sharp edge of club) ever contact the ball? That is what the orange guy i n the video seems to be suggesting.

NO. The leading edge (if this is what you are refering to by the "blade") has zero loft and this would only be used a speciality shot like a mid ball belly wedge shot other than that absolutely not!!

 

[Brian Manzella]

No, no, no.

What the "mango" man is saying is if your clubface had "zero loft," this is where you would hit the ball.

On a very downward strike anyways.

On a normal iron shot, contact is near the sweetspot, and often just lower than the sweetspot, on iron shots.

 

[JonWil]

Gibby,

Here is what I get from what 'Mango' is saying: To achieve the traditional 'down and through strike' you won't get there from a focus on the ball's equator. That focus will get you a fat or scooped shot or force you to deloft the clubface to get the 'down and through strike'. He clearly believes that attempting to strike the ball with the 'leading edge' of the club on the ball's quadrant above its equator is a superior intention. Gets you 'down and through' with true loft and a ball-first strike. Hummmm, interesting.

 

[Bigwill]

Here's what my problem with modern insruction is. A lot of times, they'll tell a golfer something to elicit an effect, rather than telling them what actually happens. The danger is, when you get a very literal person like me who not only tries to do what you're telling them, but they work on it until they get it, is that they have now perfected the wrong thing.

If you're going to give them an idea, let them know what the idea is, as well as what actually happens. That way, if your idea dosen't work for them, they know what they actually need to do, and they can work on perfecting THAT (sorry, Chris).

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Here's what my problem with modern insruction is. A lot of times, they'll tell a golfer something to elicit an effect, rather than telling them what actually happens. The danger is, when you get a very literal person like me who not only tries to do what you're telling them, but they work on it until they get it, is that they have now perfected the wrong thing.

Which is Brian, myself, and i'm sure all other Manzella instructors ask the student which works better for them. I have 2 students who are at opposite ends of the spectrum:

1 is very analytical like you and i have to explain exactly what i'm doing for what exact effect i want while the other doesn't care, he just wants the ball to do what he wants it to do no matter what i tell him. Customization and adaptation is key to being a great instructor.

 

[Bigwill]

Which is Brian, myself, and i'm sure all other Manzella instructors ask the student which works better for them. I have 2 students who are at opposite ends of the spectrum:

1 is very analytical like you and i have to explain exactly what i'm doing for what exact effect i want while the other doesn't care, he just wants the ball to do what he wants it to do no matter what i tell him. Customization and adaptation is key to being a great instructor.

That's why I think it's important to know whether or not an instructor will work for you, not just whether or not they have a good rep. If he can't figure out how to get the info to you, you won't get any better, no matter how many mags he's published in.