Pro style wedge shots

[faux_maestro]

I've heard it a thousand times and also noticed it watching the pros play in person. They hit these low wedge shots that one hop and stop, not very many high FULL wedges. How do they do it? Is it simply that they are making three-quarter swings with the wedges/short irons vs. closer to "all out" with the mid to long irons? Is there something they do with the technique to hit it lower?

 

[Brian Manzella]

They hit it on the third groove.

Their arms out race their torso.

They use the bounce on the club.

 

[lia41985]

how do you hit the "Tour Pitch" [Archive] - Brian Manzella Golf Forum

 

[dbl]

regular version of above

http://www.brianmanzella.com/golfing-discussions/8173-how-do-you-hit-tour-pitch.html

 

[faux_maestro]

Hey guys, thanks for the info on the tour pitch. I had been looking for this too.

My original post wasn't specific enough. I was thinking more along the lines of the (for the pros) 95-130 yard shot. You hear the announcers and players talk about "flighting the ball down" in this range to control the spin to keep the ball from spinning back too much or off the green.

Example. The par 5 6th hole at a local course I play is 568 from the tees I play so it's out of reach in 2 for me. The ideal lay-up zone is 95 to 115-ish from the middle. The green has a false front, maybe 5 paces and the rest of the green tilts from back to front. In my younger days I could spin the ball off the green with a sand wedge UNTIL I started leaving the ball a little farther back (110-ish instead of 95-ish) and would hit a pitching wedge. No change in ball position or anything else except I just swing from shoulder to shoulder (shorter backswing and follow-through).

I like the feeling of hitting that lower more controlled shot from that distance instead of a ballooning full shot. Is there anything else to know regarding downward AoA or shaft lean? Is my technique anything like what the pros do for these types of shots?

 

[dschultz6072]

Strike center face ball first, finish lower, and play with 4 dollar balls...that's about the best info I have.

 

[btp]

I think the tight fairways and fast greens also help quite a bit.

 

[DCgolf]

I caddied (drove the cart) for Trevino at a course I was the pro at back in 1985 (we brought him in for a casino outing). The first hole was driver, wedge over a little ravine in front of the green. When he hit the wedge, I swore it was skulled and was going in the junk. I went no more 6/7 feet high, took two bounces and stooped a foot from the hole.

 

[faux_maestro]

I caddied (drove the cart) for Trevino at a course I was the pro at back in 1985 (we brought him in for a casino outing). The first hole was driver, wedge over a little ravine in front of the green. When he hit the wedge, I swore it was skulled and was going in the junk. I went no more 6/7 feet high, took two bounces and stooped a foot from the hole.

Nice story. I've always wondered if it was really that they took spin off or is it that they still spin it but hit it lower so it skips once and takes some spin off. I think I know how Trevino did it, hit it really low.

I've heard that he learned to hit those shots hitting at a park around and on a baseball diamond. When you can hit it solid off dirt everything else is easy.