56 ISSUE 367 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK
Gain control of
ground contact
The real key to a better wedge game is gaining control over
flight and spin. To find this control you need to master the
delivery of the club; and the best way to do this is to focus
on how the sole of the wedge makes contact with the turf.
Follow this guide.The ‘dig’ impact
Place your wedge in front
of you and lean the grip
end forwards. Notice how
the more angle you create
in the shaft, the more the
front, leading edge of the
sole drops down.The ‘brush’ impact
Now switch your attention
to the back edge of the
sole. Notice how rounded
and smooth it is,
compared to that sharp
leading edge. Picture how,
as the shaft becomes
more upright or even
leans back, this smoother
part of the sole drops
towards the turf.Front-edge strike
Whenever you feel the wedge dig or
bite into the turf, the club is
contacting the ground with this
leading edge. As we can see, the
more lean there is in the shaft, the
more you present the front edge to
the turf. Leaning the shaft forward
also delofts the club, making this
type of ground contact ideal for when
you want to fire the ball in low.
Creating less loft also tends to take
spin off the ball, helping a low flight,
though attack angle can mediate this.‘Brushing’ strike
When you feel the sole of the club
brush the ground firmly, without
biting or taking a divot, it’s the rear
of the sole that’s making contact
with the turf. To feel this, allow the
clubhead to pass the hands through
‘impact’. When the shaft starts to
lean back more through the ball,
you are adding loft to the face and
promoting a higher flight. More loft
means more spin, making this type
of contact more suited to shots if
you need the ball to land softly.TO MASTER YOUR WEDGES...