The Biggest Mistake Amateurs Make With Wedges (GOLF WEDGE TIPS)

Your golf wedges can either save you some strokes on the golf course, or add more strokes to your score. There are 3 common mistakes that amateur golfers tend to make with their wedges, and this Todd Kolb wedge video will help you address and fix them with simple golf wedge tips!

The first mistake is club selection, which may sound obvious. But most amateur golfers grab their most lofted club when they have a full wedge shot, which usually gets the ball up in the air too much. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the more the ball is in the air, the more things like wind and other elements can manipulate the ball flight.

Mistake number two is ball position. Generally speaking, you want your wedges to be slightly back of center, with a slight forward shaft lean, which will decrease the trajectory of the shot. The Rimer Short Game Trainer is a good training aid to help you get consistent ball position.

Mistake number three is making a full golf swing on your wedge shots. The longer and faster the swing, the more trajectory you tend to add, all things equal. Instead, take a 3/4 golf swing and be more smooth and steady with a less lofted club.

Using these three sand wedge tips can help you lower that ball flight, improve your wedge play and enjoy the game of golf even more!

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[caffeinecreation]

I just started getting into golf after attempting to play 18 holes with my fiancé, I say attempted because I really wasn’t any good. I’ve only ever played “whack-shit” and hope for the best during corporate golf events. These last few days I spent hours watching your videos and yesterday went to the driving range. To my absolute surprise I was able to hit straight almost every time and did not miss a single ball. I even had some older gentleman compliment me on my swing. I will be continuing to watch your videos as I learn this game. Thank you for this amazing content!

[louofm]

Years ago. As a youngster I used to attend the Buick open, A PGA event held in Michigan for decades. Before the round, the pros would often head to the range and hit their clubs for a while. I remember standing near one of the practice greens, watching a pro hit 50 yard wedges, most right next to the flag. The trajectory was low, but the loft of the club was stopping the ball on a dime. At that point, I learned about forward shaft, back in your stance ball placement was the key. A firm and controlled swing is part of the equation. His short swings were effortless and extremely accurate. Since then, this is how I have approached shots using my 56

[Billpv]

Bill living in Williamsburg, VA, at Kingsmill. Golfer for 50 years, 82 years old. Love competition and love your tips. Today I shot 77 from slightly less distance than white tees. After hip replacement surgery i got longer, because i could rotate the lower body again. H.I. 11.3. I have the crosscut wedges you sold me. 60 and 56 are used most every round. The gap wedge may be too heavy for hitting longer yardages. Keep up the good work.

[madisonhall]

This is a great advice, you can apply this same mentality to the short irons as well. Too many, players need to learn to hit there 8 and 9 irons like wedges, you'll get more control and more consistency into greens

[skornelsen]

Great videos and fantastic explanations.. Will definitely be working on these.
🇨🇦

[richardsiles]

Todd a great help- I kept the ball back or forward and it did not work ineither case. I think you helped this 70 plus florida golfer- was 96 degrees yesterday but I am used to it.

[rmarty]

I really enjoy your golf tips, they are short and to the point, thanks.

[qhqeqxc]

This is not my mistake with wedges at all. Actually all my shots have a low trajectory. My wedge issue is inconsistency and not making a good ball strike. I top or skull my wedges many times. I have taken to putting whenever I can, even if I am 25-30 yards off the green

[timstickney]

These are such great tips! I was so afraid of partial wedge shots, but had to learn them (went to 3 vs 4 wedges). This video worked wonders and now more versatile with wedges. Thank you.

[MrGCline]

Todd, as always a great video. The short irons have always been the weakest part of my game. My ball flight is usually a weak high shot that lands short and right of the target. I have also seen this appear in my driver with the same pattern. Do you have another video that might address this problem, or maybe something further in the way of instruction? Keep up the good work. Thanks.

[davidmorgan]

Great tip. I had already shortened my swing and changed club lofts. But I was uncomfortable with moving it back in my stance. But it can't hurt to try it.

[DennisBrodhecker-nizm]

DennyB from Ephrata, PA, Thanks for the refresher.

[johnk.atchley]

Be careful of too much forward shaft lean with a wedge. You can lose the benefit of the bounce and have the leading edge dig in. That means you have strike the ball perfectly or else you will hit it fat. If you keep the shaft more centered, with a wedge you can actually hit slightly behind the ball and have the bounce glide the face along the ground under the ball for a nice clean shot. In terms of where to position the ball in your stance, it is important to know where the bottom of your swing is. Placing the ball too far back in the stance, ironically, can cause you to hit the ball thin or with the leading edge because you tend to stay back on the trail foot. For a wedge, you may want to place the ball about one ball forward of the bottom point of your swing, where you see it touches the grass in a practice swing or two.

[johnhoward]

Fantastic, thank you. The length of the back swing is so important. Thanks for clarifying.

[evanbarnett]

Hi Todd, great video. What would you say to someone who always opted to use a 9 iron instead of their wedges? Can this selection be justified based on pin location? Thanks

[wisdomamuzu]

Thank you, I am going to work on this

[outdooroutfitters]

Great information! Thank you for sharing.

[cailloubates]

Isn't forward shaft a no no? I heard it increases the chance of fatting the ball. Curious to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks!

[Airbuslover]

Coach hi, I just came across this video, my question is, what is a the perfect distance to hit my 60 56 52 and PW?
As you know I go to the Par 3 a lot since getting back into work after Covid-19. Recently I’ve learnt to use them to approach the green 100 yards and in, off the tee.
Now I don’t want to use the tee and build my confidence to approach play.
I am going to buy 2 new wedges for Christmas as my 56 and 52 are very old and the grooves are gone. I showed them to my Pro in Dubai and he said look into Vokey.

[kevinmaxwell]

I just changed my grip from my interlock to a baseball grip based on me being a season older player what are the benefits. It seems like I have more control and more power.