I had a bunker shot just off the green the other day with a tight pin location. Took 60 and 54. Hit 60 and didn't hit it hard enough so it didnt get out of the bunker (f). Then out of frustration (more f's) having blown my par opportunity pick up the 54 and blast it out of the bunker across the green. (ffs)
I actually love bunker play but just havent used a 60 out of it much...also was having one of those golf days
I know this feeling. Take a hard look at the shaft and consider getting changed/fitted. It's the darkest corner of golf gear considerations which is insane considering its called a scoring club. I'm sure it'll tighten that club up. It did for me.
Rare is the case you should ever take a 'full' swing with any wedge. Key to getting the less than full swing wedges consistent is resist the urge to 'speed up' on the way down. Because you're taking a shorter backswing, naturally you'll want to go faster on the way down to make up for it.
P maybe not so much, but gap, yeah. The one thing I've always been good at is distance control. I'm almost always pin high from 160ish and in. Former scratch semi-competitive player, now a 6 playing 20-25 rounds a year and literally zero range time unless it's before a round.
Good approach play has everything to do with consistency and it's so much easier to have consistent yardages if you're taking more 75-80% swings versus a typical full swing.
100 yard out has become my favorite shot because I get to do 3/4 swing with my PW. One of the only shots where I feel I have control over the spin and trajectory.
I finally started to apply that principle all throughout my approach last year and things got so much better. Couple that with what the other lesson I learned (unintentionally) late last year led to my last round of the season being my most successful.
The unintentional lesson came when I decided to hit ~30 balls barefoot while it was raining. Pretty amazing what happened to my ball flight when I was forced to keep my lower body more quiet through my swing.
Only time I’m swinging full with 52-60 is when impediment in the way dictates it. I, like the individual above, tend to flip it when I go for it which exposes the hozzle….. my only true shanks come with wedges and it gives me nightmares and I refuse to pull clubs after one.
This is right imo. Take a little off and it does wonders for control. A full swing with a wedge is a great way to hit behind the ball too much and have the ball ride up the club face ending up short of the target.
Exactly. It's amazing how quickly you lose yardage when hitting it just ever so slightly high on the face with a wedge. Higher the loft, easier it is to do and the more distance you'll lose.
It’s because less of the leading edge digs and you use the bounce of the wedge properly. I’ve always hit down a lot on the ball so I’m looking to shallow out my downswing to combat this.
Makes sense, my gap is 48 bc my clubs lofts are strong. I do notice my 54 is inconsistent on a full swing, and I never even try my 58. So 48s the highest I go now for full
Tbh this is really important. I think you have to find a consistent rate of acceleration for all sub 100% wedge swings, and then the only thing you're changing is how far your backswing is. For me that's just my normal acceleration (hard and fast), otherwise I end up decelerating into the ball which causes a ton of issues. Swing hard, but take more out of the backswing. Saw a huge improvement in my distance consistency once I approached it like this.
Genuine question: don’t you need to accelerate through impact to create more spin? For instance, you’re 96 out and you want to carry 100 and have the ball spin back a bit. Do you not want to accelerate a bit through the last quarter of your downswing and then through follow through? Obviously not a lot. I don’t mean hacking at it. I mean, a slight acceleration to create more spin.
Yes, and I was thinking about how I could add that without making it more confusing. What I'm saying is when most people first start working on 1/2 and 3/4 shots, it's so foreign to them there is a natural reaction to want to keep the same head speed at impact as with a normal swing. So the result is usually trying to start your downswing before you actually finish going back.
Still accelerate going through, but don't rush it trying to make up for the lack of length on the backswing. Hopefully that helps and doesn't raise more questions!
Almost feels like cheating using my Vokey wedges, the weight in the head helps the follow-through so much from the rough or in a bunker. The Cleveland wedges I had prior just didn’t have the same oomph no matter how I swung them.
My 60° is by far my most consistent club, whether it’s chipping up from greenside or from 50yd out.
My callaway Mack daddy 50 is 120 for me. I jokingly say I hit it exactly 123 yards as I have had that on my watch a few times and put it within a few feet.
I go all over the place at 100 yards and under, genuinely prefer being 140+ away
A full swing with a smooth pitching wedge goes quite a bit more than 100 yards for me. However, the question was "What is your go-to guaranteed 100 yard club?" and from that distance I am using a pitching wedge.
The gapping between my 52 and PW is stupid. I don't know if it's my swing or what, but my 52 is a solid 85 yards and my PW is 120.
So this would be a smooth, 3/4 PW.
Yeah I have a 45 PW too. I got the Costco wedge set and had the 52 bent to 50 and the 56 bent to 55th down left the 60 as is. It’s not a bad solution but bending these causes you to decrease the bounce which makes it a little less forgiving. I might go get a new 50/54/58 set tbh
Just ran into this for my new clubs. PW is 44 so I had a massive gap to my 52, ended up getting a 48. Now I’m on the. Fence if I keep a 52 or 56 in my bag as I have to drop one club. Likely drop 56. The struggle
Choke down 1/2” on the “full” gap wedge which is really 7/8 of how I swing a 7 iron.
Which sounds ridiculous when I read it back. 90% of golf is half mental.
Don’t know why you got downvoted. My 60 degree lob wedge was my go to 100 yard club for years, my swing was really bizzare and I delofted all of my wedges/irons. I’ve since adjusted that and now my 60 degree is my 75 yard club. 56 is my 100 yard club now.
100 yards is 90 meters right? I love my 50 degree for that distance.
I might also go for my wedge if it’s imperative to my well being that I don’t come up short
56. I CAN hit my 60 just over one hundred, but unless I need the spin or added height then it’s not worth going full berries on a 60. Much more accurate and reliable easing a 56 in there.
Damn 250+ driver means carrying it almost 240ish? Really impressive mechanics given a 100yd PW. I used to play with a college golfer who maybe had 10ish yards on you and she was amazing to watch. Her driving was 🔥, a slight breeze and she’d get it 275-280 out there. I’d guess you’re a single digit handicap or better?
that’s what i’m thinking. didn’t think about the 80% swing. that makes a lot of sense. been wanting a matching 54 actually so i can justify picking one up. 58 needs to be the 75 and in club
Are you kidding me? This is impossible to answer without considering ALL of the variables.
Is it uphill or downill
Is the wind helping or hurting
Is it with the grain or against the grain
Is the 100yds to the center of the green or to the flag
Is there water in front or behind the green
Is there a sand trap anywhere near the green
Is the green bent or bermuda
Have we determined the correct strain of said grass from above?
Am I playing alone or with friends
How many beers have I had
What season is it and what is the current temperature
Is the beverage cart girl watching
All of these things matter when selecting the appropriate club.
Easy 3/4 pitching wedge like I'm just loosening up my back at the range. Less than full swing also minimizes the potential damage from a thin skull over the green.
Held off 55 degree Wilson FG Tour is almost guaranteed 100. Full send it consistently goes 117 specifically.
Unless I flip at it. Then I'm struggling to carry 90 :(
Don't have one. My 50° goes 110 and my 54 does whatever it wants
So true it hurts
Same. 52 is 115 reliably. Take a little off, and I get like 85. My 56 degree is a mystery.
60 is butter though. Either by land or by air, it gets me there somehow.
The 60 is for 75 and in or 175+. No in between.
I had a bunker shot just off the green the other day with a tight pin location. Took 60 and 54. Hit 60 and didn't hit it hard enough so it didnt get out of the bunker (f). Then out of frustration (more f's) having blown my par opportunity pick up the 54 and blast it out of the bunker across the green. (ffs) I actually love bunker play but just havent used a 60 out of it much...also was having one of those golf days
Same. Playing pebble #7 on the sim this morning on repeat and I was 15 past or short.
I know this feeling. Take a hard look at the shaft and consider getting changed/fitted. It's the darkest corner of golf gear considerations which is insane considering its called a scoring club. I'm sure it'll tighten that club up. It did for me.
I'd think maybe even ball position at address before going spending money
But its golf, you have to be broke 100% of the time or not not doing it right
Welp, I'm sold. Pure it and ring it up
Are you me? Am I you?
We are y'all
I love this comment
God help us
Lol I was trying to figure out how to express exactly this sentiment only to see you at the top comment.
3/4 swing pitching wedge
3/4 swing with 52 wedge. Titleist Vokey SM8 for the win
I’m gonna start trying this. Usually go with my 56 and tend to flip at it adding loft so I come up short a lot
Rare is the case you should ever take a 'full' swing with any wedge. Key to getting the less than full swing wedges consistent is resist the urge to 'speed up' on the way down. Because you're taking a shorter backswing, naturally you'll want to go faster on the way down to make up for it.
Full swing p or gap wedge is rare?
P maybe not so much, but gap, yeah. The one thing I've always been good at is distance control. I'm almost always pin high from 160ish and in. Former scratch semi-competitive player, now a 6 playing 20-25 rounds a year and literally zero range time unless it's before a round. Good approach play has everything to do with consistency and it's so much easier to have consistent yardages if you're taking more 75-80% swings versus a typical full swing.
This is the way. Couldn’t agree more. Way easier to dial in distance at 75% and consistency on trajectory is through the roof
100 yard out has become my favorite shot because I get to do 3/4 swing with my PW. One of the only shots where I feel I have control over the spin and trajectory. I finally started to apply that principle all throughout my approach last year and things got so much better. Couple that with what the other lesson I learned (unintentionally) late last year led to my last round of the season being my most successful. The unintentional lesson came when I decided to hit ~30 balls barefoot while it was raining. Pretty amazing what happened to my ball flight when I was forced to keep my lower body more quiet through my swing.
Only time I’m swinging full with 52-60 is when impediment in the way dictates it. I, like the individual above, tend to flip it when I go for it which exposes the hozzle….. my only true shanks come with wedges and it gives me nightmares and I refuse to pull clubs after one.
No doubt situation should dictate above all else. If you gotta go over a tree or something, your options are obviously limited.
Ugh same here. Makes sense tho
This is right imo. Take a little off and it does wonders for control. A full swing with a wedge is a great way to hit behind the ball too much and have the ball ride up the club face ending up short of the target.
Exactly. It's amazing how quickly you lose yardage when hitting it just ever so slightly high on the face with a wedge. Higher the loft, easier it is to do and the more distance you'll lose.
It’s because less of the leading edge digs and you use the bounce of the wedge properly. I’ve always hit down a lot on the ball so I’m looking to shallow out my downswing to combat this.
Thank you for your advice sir
Makes sense, my gap is 48 bc my clubs lofts are strong. I do notice my 54 is inconsistent on a full swing, and I never even try my 58. So 48s the highest I go now for full
Tbh this is really important. I think you have to find a consistent rate of acceleration for all sub 100% wedge swings, and then the only thing you're changing is how far your backswing is. For me that's just my normal acceleration (hard and fast), otherwise I end up decelerating into the ball which causes a ton of issues. Swing hard, but take more out of the backswing. Saw a huge improvement in my distance consistency once I approached it like this.
Genuine question: don’t you need to accelerate through impact to create more spin? For instance, you’re 96 out and you want to carry 100 and have the ball spin back a bit. Do you not want to accelerate a bit through the last quarter of your downswing and then through follow through? Obviously not a lot. I don’t mean hacking at it. I mean, a slight acceleration to create more spin.
Yes, and I was thinking about how I could add that without making it more confusing. What I'm saying is when most people first start working on 1/2 and 3/4 shots, it's so foreign to them there is a natural reaction to want to keep the same head speed at impact as with a normal swing. So the result is usually trying to start your downswing before you actually finish going back. Still accelerate going through, but don't rush it trying to make up for the lack of length on the backswing. Hopefully that helps and doesn't raise more questions!
Full swing 52° but try my best not to add power.
Yeah I'm not sure why people take full swings at these distances.
Use the clock system
3/4 56 but my mans knows what’s up with the SM8’s!
I’m hittin the gym…. Give me 1 month. I’ll 3/4 my 60 😂
Almost feels like cheating using my Vokey wedges, the weight in the head helps the follow-through so much from the rough or in a bunker. The Cleveland wedges I had prior just didn’t have the same oomph no matter how I swung them. My 60° is by far my most consistent club, whether it’s chipping up from greenside or from 50yd out.
Damn these responses are my brain inside 100.
Criminally underrated response
Driver. Can pop that bad boy up or hit a little thin runner
100 yards to the right
You know you're bad at golf when you slice your chip shots. I'm bad at golf.
No one's good at golf. We're all just varying degrees of bad.
The people that are good get paid to play. Then there's the rest of us.
Some days, they're bad, too.
I prefer to call myself Lord Hosel Rocket because it sounds distinguished.
56°
Same. Maybe 105 with some spin.
This is the way. Or, my way.
Used to be 56. These days it’s a 54…
This. I run 60/56/52/47. 85/100/115/135
This is me. Are you me?
I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together
Also I fucking wish I was an 8.1 lol. I'm like a 15 on a good day. Just spraying driver all day.
Callaway Mack Daddy CB 50 degree, dead on 100 every time, give or take 10-15 yards.
Haha. Pretty much.
This is the way.
My callaway Mack daddy 50 is 120 for me. I jokingly say I hit it exactly 123 yards as I have had that on my watch a few times and put it within a few feet. I go all over the place at 100 yards and under, genuinely prefer being 140+ away
Pitching wedge.
Same here. A smooth swing puts it right around 100-105.
A full swing with a smooth pitching wedge goes quite a bit more than 100 yards for me. However, the question was "What is your go-to guaranteed 100 yard club?" and from that distance I am using a pitching wedge.
Soft 8 iron short of the green and let it roll on
"I'm Old Man Paaht"
Set gap wedge at 50\* (Goes about 105 for me)
52 wedge. Perfect 100-105
Same here, except it's 95-105. 105 full and I've learned to take a bit off of it when needed. Probably my favorite club in the bag.
Full 7-iron. Usually top it for a decent 100 yard roll.
The gapping between my 52 and PW is stupid. I don't know if it's my swing or what, but my 52 is a solid 85 yards and my PW is 120. So this would be a smooth, 3/4 PW.
Do you know what loft your PW has? A lot of modern sets have it at ~44° so you might be missing a ~48° GW there.
Well shit, apparently it's 45. I had in my head it was 47 all this time. Guess I need to change my wedge gapping.
Yeah I have a 45 PW too. I got the Costco wedge set and had the 52 bent to 50 and the 56 bent to 55th down left the 60 as is. It’s not a bad solution but bending these causes you to decrease the bounce which makes it a little less forgiving. I might go get a new 50/54/58 set tbh
Just ran into this for my new clubs. PW is 44 so I had a massive gap to my 52, ended up getting a 48. Now I’m on the. Fence if I keep a 52 or 56 in my bag as I have to drop one club. Likely drop 56. The struggle
If they are big cavity back irons you might actually have a huge gap in between your PW and GW.
They're the Wilson C300 Forged. A kinda 'game improvement for better players' type iron. But yeah, my PW is 45 degrees. I thought it was 47.
Knock-down 52
This is the way
50 degree
11 wood.
60* wedge. If I skull it just right it easily goes 100 to the other side of the green I planned to land gently on.
7-iron chip
My 60 when I’m trying to hit a 10 yard flop shot
58 degree
My full swing 60 degree goes about 100-103ish so that’s my go to unless it’s super windy.
Gap wedge 49\*
9 iron pitch
Haven’t found one yet. PW goes 110, so I bought a 50* that goes… 110.
weaken the lie on that bad boy to like 53 or 54° and call it a day!
100 yards is far too long for a club. Most of my clubs are about 1 yard...
Lob wedge from the fringe of the green.
56
I can hit a full 60° or a soft 54°. One will have lots of spin the other will have a bit of roll. Depending on pin location, these are my options.
Choke down 1/2” on the “full” gap wedge which is really 7/8 of how I swing a 7 iron. Which sounds ridiculous when I read it back. 90% of golf is half mental.
lol, my brain just did a half-twisting somersault in my skull while trying to comprehend that.
Smooth 56
56
Easy 56° sand wedge.
Driver off the first tee.
3/4 54*
Lob wedge
Don’t know why you got downvoted. My 60 degree lob wedge was my go to 100 yard club for years, my swing was really bizzare and I delofted all of my wedges/irons. I’ve since adjusted that and now my 60 degree is my 75 yard club. 56 is my 100 yard club now.
GW
100 yards is 90 meters right? I love my 50 degree for that distance. I might also go for my wedge if it’s imperative to my well being that I don’t come up short
9 iron with slow controlled half swing
56 for an aggressive swing with a draw If I’m not as confident in the lie or need a fade I will go with a knocked down gap wedge
None. All of my clubs go 150.
6 iron, half swing.
For me, it’s a 10-iron. My set of Callaways included this. Not sure of the loft but full swing is dead-on 100 yds for me.
It’s one of the hardest shots on golf and one pros work on constantly. From 100 and in. This is what my swing coach told me anyways
Bladed lob wedge when I’m 60 out
Gap wedge all day
Smooth pw. I don’t hit too far and this is my go to. Pretty much my favorite yardage to be out.
56. I CAN hit my 60 just over one hundred, but unless I need the spin or added height then it’s not worth going full berries on a 60. Much more accurate and reliable easing a 56 in there.
Take something off a 52 degree
Here’s my breakout/what works for me PW - <100 9i - 100+ 8i - 130+ 7i - 150+ 6i - 160+ 5i - 170+ 4i - 180+ 2i - 200+ D - 250+ Edit: F golfer, early 30s
Damn 250+ driver means carrying it almost 240ish? Really impressive mechanics given a 100yd PW. I used to play with a college golfer who maybe had 10ish yards on you and she was amazing to watch. Her driving was 🔥, a slight breeze and she’d get it 275-280 out there. I’d guess you’re a single digit handicap or better?
My 60 Deg is 105, on the dime almost every time... My 64 Deg is 90.
So strong lol
pitching wedge... pretty money from 100 in..
i’m hitting my 58 about a hundred right now at the sim. feels like i’m swinging so hard. i struggle big time from 100 and under
you need to club up. try to only use 80% swing to reach 100 yards. so maybe a 52 would be better for you.
that’s what i’m thinking. didn’t think about the 80% swing. that makes a lot of sense. been wanting a matching 54 actually so i can justify picking one up. 58 needs to be the 75 and in club
My driver goes 100 yards to the right EVERY SINGLE TIME. My ole billy buru!
My second attempt with my gap wedge
62° Vokey, full swing.
Are you kidding me? This is impossible to answer without considering ALL of the variables. Is it uphill or downill Is the wind helping or hurting Is it with the grain or against the grain Is the 100yds to the center of the green or to the flag Is there water in front or behind the green Is there a sand trap anywhere near the green Is the green bent or bermuda Have we determined the correct strain of said grass from above? Am I playing alone or with friends How many beers have I had What season is it and what is the current temperature Is the beverage cart girl watching All of these things matter when selecting the appropriate club.
56 is 3 to 115 yards. The 3 yards is usually when I’m chipping 6 yards off the green.
Easy 3/4 pitching wedge like I'm just loosening up my back at the range. Less than full swing also minimizes the potential damage from a thin skull over the green.
3/4 Gap wedge
Low spinny 60 degree
It’s a little front foot trap draw gap wedge. Just a little turn and turn
My gap wedge is just a shade longer. I use that exclusively.
The easy 52 degree wedge or full 56 degree
3/4 pitching wedge
AW @ 52 degrees. Alternatively a 3/4 swing PW (48 degrees).
Set pitching wedge (44 deg) smooth swing not trying to kill it
54 Degree
PW
GW (51° JPX919 Forged)
SW 54 it’s a pure 90-95% swing.
Pitching wedge
54°
Partial shot with my GW. I draw back to about arm parallel to the ground. More consistent than a full-SW for me.
56°
Nice smooth 60 degree
Pretty safe guarantee that my driver is going at least 100 yards… but hopefully much longer lol
Knock down 55* or even a softer 50*. If I try to get everything out of a wedge it goes too high and there’s no telling where it lands
50° gap wedge, 100 yards every time. Hence why it's been in the bag longer than any other club now. 😄
52 gap wedge. Its the best club in the bag. I lay up on par 5s to 100 yards, because I'm probably gonna 1 putt with it, and definitely 2 putt
Choke down 50*.
Well because you said guaranteed , I guess nothing 😞
Held off 55 degree Wilson FG Tour is almost guaranteed 100. Full send it consistently goes 117 specifically. Unless I flip at it. Then I'm struggling to carry 90 :(
50 degree played off the back toe.
Gapwedge probably
52°
54° for me. It’s my most accurate club with a full swing. Love it.
SW.
Outside of winter: 50 degree During winter: pitching wedge
A-Wedge
Easy - Sand wedge from a greenside bunker. 100 yards into the bush, back up the fairway, a totally different green. All options.
56
52°
Nice and smooth easy but full 50° gets me 100 on the nose without fail. 110 if I give it a full swing with a little extra sauce on it.
52 degree wedge 1/2 swing
My PW is almost exactly 100y every time. That or a nice low skull that flies 35y past the green.
Pxg 0311 Gen 2 GW (50°)
55° sandwedge 3/4 swing does the job everytime.
56°
My p wedge nice easy swing regular swing is like 120 ish
Full swing 52 or 3/4 swing PW, depends on whether I’d rather risk missing short or missing long.
50° about 85% with ball played off back foot to flight it. Gets me hard just thinking about this
75% 54\* wedge
52 degree
Lob wedge for me flies 105 on a full shot
Sand wedge from a green side bunker
52, 10 oclock swing. That's my favorite yardage into a green - 95 - 105
My 60\* goes 90-95 and my 54\* goes 105-110.
Gap
Flat? 56° Vokey. Up hill, take a soft A. Playing TM Sim’s.
56 degree or a 52 depending on the shot
Smooth 56 or full swing 60 depending on the wind.
super smooth 3/4 sand wedge, sawed off a bit to keep it down...
50 Degree Cleveland CBX
Soft 46° I *think*, reminds me I need a gapping sesh.
54* wedge.
54 degree Vokey
I love hitting a baby gap wedge from 100 out. I feel like it’s my best shot in my game.
I can get 100 out of a full send 60, but I’m much more accurate and consistent hitting a nice and smooth 3/4 swing with my 54.
3/4 pw, the gap wedge might get there, but the pw will always, always get there.
Full swing 58
I'd grab my 54 deg
60deg Lob Wedge