Carrying the right clubs is critical if you want to chop strokes off your golf handicap. What you carry often depends on what type of hitter you are. It you’re a big hitter you may be able to carry four wedges, but if you’re an average or short hitter, you may only be able to carry two wedges. You can replace the missing clubs with hybrids and fairway woods.
If this sounds like you, don’t worry. Your short game doesn’t have to suffer because you’re missing wedges. You can use your sand wedge to hit several different short shots in addition to an explosion shot from a bunker. The sand wedge will cover many situations you will run into on the course. Short shots like the bump-and-run, the lob, and the 50/50 shot are good sand wedge shots. Below are golf tips on the three shots, which we teach students in our golf lessons.
Bump-And-Run
This is a fairly straightforward shot. If the shot is really long, switch to a lower lofted club, like a 9-iron or pitching wedge. Otherwise, these golf tips will help you hit an accurate bump-and run with a sand wedge. Start by closing your normal stance. It should be slightly open with your feet about six inches or so apart. Play the ball across from the toe of your back foot and choke down on your club about an inch or so.
Make sure you pick out a target on the green. Aim for one about three feet or so in front of you. You want the ball to hit this spot and then roll to the hole almost as if it were a putt. Make a putting-style stroke and strike the ball with a descending blow. You want to make ball first contact. Also, keep the triangle formed by your shoulders, arms, and club intact as you swing the club. Let the clubhead stay low to the ground past impact.
The Lob
You probably won’t need to hit a lob too often during a normal day on the course. But knowing how to hit one with a sand wedge will come in handy someday. From teaching golf lessons, we know it takes players a little bit of practice to master this shot. So work on the shot often. It’s a great shot when you need one that requires the ball to fly and stop quickly.
You can play this shot with your feet about shoulder width apart. But you need to open your stance about 45 degrees. Position the ball off your front toe or slightly ahead of it. Also, open the clubface wide. You want the toe to point just to the right of the target, if you’re right handed. Make a full swing along the line of your feet. Focus on making a complete, free-swinging finish.
50/50 Shot
The idea of this shot is to carry it half way to the target, then roll the rest of the way. Start by addressing the ball with your feet shoulder width apart. Align them slightly left of the target. Also position the ball opposite your left heel. Now, swing the club halfway back with your arms. Then let your hips, legs, and feet follow. The key here, as we tell students in golf instruction sessions, is to match the length and tempo of your backswing on your downswing and follow-through.
The bump-and-run, the lob, and the 50/50 shot can all be hit with a sand wedge. Keep our golf tips above from this golf instructions session in mind when practicing these shots. Learning to hit them with a sand wedge allows you to carry two wedges instead of four. This in turn enables you to carry extra hybrids or fairway woods for longer approach shots. Carrying the right clubs in your bag is essential, if you want to break 80 consistently and chop strokes off your golf handicap.