GOLF SWING TIPS: MORE WEDGES TO IMPROVE YOUR GOLF SCORE

Most recreational golfers should be able to improve their game and lower their golf scores significantly if they included more wedges in their golf set. 

The best and fastest way for most recreational golfers to improve their game and lower their golf scores is to use more wedges – considering that high-handicap golfers are fortunate to hit greens in regulation in only one out of three attempts in a typical round of golf.

A great short game is the answer, but you must have a complete wedge set to make it happen.

You are allowed only 14 clubs in your bag, including a putter, in play but if you are an average recreational golfer, how many times are you going to select a five-wood versus a three-wood on your second shot to a par 5 hole?  

On most par 5 holes, it will take an average recreational golfer at least three shots to reach an approaching green. 

This means you most likely would be selecting a three-wood rather than a five-wood for your second shot on such a par 5 hole to hit your ball as far as possible.

You also are more likely to use some club other than a five-wood on most par three and par four holes. 

Would you not be better served by replacing your five-wood with a lob wedge in your set? 

Why not include a 60-degree lob wedge in your set to be used for a 65-to-75 yard approach shot if you are an average recreational player, instead of choking down on a sand wedge for such shot? 

You are more likely to use a lob wedge for such shorter approach shots three or four times far more often than using a five-wood in a typical round of golf. 

How about other wedges in your set?

For example, what is one of the hardest approach shots to hit in a round of golf?

It is the 50-yard approach shot. 

Why not replace the three-iron in your set with a 64-degree flop wedge. 

If you are an average recreational golfer, you should be able to hit a full 64-degree wedge between 45 and 55 yards.

On the other hand, how often are you going to pull a three-iron in a typical round of golf instead of hitting a seven-wood or a four-iron for such shot? 

Rarely, I would suspect.

You should be able to hit a softer seven-wood or a harder four-iron when hitting a golf shot that may normally call for a three-iron golf shot rather than using a three-iron. (The three-iron is the most difficult iron for recreational golfers to use, given that few golfers now carry a two-iron or a one-iron in their set.)

So why not replace your three-iron with a 64-degree wedge that you could use far more often in a typical round of golf? 

Once you practice with a 64-degree flop wedge and become comfortable in using it, the 64-degree wedge is your best club when confronted with a 45 to 55-yard approach shot. 

I also believe average recreational golfers would be better served by adding a gap wedge to their set.

There easily could be a 20-yard difference between a golf shot calling for a pitching wedge and a sand wedge in a round of golf. (Many recreational golfers only carry a pitching wedge and sand wedge in your set.)

Average recreational golfers should be able to hit a gap wedge 10 yards shorter than what would normally call for a pitching wedge. 

They also should be able to hit a gap wedge ten yards farther than what would normally call for a sand wedge. 

What club would you remove from your set to allow for a gap wedge replacement?

I suggest the six-iron. 

If confronted with a golf shot that would call for a six-iron, you easily could swing less with a five-iron or hit a seven-iron more forcibly.  

You may come up slightly short of your target by using a seven iron rather than a six-iron or a bit farther when using a five-iron for such shot. 

However, neither of the two shots would be as harmful as flying a shot over an approaching green when hitting a pitching wedge for a distance that should normally call for a gap wedge.  

Likewise, neither of the two shots would be as disastrous as coming up short of an approaching green that normally should call for a gap wedge.  

Would not the average recreational golfer be better served with five wedges rather than carrying longer clubs that may be used only once or twice in a round of golf?

I think so.

So, why not include these five wedges in your set: a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge and a flop wedge?

With such additions, what should you include in your set to meet the 14-club limit.

 I would suggest the following:

• A Driver
• A Three-Wood
• A Seven-Wood
• A Four-Iron
• A Five-Iron
• A Seven-Iron
• An Eight-Iron
• A Nine-Iron
• A Pitching Wedge
• A Gap Wedge
• A Sand Wedge
• A 60-Degree Lob Wedge
• A 64-Degree Flob Wedge, and 
• A Putter

With five wedges in your set, you should learn to swing at three levels with each club. 

You should begin with a one-half swing, then with a three-quarter swing and finally with full swing for each club. 

Once you become successful and comfortable with each of the five wedges, and swinging at three levels for each, you may be able to hit within 15 feet of the location hole on each approaching golf shot – leaving you with a one-putt for a birdie or a two-putt for par.

Using the five wedges in such manner is the best and quickest way to improve your game and lower your score and handicap.

Find more articles on golf swing tips at locked-ingolf.com.

Gordon Jackson, 

THE GOLF CODE™ GUY

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