Friday, March 11, 2011

Tips On The Proper Way to Hit A Lob Wedge

By Jeremy Winters


The lob wedge is the shortest distance wedge in the game of golf, the pitching wedge currently being the longest and the gap wedge filling the "gap" between them. It has the shortest staff and the best loft of all golf clubs. This is often a club for a far more experienced player, since a starting or intermediate player can get away with making use of a pitching wedge in most pitching instances.

The lob wedge is actually used to generate a great deal of "bite," or backspin, and also to hit above obstructions. Hit a lob wedge from about 40 to 50 yards out, particularly on fast greens where you will want the ball to have little to no roll. This particular wedge will normally have a club face angled at 56 to 64 degrees. The highest lofts are normally referred to as x-wedges, the "x" standing for "extreme."

The lob wedge was designed in 1931 to compensate for some tricky maneuvering with pitching and sand wedges. Previously, in conditions with difficult pin placements, golfers would have to hit glancing blows with these clubs. This risky shot was obviated with the advent of the lob wedge.

Now that you understand a little bit about the lob wedge and just what it is used for, you will need to understand the mechanics to hit a lob wedge. First of all, address the ball. Set the ball forward in your position, in front of your spine. Keep your weight leaning back. It is necessary to open up both your stance and the club face. This is achieved by angling your front foot five degrees from the target. Then angle your club 5 degrees away from the target also.

An important point to keep in mind is to keep your hands still. Looseness in your wrists will induce you to fail to hit the ball in the right contact spot. Because the goal of the lob wedge is to loft the ball, it's important to hit a bit behind the ball. The bottom of the club will need to hit the ground first, rather than the edge of the club face.

You should be now prepared to hit a lob wedge. Some suggest taking just a three quarter size backswing, whereas others advise a full swing. In any case, it is vital to use a smooth, consistent swing over the line of your feet with good follow through. Make sure to keep your head down all the way through the follow through. This really should direct the ball up into the air with some backspin and permit it to nestle where it lands, ideally near the pin!




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