One Wedge

[Camel]

Michael, I watched some of your videos on youtube and in the one concerning short game practice filmed in your teaching bay you advised to use one club for all short shots. In the video you say you'll explain why later. Did I miss that explanation?

PS: I played with a friend at the weekend who has trouble with short chips (thins them usually) so I told him what you had said in the video - propelling the ball forward while making it spin towards you etc - immediate improvement once he understood the concept.

[Michael Jacobs]

Michael, I watched some of your videos on youtube and in the one concerning short game practice filmed in your teaching bay you advised to use one club for all short shots. In the video you say you'll explain why later. Did I miss that explanation?

PS: I played with a friend at the weekend who has trouble with short chips (thins them usually) so I told him what you had said in the video - propelling the ball forward while making it spin towards you etc - immediate improvement once he understood the concept.

Camel,

I am glad that the concept of how a ball spins to get in the air helped your friend. The reason I recommend a club just for short shots is to have a flatter lie angle on this one particular club. When you make a full swing there is a lot more toe droop due to the downward force and the fact that the wedge has the heaviest head. Also, the fact that your left wrist levels off and even uncocks with higher speeds which creates even more of a droop down of the club head. When you hit the smaller shots there is a lot less speed on the clubhead and the stroke being shorter creates a lot less droop down.

Hope that tiny explanation helps your understanding! Let me know if you need more of an explanation!

[Camel]

That is very interesting and logical. How many degrees flatter would you recommend?

To digress, if you get chance could you give us your thoughts on bounce? It seems to me the pros play wedges with a lot less bounce generally than we weekend golfers.

[Michael Jacobs]

That is very interesting and logical. How many degrees flatter would you recommend?

To digress, if you get chance could you give us your thoughts on bounce? It seems to me the pros play wedges with a lot less bounce generally than we weekend golfers.

Camel,

Great questions. My around the green wedge is 59 degrees and has 4 degrees of bounce. I can't use a club that has more than 6... some of these wedges out there have 11-13 degrees of bounce... it may be ok for a sand bunker but from the fairway it is absurd.

As for fitting the around the green club, a pitch shot off a lie board is always best!

[curtisj76]

Hey Michael, I'll jump in here if you don't mine.

I'm looking (possible dreaming) at some new wedges. They are Cleveland with the DSG (dynamic sole grind). I'm curious as to how bounce plays into the equation with your "Explosive Pitch Shot"/mid-sole pitch. Do you want bounce or no bounce? Also, I'm not 100% sure how the DSG works, does it just give you more opportunities to be more creative with different shots/lies? When you open the face up, does that not change the bounce? Any info would be great. Thanks

Curtis

[Michael Jacobs]

Hey Michael, I'll jump in here if you don't mine.

I'm looking (possible dreaming) at some new wedges. They are Cleveland with the DSG (dynamic sole grind). I'm curious as to how bounce plays into the equation with your "Explosive Pitch Shot"/mid-sole pitch. Do you want bounce or no bounce? Also, I'm not 100% sure how the DSG works, does it just give you more opportunities to be more creative with different shots/lies? When you open the face up, does that not change the bounce? Any info would be great. Thanks

Curtis

Curtis,

I know of those wedges but I have never tried them. Need a low bounce for the Explosive Pitch Shot. 4 is great , 6 is ideal probably, 8 is ok. This is why I am following through and designing the wedge system. It will be compatible with the shot. Laying the face open definitely changes the lie of the sole of the club. Experimentation is a real key to find the right wedge and stroke characteristics

[curtisj76]

Thanks Michael. I like the shot, just need to dial some distances down. Today I hit a few beautiful high shots but past the hole and off the green. I'm basically just guessing which isn't a good thing. Deadly shot once you "really" know it.

[Michael Jacobs]

Thanks Michael. I like the shot, just need to dial some distances down. Today I hit a few beautiful high shots but past the hole and off the green. I'm basically just guessing which isn't a good thing. Deadly shot once you "really" know it.

Definitely a deadly shot! Although, I played my first 7 holes the other night. I missed one green on the 7th hole and I attempted my first explosive pitch shot of the season and I dropped it about 2 feet in front of me....

As soon as it warms up I have to go out and dial in the shot for the season too. It has continued to be windy and cold here at the course. I had 3 cancelled lessons due to cold today, the wind chill is in the 20's at the course. We had a 2 hour ice delay for the golfers, I have never seen it this cold before. I am waiting for something a bit warmer to start the 1st explosive golf show and tips

[Camel]

I've been thinking about this and wonder if you also carry (or recommend we carry) a wedge with more bounce for sand shots? If not, is there a particular technique required to get out of thick or powdery sand using a wedge with less bounce?

[Michael Jacobs]

I've been thinking about this and wonder if you also carry (or recommend we carry) a wedge with more bounce for sand shots? If not, is there a particular technique required to get out of thick or powdery sand using a wedge with less bounce?

If you have room in the bag than by all means yes!!! Depends on the course that I play {like I play a lot } on whether or not I take a more bounce SW as an extra club. You should have some matching SW's with different bounces. A 12-14 bounce is great for sand shots but not always the best for ground shots. Hybrids are helping make extra room in the bag these days. Most people don't use a 3 or 4 iron and the hybrids have helped eliminate the 5 wd and 7 wd.