Once golfers have played a few rounds and they have decided they want to play the sport regularly, the primary key to enjoying the sport is developing a dependable swing that allows them to hit the ball consistently. Once this is done, attention is turned to scoring well. Having a dependable short game is the key to putting a low number on the scorecard. Knowing how to use clubs that include the pitching wedge and the sand wedge will help you score well.
Pitching Wedge
The golfer will use his pitching wedge when he is 90 to 120 yards away from the green and has a lie in the fairway or the short rough. The standard pitching wedge has a loft of about 45 degrees and will allow you to hit the ball high in the air and land it softly on the green. A well-struck pitching wedge hit from that distance should land the ball within 25 feet from the hole and give you an excellent chance to two-putt the ball and the possibility of a one-putt for a birdie. It is vital to use the pitching wedge when you have hazards like sand or water between your ball and the green.
Sand Wedge
The sand wedge is most often used when your ball is in a greenside bunker. The sand wedge has a loft of about 55 degrees and will allow you to get your ball out of a deep bunker and land it softly on the green. The key to hitting the sand wedge properly is for the face of your club to make contact with the sand behind the ball and have the sand blast the ball out of the hazard. If you hit the ball directly with the face of the club, the likelihood is the ball will fly out of the trap and go well past the green. The sand wedge has most of its weight near the bottom of the club and that will help you get the ball out of the hazard.
Gap And Lob Wedges
The game of golf has evolved greatly and the addition of the gap wedge and the lob wedge to many golfers' club choices have helped them fine tune their game. The gap wedge has a loft of 50 degrees and is used for shots of between 60 and 90 yards from the green. The lob wedge a has a loft of 60 degrees and is used for shots closer than 60 yards. Both wedge will allow you to hit the ball higher than the standard wedge and the primary goal is to get the ball even closer to the flag stick.
Alternate Use for Sand Wedge
You may want to use the sand wedge to chip the ball from the fairway or short rough. This shot will often work better than the pitch shot, especially when you are playing on a hard, dry course. This is often the case during the summer months. If there is no hazard between your ball and the green, and you have a slightly uphill shot, you may want to play a bump-and-run chip shot with the sand wedge rather than pitching the ball to the green. It is tough to get underneath the ball when the conditions are dry and using the sand wedge presents you with a workable alternative.
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