| The short game is something that needs to be | | | | and the grooves on the club's face. Together they |
| practiced constantly, with as many weights as possible | | | | create a certain degree of spin that will directly affect |
| and ideally with a trained instructor by your side. In | | | | the height and distance the ball travels. The loft |
| addition to constant training and practice though, a high | | | | measures the angle at which you hit the ball from the |
| quality wedge can go a long way toward ensuring you | | | | ground while the grooves directly affect how quickly |
| are more successful. The skill and precision of the | | | | the ball starts spinning immediately. The trajectory, roll |
| experts you see on television is a result of years of | | | | of the ball when it lands, and the angle of the ball when |
| practice and an intense skill for the sport - but it is also | | | | it lands are all decided by these two factors. For this |
| the result of a great wedge and intimate knowledge of | | | | very reason, wedges are provided in angles between |
| how to use that wedge. | | | | 47 and 64 degrees, giving you plenty of choices for |
| So, why does it matter so much that you have a solid | | | | various playing surfaces and conditions. |
| wedge to help you through that rough course you've | | | | How do you know how many wedges you need in |
| only ever managed to shoot an 87 on? For starters, | | | | your bag though? It depends on what your handicap is |
| more than 70% of all golf shots are taken while 100 to | | | | and how often you golf. If you currently have a |
| 150 yards from the hole. Driving the ball off the tee | | | | handicap of ten or fewer, you should have four |
| only consistently helps you in 14 or 15 strokes per | | | | different wedges to give you plenty of options on the |
| game, while the rest is short or putting. | | | | course. If your handicap currently sits between eleven |
| If you only have one wedge for your short game right | | | | and twenty-five, you should have three wedges and if |
| now, you should immediately consider purchasing more. | | | | your handicap is twenty-six or larger, you do not need |
| It will take time and careful knowledge of how each | | | | anything more than a pitching and sand wedge. |
| club face directly interacts with the course, but when | | | | Next time you hit the links and find yourself in a |
| you have those clubs and practice with them | | | | situation that you might have simply used a pitching or |
| consistently, you will be much more successful with | | | | sand wedge for in the past, consider what effect a |
| your short game. For example, do you know right now | | | | differently angled club might have. If you are sitting 35 |
| which club to use when only 18 feet out, off the | | | | feet out on an uphill incline facing the green, would you |
| green? In this case a good lofted club or sand wedge | | | | rather use a pitching wedge or a 55 degree faced |
| with a backward angled face will be more successful. | | | | club? Practice, use, and plenty of time spent |
| The wrong angle for shot could result in an overshot | | | | researching these clubs will help you make that |
| of the green altogether. | | | | decision. |
| A wedge works through the combination of the loft | | | | |