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22 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | SEPTEMBER 2022 | A sure-fire way to start lowering your scores is with your wedge game. It is imperative to make sure that the distances you hit your wedges are on point. I have a method that not only helps me become more consistent with the strike, but also, a lot more consistent with how far the ball travels in the air. By following these simple instructions, I hope to help get your wedge game in shape for those tricky shorter shots. THREE ARM SWINGS We will look at three arm swings with the same wedge to help produce three different distances. The distance the hands travel will dictate the distance the ball goes, almost as if you had an elastic band—the further you pull that elastic band back, the further the ball will fly. For example, these are my distances with each swing using a 58 degree wedge. • Arm Swing 1 – Hip to Hip – My distance: 50 yards • Arm Swing 2 – Chest to Chest – My distance: 70 yards • Arm Swing 3 – Shoulder to Shoulder – My distance: 90 yards SET-UP KEYS Step by step keys to the setup for all three swings: • Ball position slightly back of center – this will help produce a downward attack angle of the club head into the ball. • Hands are going to feel slightly ahead of the ball (left arm straight down shaft line) • Feet slightly open to target • Left leg will bear about 60 to 75 percent of the weight through-out the entire swing. THE HIP-TO-HIP ARM SWING The first wedge arm swing we want to produce is one that goes from our right hip to our left hip. • Take club back to where your hands are at hip level. • Make sure you hinge your wrists like the photo shows. This will produce a steeper angle of attack on the ball which will increase the height of the shot. • Mirror your backswing on the follow through to ensure consistent contact and distance. • With this length of backswing, plan on a little more rollout as the backswing isn't long enough to produce a lot of spin on the ball. THE CHEST-TO-CHEST ARM SWING The second wedge arm swing we want to produce is one that goes from chest height on the backswing to chest height on the follow through. • Take club back to where your hands are chest high. • Wrists will hinge more than the hip-to- hip swing. • Notice more shoulder and hip turn than the previous photo. • Mirror backswing on the follow through for consistency, making sure you finish with your belt buckle and chest facing target. • With this length of backswing, plan on producing more spin. THE SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER ARM SWING The third wedge arm swing is very close to a full swing. • Take club back to where the hands are in line with the right shoulder. • Wrists should fully hinge. • To make sure the hands and club travel further back, we need to make more hip and shoulder turn than in the previous photo. • Mirror backswing on the follow through for consistency, making sure you finish with your belt buckle and chest facing target. • This length of backswing will produce the most spin of the three shots. Practice these three wedge swings to dial in your distances and start knocking down pins! Good golfing! Dial in your wedge game By Brian Garlington, PGA, Director of Golf

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