Help

I'm a decent player and usually score in the 90's. However, I've developed this problem where I skull/blade my approach shots over the green with my wedges. I've never done this before (usually a bump and run guy) and would like to correct it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you can help him the the skulls, help me with the chunks.

You need to make sure that the shaft is leaning forward and your hands are leading at impact. Also, don't get the ball too far forward unless you are opening up the face.

I'm assuming you mean 100 yeards and in from chipping to pitching. Hard to tell without seeing a swing, but i've had the problem before and what I did to fix it was form a lowercase "y" at address and hold that position throughout my swing. If you look at the lowercase "y," you can see your hands are pressed forward through contact. Just a mental image that may help you. Don't release wristcock, just think lowercase "y" and maintain that wristcock at address through swing. Hope that helps.

I also used to have this issue, and the issue was as people here have said, that I wasn't leaning the shaft forward enough. As soon as I concentrated on leaning the shaft forward and contacting the ball first, I quit skulling chips as well as full wedge shots.

I also used to be an exclusively bump and run guy, but when I started playing shots around the green with more lofted clubs I struggled thinking I had to lift the ball up in the air.

2 additional tips that worked for me...

a. keep your head still until after contact. I noticed if I sway a lot it causes chunks & skulls.

b. try to see the ground underneath the ball after you hit it. This is a variation of (a) above. Basically if you look for the space underneath the ball it means you're not picking your head up too soon.

Both (a) and (b) work for putting too.

If you play the ball off your back foot there's no way on God's green fairway that you can skull a golf ball.

Frankie C
http://overthetopgolf.com
http://iwantcharlesbarkley.blogspot.com

Not true, Frankie. I have been working on different ball positions for a couple of months now and have found little difference in ball location as far as club contact. Weight shift, lifting my shoulders, overly quick hands among others have been the biggest factor in poor striking with irons and wedges.

It just seems impossible to skull a golf ball that is played off the right foot. Sometimes, for practice, I'll position the ball outside of my right foot and in that location I couldn't skull the ball if I tried.

We're not talking about chunking, right? Just skulling....

Frankie C
http://overthetopgolf.com
http://iwantcharlesbarkley.blogspot.com

I used to skull wedges when I lifted out of my spine angle through impact. I had a "retreat" mentality instead of an "attack" mentality. This video tip has made a world of difference in my game. It's worth viewing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vo9OfLvf_I

Was Jeff Ritter trying to imitate the Charles Barkley dip? Sure looks like good old CB.

The hands MUST lead the club face at impact. The only time you would let the head of the club pass the hands at impact, is when you are trying to hit the ball high (flop shot).

Keep your weight on your front foot - about 60-40. A good way to practice this is to put a golf ball under the heel of your back foot and try not to stomp it into the ground. This will make you lean on the front foot more and bingo - results.

Also, try to make an even tempo swing with a little bit of acceleration through the ball.

Most importantly, if you are having trouble hitting a certain shot, PRACTICE IT...It will not go away unless you work on it.

I'd have to agree with the leaning more on your front foot. I started placing more weight on my front foot and was instantly hitting more solid pitch and chip shots. (except it feels more like 70-30 for me on short shots) It even helps me with approach shots from about my 8 iron and in. Also make sure your not just swinging your arms on pitch shots. Make a definite shoulder turn so you don't come across the ball.

Hmm...leaning more on the front foot....that's kind of a contrarian logic to a standard golf swing, but I can see where that might be important with wedges where finesse is more important than distance. I'll give it a try tomorrow on the practice green.