Page 11 - Title page June

Mistake #4: Yardage Control How many times,
from 75 yards, did you come up 15 yards short or
15 yards long? I bet it’s more than you’d like to ad-
mit. Erring by that much from such short distance is
unforgivable. Good wedge players know how to hit
the ball specific distances. The key is practice. _Ê Use
a session on the range to find out how far you hit
each wedge with backswings that stop at knee-high,
waist-high and shoulder-high. Once you have this
inventory of shots, you’ll know how far to take the
club back when you’re faced with a specific yardage
on the course. Remember, the length of your back-
swing, not the force of your swing, controls how
far you hit a wedge. Set the length, then accelerate
through impact.

Mistake #5: Overactive Legs Watch any Tour
player make a short-game swing and one thing
should jump out: The legs of the golfer are dead.
The smooth, unhurried, even tempo of a short
swing doesn’t require a ton of leg action. In fact, if
you set up properly with a slightly open stance, you
shouldn’t need any leg action at all.
For most wedge swings, power the club exclusive-
ly with your hands and arms. Above all, don’t shift
laterally or flail your hips open as if you’re trying to
crush the ball 300 yards. The short game is all about
control, so stay in control and keep those legs qui-
et. Plus, since wedge shots require a shorter, slower
swing, there isn’t enough time to maneuver the hips
closed, then open, before impact.