The swing fault encyclopedia

No distance control with wedges

Quick answer: Shots from 30-80 m finish short or long with no pattern; on video, the backswing length changes between shots to the same distance.

What it does to the ball

Huge depth dispersion: bogeys from birdie positions.

Root causes (by frequency)

  1. No calibrated backswing lengths (a clock system)
  2. Adjusting distance by changing rhythm instead of length

How to fix it

  1. Clock system: three fixed backswings (7:30, 9:00 and 10:30) per wedge, always at the same rhythm — nine known distances

Drills that fix it

The Pelz clock · 20 min · 15 reps
Calibrate three fixed distances per wedge With your sand wedge, hit sets of 5 balls with the backswing at 7:30, at 9:00 and at 10:30, always at the same rhythm. Write down the average carry for each length. Repeat with each wedge until your nine-distance chart is complete.
The distance card · 15 min · 10 reps
Turn the calibration into on-course decisions Write the nine carries from your clock system on a card and keep it in your bag. On every 30-80 m shot, pick club and length from the card before rehearsing. Update it once a month at the range.

Frequently asked questions

What is "No distance control with wedges" in the golf swing?

Shots from 30-80 m finish short or long with no pattern; on video, the backswing length changes between shots to the same distance.

What does no distance control with wedges do to the ball?

Huge depth dispersion: bogeys from birdie positions.

How do you fix no distance control with wedges?

Clock system: three fixed backswings (7:30, 9:00 and 10:30) per wedge, always at the same rhythm — nine known distances

Sources

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