Heel Impact Zone

[spygolf]

Could I get some help as to why my short wedge shots (lobs, cuts and highish pitch shots) lead to impacting very close to the heel on the clubface? They are not quite shanks but close enough to worry me. I have tried to address it on the toe with only limited success. I really am lost for answers. BTW, I don't have this problem with full wedges or other long shots.

[EdZ]

Could I get some help as to why my short wedge shots (lobs, cuts and highish pitch shots) lead to impacting very close to the heel on the clubface? They are not quite shanks but close enough to worry me. I have tried to address it on the toe with only limited success. I really am lost for answers. BTW, I don't have this problem with full wedges or other long shots.

Chances are good you are taking the club way too 'inside' on the backswing. Practice a few slow motion moves with your back against a wall/fence to get you feeling the shaft moving 'up' the plane.

[dkerby]

Ed Z is very correct about the club going to the inside.
In a lesson with Yoda, Lynn explained how posture related
to the below plane inside move on the backswing. The more
slumped over, the more that you are likely to take club inside
on the backswing and the less Hula Hula you will get on the
downswing. I experienced the same problems as you present.
Wedges were hit way inside the center of the clubface. Other
clubs seem to in the center of the cluface. I had my wedges
reduced to 3 degrees flat, but this did not help much. Then
I noticed that if I got rid of the slouch posture that the club
was more upright and more prone to hit in the center of the clubface.

Lynn also had me to focus on a single action takeaway (no rolling
of the clubface) and to trace the plane line, on the takeaway,
with the crook in the right index finger.

As mentioned in previous posts, Lynn has a drill that will help.
Set up with your toes pointed at the target but your shoulders
parallel to the target. You will feel instant coil and take the
club more up on plane rather than under it. From the top, just
turn the hips to the left. If your posture is correct, you should
get the Hula Hula. Next turn your toes only 45 degrees with
shoulder parallel to the target. Then apply the feel obtained
from the first two drills. You should hear a click and get
crisp pitches.

Intersting note: Hogans One Iron in the USGA display, has
a spot about the size of a quater, just inside the hossel of
the clubface.

[Yoda]

As mentioned in previous posts, Lynn has a drill that will help.
Set up with your toes pointed at the target but your shoulders
parallel to the target. You will feel instant coil and take the
club more up on plane rather than under it. From the top, just
turn the hips to the left. If your posture is correct, you should
get the Hula Hula. Next turn your toes only 45 degrees with
shoulder parallel to the target. Then apply the feel obtained
from the first two drills. You should hear a click and get
crisp pitches.

[Bold emphasis by Yoda.]

Last year, at the Henrico County Open hosted by The Dominion Club in Richmond, Virginia, LBG student and PGA TOUR professional Greg Kraft, http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/60/12/, veteran of 378 events (202 cuts made and more than $4.4 million in prize money) told me of a short game 'quickie' he received from Tiger Woods:

"When you take your stance, point your toes in front of the ball."

Good idea.

With your Feet angled about 45 degrees to the Line, you have automatically created Pivot Lag -- your Square Shoulders (to the Target Line) lag the leading Hips, Knees and Feet (all Open to the Line). From this Address, the lagging Shoulders, Arms and Hands will desperately attempt to 'catch up' (with the Hips) in the Downstroke, despite the minimal motion of a short pitch.

And bring with them the lagging Club.



Phase 1 of the drill Donn mentions above creates an extreme Pivot Lag condition that is invaluable in learning the required Pivot Transport of the Power Package in Swinging Short Strokes. Also, it aids considerably in learning Horizontal Hinge Action -- executed with Vertical (to the Horizontal Plane) Flat Left and Bent Right Wrist conditions -- without any Over-Rolling of the Hands.

Oh, by the way, that 'click' and the crisp sound of compression Donn talked about?

He got'em!

[Mike O]

Could I get some help as to why my short wedge shots (lobs, cuts and highish pitch shots) lead to impacting very close to the heel on the clubface? They are not quite shanks but close enough to worry me. I have tried to address it on the toe with only limited success. I really am lost for answers. BTW, I don't have this problem with full wedges or other long shots.

You've got a melting pot of answers here - all potentially good ideas given whatever your situation is- here's a few more ideas.

If you are hitting these short wedge shots well- then I wouldn't worry about a thing. Also, the more you open the blade up for these "lob, cuts, and highish pitch shots"- the more you move the sweetsport further away from the leading edge but also more in-line and closer to the heel. Closer to the heel may be where the ball should be contacting the clubface.

Now, if these shots that you have with the "lob, cuts, and highish pitch shots" are not well struck, not crisp, not accurate, not consistent, then you could be having clubhead throwaway sending the clubhead prematurely up and in and resulting in a "heel hit". That clubhead throwaway is easy to get with short shots. Could be a million reasons why you have it in your short shots (assuming you do) - decelerating as a result of trying to add additional loft, misaligned pressure points/clubface, etc., etc.

Finally, have you been working with Bucket?! He'll be listed in Chapter three under "Snares"!