Finesse Wedge Practice Drill | Titleist Tips

Every short game shot around the green comes down to one question - how do you want to slow the ball down?

Jason Baile breaks it into three answers. Friction, spin and landing angle. Each one requires a different setup, a different swing and a different landing spot. Once you understand all three, you stop guessing around the greens and start making decisions.

The friction shot (bump and run) utilizes a near landing spot and lets the turf check the speed, allowing the ball to release and roll to the cup like a putt. Ball back in the stance, center well shaft leaning forward, straight faced club and a compact motion where the handle does not travel far. The further the handle travels, the more likely you are to release early and catch the ground too soon. Keep it tight and let the ball roll out to the target.

The spin shot moves the ball to the center of the stance with a slightly open face and center still leaning forward. The landing spot moves farther away from you. The swing needs to get a little bigger because spin requires more energy - hands further back, further through, and the shearing effect of the ball against that open face creates the spin that slows it down on landing.

The high landing angle shot is the most demanding of the three. Ball position moves almost off the big toe, the stance widens, the face opens more and the handle drops down and back behind the ball the landing spot moves aggressively nearer the hole. A full hinge and rehinge elevates the ball steeply enough that landing angle does the stopping - like a butterfly with sore feet.

Chapters:
00:00 - Three Ways to Slow the Ball Down
00:21 - Friction Spin and Landing Angle Explained
00:37 - Using a Chipping Disc for Landing Spot Practice
00:58 - The Friction Shot Setup and Technique
01:44 - The Spin Shot Setup and Technique
02:17 - The High Landing Angle Shot Setup and Technique
02:49 - Full Review of All Three Shots

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