Question:
Excerpts from netnews.rec.sport.golf: 25-Aug-96 Re: HOW DO YOU HIT A The 60 degree wedge always works perfectly off range mats, concrete and greens with a Stimpmeter reading off the scale. Otherwise, it’s mainly meant to be used for keeping the club count up to 14 and balancing the golf bag. They’re great at home for ornamental conversation pieces and gardening. Unfortunately they’re too light to be used as anchors except for model boats. (no smiley). Ron
I’ll bet you don’t have one in your bag. After the putter they are the most used club in a tour player’s bag. They are also the most versatile. I can usually get the ball up and down 60 % of the time with this club, that is from heavy rough, sand, hardpan, over bunkers and bushes, and out of the occasional ball washer. A little patience and a bit of practice and you can do it too.
Response:
Someone posted that they open the face on a 60 degree wedge.. Why would you open a 60 degree wedge..you’d send the ball straight up in the air.. Your nerves are better than mine. That’s a shot I’ve practiced. Don’t have the percentage — nor the guts — to do it in a round. Cheers! Dave
Ummm.. 60 degree Hogan Tour Series. can’t hit it well off any hard surface, need a fluffy lie or put it back in your stance for a pitch and run. Generally use is when I am 75 yards and in and have to go over a tree or sand trap. or.. when i’m in the heavy stuff and the pin is 10 feet or less from the edge. it’s the only club you can hit directly down on the ball and still have the ball go up with backspin. open it up with a high lie in the heavy stuff, easy to hit it stiff 100 yards up and 50 yards away under those conditions. imho, it’s a very important club. Thanks, Rick — —
Response:
Badly. Usually two times: a fat/skulled hit to the ball, then one on the ground in anger, then back in the bag for the rest of the day. (8~(. Ok, I just have troubles in praticing it. From the mat everything’s OK, but on the pitching green I am afraid of hitting other players, so I cannot try full swings. Seems like a deadlock. Perhaps I could cross the fences and practice at night with light balls… Ciao. Marcello.
Response:
Excerpts from netnews.rec.sport.golf: 28-Aug-96 Re: HOW DO YOU HIT A 60 Badly. Usually two times: a fat/skulled hit to the ball, then one on the ground in anger, then back in the bag for the rest of the day. (8~(. Ok, I just have troubles in praticing it. From the mat everything’s OK, but on the pitching green I am afraid of hitting other players, so I cannot try full swings. Seems like a deadlock. Perhaps I could cross the fences and practice at night with light balls… Ciao. Marcello.
Marcello, I had the exact same problem you had with practice. Try this: Find a park with a lot of grass, not a place generally associated with golf, just a regular park. Since the 60 degree wedge, or the 64 in my case, are not really long distance clubs, a park is a great place to practice. Even community or school football/soccer fields will work. Just be sure to replace divots. –Shawn Bannon
Response:
I’ve found the best way to hit my 60 degree wedge is to stand it aginst
Response:
snip Marcello, I had the exact same problem you had with practice. Try this: Find a park with a lot of grass, not a place generally associated with golf, just a regular park. Since the 60 degree wedge, or the 64 in my case, are not really long distance clubs, a park is a great place to practice. Even community or school football/soccer fields will work. Just be sure to replace divots. –Shawn Bannon
If your going to use football/soccer fields, please, be sure you don’t lose any balls.
Response:
didn’t you ask how and not where. that’s a question that can’t be answered in one sentence. where is the lie? the circumstance, 45yards out, how far? grass? trap. the club is there not for show. some folks shoot lights out /o one ed – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – snip Marcello, I had the exact same problem you had with practice. Try this: Find a park with a lot of grass, not a place generally associated with golf, just a regular park. Since the 60 degree wedge, or the 64 in my case, are not really long distance clubs, a park is a great place to practice. Even community or school football/soccer fields will work. Just be sure to replace divots. –Shawn Bannon If your going to use football/soccer fields, please, be sure you don’t lose any balls.
Response:
I had the exact same problem you had with practice. Try this: Find a park with a lot of grass, not a place generally associated with golf, just a regular park. Since the 60 degree wedge, or the 64 in my case, are not really long distance clubs, a park is a great place to practice. Even community or school football/soccer fields will work. Just be sure to replace divots. If your going to use football/soccer fields, please, be sure you don’t lose any balls.
Right on both points. Take some care to leave the field as you found it. A few years ago, I found myself on both sides of this. I practiced my short game as Shawn suggests, but the park I used was the field where my son’s soccer team played and practiced — and I was the coach. It can be done; I speak from experience. BTW, do that with the golf course, too. I won’t mention the antisocial morons who did damage (some unwitting, some probably intentional) to the greens that I played on last Sunday. Cheers! Dave
Response:
: I’ve found the best way to hit my 60 degree wedge is to stand it aginst 1. Remove the grip. 2. Plant the butt end into the ground until the head is at waist level (or wherever you feel comfortable). 3. Take an old baseball bat or, if you are strong enough, a sledgehammer and swing away. It may take more than one swing to hit it real good. Jack
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just purchased a TA 855 60 degree wedge and I got a great deal on it. Unfortunately, I really wanted a more playable club. I like the feel of this one but I just can’t seem to get the distance and accuracy in the same package. If you have tips on how to hit this thing correctly and the ideal situtations to hit such a club, please respond via e-mail to: thanks, Jason – The 60 degree wedge always works perfectly off range mats, concrete and greens with a Stimpmeter reading off the scale. Otherwise, it’s mainly meant to be used for keeping the club count up to 14 and balancing the golf bag. They’re great at home for ornamental conversation pieces and gardening. Unfortunately they’re ot light to be used as anchors except for model boats. (no smiley). Ron
Watching the Amateur this past weekend showed me more ways to use the 60deg wedge than I thought possible and the right way. Play the ball back in your stance with club fairly upright with your hands slightly ahead of the ball at address. Vary the length of the swing to determine distance. Open or close the face, along with opening or closing your stance, to determine height and softness when the the ball lands. Swing normally rather than trying to chip or punch the ball. I play mine from 50 yards in.
Response:
Well, I don’t have a 60 degree wedge, but rather a 64 degree flop wedge that I love.
Now here’s something Shawn and I can agree on. About four years ago, I gave up on my 60 as hopeless. Last year, Bob Dietrich talked my into trying a lob wedge again, and I made myself a 64 — that I love, to quote Shawn. Distance? No, it doesn’t hit for distance, but it’s perfect for hitting over greenside bunkers and trees. The most I get, if I don’t skull the ball, is about 25 yards. That’s with a full swing, and the ball can go as much as 60 feet up. It’s wonderful for shots where delicat ball placent is essential and you’ve just landed short of the green.
Saved me a par from a potential bogey or double yesterday. Moderately deep rough (for Monmouth County courses, "moderately deep" is about 70% of US Open rough; the deep-deep stuff snapped my 4-iron shaft last week), the flag about 35 yards away, near the front of a green that runs away. If you hit an SW you run the risk of being at the far end of the green in 3-putt territory. 64-wedge straight up, soft landing near the flag, and roll downhill maybe 10 feet for a makeable uphill par putt. That sort of thing happens all the time where I play. YMMV, but I doubt it. It’s worth learning to use. It was a pain to hit at first, though. Probably, I was having the same problem as Jason with the 60 degree wedge. But I’ve found that… if I swing so that my hands stay a little bit in front of the club head, I can generally get nice shots that pop off the ground and are fairly easy to control.
Shawn hit the nail on the head! The rules for LW use: 1. Hands in front of clubhead. 2. Clip grass or take divot AFTER you hit the ball. 3. Hands in front of clubhead. 4. Don’t overuse it. 5. Hands in front of clubhead. 6. Use more "zetz" than you think you’ll need, or it’ll be short. 7. Hands in front of clubhead. You might get the impression that you want the hands in front of the clubhead. You’d be right. A brief word about #4. It IS a specialized club. Don’t go looking for opportunities to use it. Only use it when no other club will do. But then — by definition — you’ll be really glad you have it. Cheers! Dave
Response:
Another key I’ve found is to pay special attention to "swing depth" – I found I have to be very careful of keeping my height constant and to return the club head to just above the bottom of the ball to prevent chunks. Even when I hit off mats, I listen very carefully to make sure I don’t hear anything but steel and ball and a little mat – the slightest bit fat and you are in trouble. When I take practice swings, I try to just brush the grass. I think the reason for this is that, like the SW, the LW is a relatively heavy club, and the natural centrifugal force of swinging the thing can lead to a tendency to hit too low and chunk the shot. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just purchased a TA 855 60 degree wedge and I got a great deal on it. Unfortunately, I really wanted a more playable club. I like the feel of this one but I just can’t seem to get the distance and accuracy in the same package. If you have tips on how to hit this thing correctly and the ideal situtations to hit such a club, please respond via e-mail to: thanks, Jason – The 60 degree wedge always works perfectly off range mats, concrete and greens with a Stimpmeter reading off the scale. Otherwise, it’s mainly meant to be used for keeping the club count up to 14 and balancing the golf bag. They’re great at home for ornamental conversation pieces and gardening. Unfortunately they’re ot light to be used as anchors except for model boats. (no smiley). Ron One of the nice things about RSG is that not every one agrees. I use my 60 degree wedge a lot – probably because I can’t hit a GIR for love or money! See the recent Golf magazine for Dave Pelz’s instructions – very good. Also I would add: Be relaxed – it is easy to be tense, shorten muscles and not go under ball. Always accelarate through ball. Ball near front, not back of stance not a good club to hitting hard – gentle and firm is best Good luck and take those strokes off!
Response:
Another key I’ve found is to pay special attention to "swing depth" – I found I have to be very careful of keeping my height constant and
This isn’t a bad idea for ANY shot. 8^) This wedge isn’t a ‘power shot’, so big movements are not in order. It is easiest to hit these shots with a ‘tight’ swing, though I do not mean to imply a ‘tense’ swing. By tight, I mean the elbows are ‘tight’ to the sides, with a good wrist cock and realtively upright takeaway (don’t let the close-to-the-ribs right elbow make you flatten your swing, or take the club too far inside). You can’t hit it very far this way, but you can hit it straight and control the distance quite accurately.
Response:
I found good tips for hitting the 60 degree wedge in Leadbetter’s "Fault and Fixes" video with Nick Price. It’s a three quarter swing..and hit down hard on the ball.. the key here is to hit down. If you try to scoop..you are cooked. Someone posted that they open the face on a 60 degree wedge.. Why would you open a 60 degree wedge..you’d send the ball straight up in the air.. Your nerves are better than mine. — Enjoy, Tut
Response:
Someone posted that they open the face on a 60 degree wedge.. Why would you open a 60 degree wedge..you’d send the ball straight up in the air.. Your nerves are better than mine.
That’s a shot I’ve practiced. Don’t have the percentage — nor the guts — to do it in a round. Cheers! Dave
Response:
Ron, Hit it just like any wedge. However, it sounds as though you want distance i.e., 100 yards or so. This wedge is for finesse and is to be used in specific situations like over a sand trap w/pin right behind it. This is a flop shot club. 60 yards or less. Sylvia
Response:
Excerpts from netnews.rec.sport.golf: 25-Aug-96 Re: HOW DO YOU HIT A 60 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just purchased a TA 855 60 degree wedge and I got a great deal on it. Unfortunately, I really wanted a more playable club. I like the feel of this one but I just can’t seem to get the distance and accuracy in the same package. If you have tips on how to hit this thing correctly and the ideal situtations to hit such a club, please respond via e-mail to: thanks, Jason – The 60 degree wedge always works perfectly off range mats, concrete and greens with a Stimpmeter reading off the scale. Otherwise, it’s mainly meant to be used for keeping the club count up to 14 and balancing the golf bag. They’re great at home for ornamental conversation pieces and gardening. Unfortunately they’re ot light to be used as anchors except for model boats. (no smiley). Ron
Hello. Well, I don’t have a 60 degree wedge, but rather a 64 degree flop wedge that I love. Distance? No, it doesn’t hit for distance, but it’s perfect for hitting over greenside bunkers and trees. The most I get, if I don’t skull the ball, is about 25 yards. That’s with a full swing, and the ball can go as much as 60 feet up. It’s wonderful for shots where delicat ball placent is essential and you’ve just landed short of the green. It was a pain to hit at first, though. Probably, I was having the same problem as Jason with the 60 degree wedge. But I’ve found that if I keep the ball back in my stance, with open feet and an open club face, then swing so that my hands stay a little bit in front of the club head, I can generally get nice shots that pop off the ground and are fairly easy to control. I don’t know if this will help you, but my flop wedge has become a very useful club to carry. –Shawn
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just purchased a TA 855 60 degree wedge and I got a great deal on it. Unfortunately, I really wanted a more playable club. I like the feel of this one but I just can’t seem to get the distance and accuracy in the same package. If you have tips on how to hit this thing correctly and the ideal situtations to hit such a club, please respond via e-mail to: thanks, Jason – The 60 degree wedge always works perfectly off range mats, concrete and greens with a Stimpmeter reading off the scale. Otherwise, it’s mainly meant to be used for keeping the club count up to 14 and balancing the golf bag. They’re great at home for ornamental conversation pieces and gardening. Unfortunately they’re ot light to be used as anchors except for model boats. (no smiley). Ron
One of the nice things about RSG is that not every one agrees. I use my 60 degree wedge a lot – probably because I can’t hit a GIR for love or money! See the recent Golf magazine for Dave Pelz’s instructions – very good. Also I would add: Be relaxed – it is easy to be tense, shorten muscles and not go under ball. Always accelarate through ball. Ball near front, not back of stance not a good club to hitting hard – gentle and firm is best Good luck and take those strokes off!
Response:
I just purchased a TA 855 60 degree wedge and I got a great deal on it. Unfortunately, I really wanted a more playable club. I like the feel of this one but I just can’t seem to get the distance and accuracy in the same package. If you have tips on how to hit this thing correctly and the ideal situtations to hit such a club, please respond via e-mail to: thanks,
Jason – The 60 degree wedge always works perfectly off range mats, concrete and greens with a Stimpmeter reading off the scale. Otherwise, it’s mainly meant to be used for keeping the club count up to 14 and balancing the golf bag. They’re great at home for ornamental conversation pieces and gardening. Unfortunately they’re ot light to be used as anchors except for model boats. (no smiley). Ron — I might be slow but I’m inefficient New Web site moving right along: http://www.bway.net/~golf
Response:
I just purchased a TA 855 60 degree wedge and I got a great deal on it. Unfortunately, I really wanted a more playable club. I like the feel of this one but I just can’t seem to get the distance and accuracy in the same package. If you have tips on how to hit this thing correctly and the ideal situtations to hit such a club, please respond via e-mail to: thanks, Jason
Response:
It has taken me almost a year to hit my 61 degree lob wedge without stubbing, skying, or shanking all the time. Keep at it, and take it to the practice pitching green as often as you can. I have no magic formula to give you. Sort of like the guy carrying a tuba in New York, who asked a little old lady on the street, "How do I get to Symphony Hall?" She replied, "Practice, and practice, and practice." It’s a tough club, but once you start feeling those soft, high, flop shots, you’ll never leave it home. -Robby P.
Response:
It has taken me almost a year to hit my 61 degree lob wedge without stubbing, skying, or shanking all the time. Keep at it, and take it to the practice pitching green as often as you can. I have no magic formula to give you. Sort of like the guy carrying a tuba in New York, who asked a little old lady on the street, "How do I get to Symphony Hall?" She replied, "Practice, and practice, and practice." It’s a tough club, but once you start feeling those soft, high, flop shots, you’ll never leave it home. -Robby P.
Right on! The biggest problem at first is convincing your mind that it’s OK to hit a club that hard so close to the pin. Your natural inclination is to ease up. It is that deceleration that causes most missed shots. Another problem can be the lie. The flop wedges work best when the ball is setting on decent grass. If your wedge has very much bounce, it will carom off the ground on thin lies. This leads to rocket shots past the pin. Conversely, the wedge will slip under deep lies, causing a ten foot chili dip shot. I just changed flop wedges. My original wedge was a match to my sand wedge, with plenty of bounce. I recently got a 60 degree wedge, The Floppy by Plop, that has very little bounce. I find that I’m doing much better picking the ball off of thin lies. Again, just practice until you can convince your mind that the full shot isn’t going to go 100 yards, but will rocket up and then land softly 40 yards or less from your position. Jeff Johnston West Plains, MO