Alright, let’s talk about them golf clubs, the ones they call wedges. You know, the short ones, for when you’re close to that little hole in the ground.
Now, I ain’t no fancy golfer, but I know a thing or two ’bout gettin’ that ball close. And these wedges, they’re mighty important for that.
What’s this “gapping” thing all about?
Well, it’s like this. You got a bunch of them wedges, right? Maybe a pitchin’ wedge, a sand wedge, and some others with numbers on ’em. Each one is supposed to hit the ball a different distance.
Gapping is just makin’ sure them distances are spread out nice and even. You don’t want two clubs that hit the ball ’bout the same, that’s just a waste of a club, ain’t it? You want each wedge to have its own special job, its own distance it covers.
Why’s it so important?
Listen, when you’re close to the green, that’s where you gotta make your money, so to speak. That’s where you score. And if you got the right wedge for the job, you got a better chance of gettin’ that ball close and maybe even sinkin’ it.
- If you got a big gap between two wedges, you might be in trouble. Say you need a shot that’s right in between them two clubs. You’re gonna have to swing too hard with one or too soft with the other, and that’s when you mess up.
- And if your wedges are too close together, well, you’re just carryin’ around extra clubs you don’t need. That bag’s heavy enough as it is, ain’t it?
How do you figure out this gapping stuff?
Well, the smart folks, they go to a fittin’, like they call it. They got fancy machines and all that. They’ll watch you swing and tell you which wedges you need and how far they should go.
But if you ain’t got time for all that fancy stuff, you can do it yourself, kinda. Go out to the field, or wherever you practice, and hit a bunch of balls with each wedge. See how far they go. You want ’em to be spaced out pretty even, maybe four or five yards difference between each one. That’s what I heard, anyways.
What kinda wedges you need?
Now, that’s up to you and how you play. But most folks, they got a pitchin’ wedge, a sand wedge, and maybe one or two more. Some fellas like them high-lofted wedges, for gettin’ the ball up quick and landin’ it soft. Others, they like somethin’ with a little less loft, for rollin’ the ball up to the hole.
It all depends on the kinda shots you like to hit and the kinda course you’re playin’. But the important thing is to have them wedges gapped right, so you got a club for every distance.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
And don’t be afraid to try different things. Maybe you need to bend a wedge a little, to make it go a little farther or a little shorter. Or maybe you need a whole new wedge altogether. It’s your game, you do what feels right.
But remember, them wedges are your scorin’ clubs. You get them gapped right, and you’ll be droppin’ them putts in no time. And that’s what it’s all about, ain’t it? Gettin’ that little white ball in the hole.
So go on out there and practice. Hit them wedges, figure out your distances, and get them gapped right. Your scores will thank you for it.
And one more thing, don’t go blamin’ your clubs if you hit a bad shot. It’s usually the fella swingin’ ’em that’s the problem, not the clubs themselves. But that’s a whole ‘nother story for another day.
Now get out there and have some fun! And remember, keep your head down and your eye on the ball.
Tags: [golf, wedges, gapping, distance, clubs, fitting, loft, short game, scoring, practice]
