[unsamiSlini]

Let's talk approach trajectory. I'm not talking about the Space Shuttle, or how you and your wing man swoop in to the target at the local club. After reading the "Playing to the Number" thread, and how some like to leave a "full" swing for their approach to the green, I started thinking about trajectory.

For those of you that like that full swing in, especially with a sand or lob wedge, do you consider at what height or trajectory you're taking the ball into the green? Or do you "full" swing away and up she goes?

I'm more comfortable with less than a full swing because I feel it allows me to control the trajectory of my iron shots. Over the last several years, I've found myself taking an extra club and hitting 75% shots in many cases. Especially from the 8i through the wedges. I like to play the ball back a little bit, and take it in lower. I don't have anywhere near the control of trajectory, or spin, with a full swing. Controlling trajectory, which helps control spin, makes me more accurate.

It could be the 75% swing also allows for a shorter back swing and shorter follow through which can be beneficial for the more girthy.

Kevin

[CevepBiageCefm]

Inside 125, i use anythign from 6i to lw depending on trajec that im going for

[rujeltaoser]

I pretty much take it in high and hope for a soft touch down with my shorter clubs, but with say a 6 or 7 iron I often play a 3/4 swing punch type shot to come in low and hope to stick it.

[TerAlelmlor]

Let's talk approach trajectory. I'm not talking about the Space Shuttle, or how you and your wing man swoop in to the target at the local club. After reading the "Playing to the Number" thread, and how some like to leave a "full" swing for their approach to the green, I started thinking about trajectory.

For those of you that like that full swing in, especially with a sand or lob wedge, do you consider at what height or trajectory you're taking the ball into the green? Or do you "full" swing away and up she goes?

I'm more comfortable with less than a full swing because I feel it allows me to control the trajectory of my iron shots. Over the last several years, I've found myself taking an extra club and hitting 75% shots in many cases. Especially from the 8i through the wedges. I like to play the ball back a little bit, and take it in lower. I don't have anywhere near the control of trajectory, or spin, with a full swing. Controlling trajectory, which helps control spin, makes me more accurate.

It could be the 75% swing also allows for a shorter back swing and shorter follow through which can be beneficial for the more girthy.

Kevin

Kevin -- This my friend is exactly what one of my swing changes that I will have my new instructor work with me on. I want the hands leading the clubhead and a half or three quarter punch swing with a short follow through. I will have that shot in my bag if it kills me. I had it one time after I had hurt my back and had to hit short little punch shots. I was amazed how straight these shots were. Much lower trajectory but plenty of check on the greens. I'm going to get that back starting tomorrow!

[trilochana.nejman]

I always try to lay up to my 8i-50* (165-110 yd) wedge range. That way I can take a full 100% shot and still have it fly high and land softly. I'm not so great with partial % shots...I end up sailing them way too far.

[mitiaycatq]

Depends on conditions. Usually, if I can get around 100 yards, that leaves me a 49 niblick or PW if I'm around 115-120. Those two clubs, I'm deadly accurate on a 90% swing. Not trying to kill the ball, just clear the hips, hitting down and through to the target. Usually very high trajectory, and enough spin to stop where it lands or trickle back a little.

If its windy, I will use the same club, just position it a little farther back in my stance, taking a little less of a swing. Punch it a little lower, and it'll hop a few times and check up.

I feel more comfortable doing a 90% swing than shortening it up and doing a 75%. A pro I play with regularily saw me once try to 75% hit my SW, which was a complete shank, 50 yards right, only about 20 yards forward. He stated that I'm bringing my legs and upper body down onto and infront of the ball on those smaller swings, trying to hard to hit down on the ball. The result is that my hands and wrists cant catch up in time. It's been getting better since then, but I tend to forget all that, so KISS.

[reervieltnope]

I have Cleveland Launcher irons that are a few years old now and the short irons throw the ball a mile high. I joke that my PW goes 110ish yards long, and 100 yards high. It seems I'm alittle shorter with my irons than alot of people, but I think I'll trade a few extra yards for the green holding trajectories of my irons. My longer irons seem to me to have a pretty nice constantly climbing trajectory, and then they drop straight down almost. I've played very few, if any courses that I couldn't hold most greens with well struck shots from any of my irons! The biggest draw back is when the wind gets up though and I'm not very comfortable with "knockdown shots".

[reervieltnope]

Kevin -- This my friend is exactly what one of my swing changes that I will have my new instructor work with me on. I want the hands leading the clubhead and a half or three quarter punch swing with a short follow through. I will have that shot in my bag if it kills me. I had it one time after I had hurt my back and had to hit short little punch shots. I was amazed how straight these shots were. Much lower trajectory but plenty of check on the greens. I'm going to get that back starting tomorrow!

Just the other day at the range I decided to just give "knockdowns" a try without any reading up on technique or any real thought. I only had my 5 iron. Played it back in my stance, and only made about a 1/4 swing, with the same follow through. it worked very well. I hit the 100yd sign several times. I'm gonna keep working on this, and maybe get the nerve to try it on the course sometime soon.

After trying it at the range, I recalled a shot on a long par 3 during the last round I played. The greens were somewhat soft, but I caught my 4 iron alittle thin (it would have been an acceptable shot from the fairway had plenty of distance), had a very boring trajectory, and I just knew I had thinned it off the back of the green. However, it one hopped and backed up a foot. Had a moon crater sized ball mark too. So all this has me really wanting to work more with this type of shot.

[errolurberozy]

I don't try to adjust my trajectory on approaches that are full swing length unless I'm trying to stay under branches. My well struch iron shots get real high and drop. So the ball tends to someplace within a few feet of where it landed.

A number of my thin shots get airborne and look like the iron shots that I see some other guys hit all the time, the ball will land and roll out a bit. I don't like those as much. I hit one with my 4i and it went 174, rolling off the back of the green on a par 3, when I was just hoping to hit it 160. Lol.

If I am inside 80, sometimes I'll try a low bump and run type shot depending on the course and green being open enough.

[Hmntezmb]

my brother subscribes to the full swing on almost every shot theory and i think it really limits his game...

im more comfy with feel shots that arent 100% and as a result have more "control" over the way my shots come into the greens... high and soft... bump and runs... imho it gives me much more options

[ZZtop]

i am much more of a "do what the conditions are giving you" type of golfer. i practice all kinds of shots all the time. i usually end my range sessions by hitting every club in the bag (irons) to the 100 yard marker. it's fun to me. i also will play a local executive course with just one iron and a putter. one day it could be my 4 iron, another day it could be my 9 iron, it's fun to do that.

if you were to ask me which club in my bag is my favorite from 100 out, i'd say all of them.

[CevepBiageCefm]

tcal,
You should try taking full swing driver shots at the end of youre practice sessions. Im almost positive you'll still only hit it 100 yards

i am much more of a "do what the conditions are giving you" type of golfer. i practice all kinds of shots all the time. i usually end my range sessions by hitting every club in the bag (irons) to the 100 yard marker. it's fun to me. i also will play a local executive course with just one iron and a putter. one day it could be my 4 iron, another day it could be my 9 iron, it's fun to do that.

if you were to ask me which club in my bag is my favorite from 100 out, i'd say all of them.

[joulseenjoync]

I hit EVERYTHING pretty high so I don't think about it too much. I am not sure why, just the way it has been for the last 10 years. Even after a bunch of lessons and swing changes, still high. Good problem to have most of the time though.

I will hit shots where my grip and swing are adjusted to control the shot more, but I don't worry too much about trajectory, they all go high. If I hit a knock-down, low for me, 7-iron, it will still be higher than most people hit a 9-iron.

[Bobobsdo]

I much prefer to have less than a full shot especially with my wedges. I like to open the face a little and finesse the ball in to the correct distance. I vary the trajectory by adjusting the face. I prefer to loft it to front pins and scoot it to back pins. I am more comfortable with that than just swinging away and taking whatever the club yardage gives me.

[ZZtop]

tcal,
You should try taking full swing driver shots at the end of youre practice sessions. Im almost positive you'll still only hit it 100 yards

no kidding! some days it's like that. you could come down to the outing this fall and find out for yourself though.

[Coededgeme]

I don't see the need to mess with trajectory unless it's a crazy windy day or if I'm forced to hit over/under something

I play all my approach shots to react about the same when they (hopefully) hit the green

In most cases I don't see a benefit to messing around with my trajectory if I don't have to, just like I wouldn't be playing a 15 yard hook into a green if I can play a mostly straight shot instead

[lomonel]

Accuracy has always been my downfall on full swings. It isn't much better on partial swings but it is better. I'd rather take on a 50%-75% swing with my 50* than a full 56*. As for trajectory, I don't let it sit in the air for longer than it has to. I'd rather run it up to the hole if available to take the wind out of play as much as possible.

[CevepBiageCefm]

no kidding! some days it's like that. you could come down to the outing this fall and find out for yourself though.

That might be a little embarassing when you blow it by me on every teeshot

[ZZtop]

That might be a little embarassing when you blow it by me on every teeshot

nah, that won't happen, but you should come down for the outing if you could make it. i'd love to play a round of golf with you.

[CevepBiageCefm]

Trying hard.

nah, that won't happen, but you should come down for the outing if you could make it. i'd love to play a round of golf with you.