The world of wedges can be very complicated and confusing…

What do I need in my bag and why? Well, the standard set of clubs includes a pitching wedge and a sand wedge which for most sets are around 48 degrees loft for the PW and 56 degrees for a SW. With each club in your back being divided by 4 degrees of loft it leaves the gap between your wedges as 8 degrees… this leaves a nice gap for a GAP wedge! Normally between 50 and 53 degrees a gap wedge is designed with a low bounce to aid you in all types of short approach shot.

If you decide that you need some more loft around the greens to land the ball softer then you can go up to a lob wedge.. anywhere from 58-62 degrees again, depending of the lofts on your actual set of irons.

A good set of wedges would look something like this.. PW (48) GW (52) SW (56) LW (60)

In place of a 56 and a 60 I personally choose a 58 degree as it very versatile and that leaves room for an extra hybrid in the bag.

The hardest thing to do is to get 14 clubs in your bag that suit your game. A lot of Pro’s own up to 20 clubs and rotate them for different courses and different weather conditions. Good luck choosing.

Freddy

A very common question my pupils ask me is how must they play this bunker shot differently than a standard ‘fluffy’ bunker lie.

The first thing I recommend is that you use your most lofted wedge. Sometimes your standard 56 degree ‘sand wedge’ isn’t quite enough to slide under the ball and often bounces off of the firm sand. A 58 or 60 degree wedge is more suitable for the wet sand especially with a low bounce (6 or 8 degrees) The average sand wedge has 10 to 15 degrees of bounce.

When playing the bunker shot itself there are a few minor changes to the set up to consider.

 - As the sand is firm we can’t set our feet in the sand as in a normal shot so a wider stance and more flex in the knees will allow you to stay down and help get under the ball.

 - I recommend to set the hands ahead of the ball so that the butt end of the shaft points out past your left trouser pocket.

During the swing you must try and accelerate through the shot holding the clubface open for as long as you can.

The most important thing is to readjust the swing length to account for the ball going further due to less sand being taken… and don’t fear it.. If you panic and decelerate you are in trouble!!

Good luck

Freddy Valenti, Head Professional, Pryors Hayes Golf Club, Mob – 07971928939

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Golf Guide Magazine 'you will be lost without it'

After he was safely in for the final clinching par, Furyk snatched the ball out of the cup and made a sweeping fist pump, then faced the remnants of a hardy crowd huddled under their umbrellas and thrust both arms into the air. A couple of gutteral “Whoos” and several jubilant swipes at the damp air later, Furyk gathered his wife Tabitha into his arms.

Its an amazing win that caps Furyks first ever 3 win season, and what a way to do it.

Below is a list of the top 25 winners of the amazing Fed Ex bonus pool, with $32,000 dollars going down to 150th place.

The vast majority of club golfers fail to achieve the balance needed to excel at golf or many other sports. One of the reasons why most golfers don’t swing in balance is that they swing too hard or too fast. A tip I like to try on my pupils is “Swing as hard as you want to as long as you finish the swing in balance.”

A balanced finish means that your belt buckle, chest and eyes face the target, with the majority of your weight on the front foot, not hanging back on the rear foot. If you’re not balanced in the finish, it’s likely you weren’t balanced during the swing and, as a result, brought the club into the ball on an incorrect plane and, of course, with less power than you’re capable of generating. More important, if you’re facing left of the target at the finish, you know you made a solid turn through the shot.

A good way to feel good balance is to swing barefooted. Take off your shoes and socks and tee up a 7-iron. As you make your swings, focus on keeping your feet “underneath” your body. In order to attain this centredness, you can’t take a mad lash at the ball.

Swinging barefoot allows you to feel what it’s like to swing within yourself. You’ll actually hit better golf shots in bare feet than with your shoes and socks on. You certainly won’t “come out of your spikes” trying to kill the ball.

Hitting golf balls barefooted can help you develop good footwork and good balance. The ultimate goal is to maintain these sensations when you lace up your shoes. Summer’s here—the grass feels nice, and so, too, will your swing.

For any more advice email our resident PGA pro on pro@onlineteetimeshop.co.uk

Europe to win!

McDowell hails ‘special’ European Team

US Open champion Graeme McDowell has hailed 2010 as a ‘special year’ for European golf and believes Europe have every chance of regaining The Ryder Cup from the United States next weekend.

By Sarah Gwynn, europeantour.com

The Northern Irishman is playing in the Austrian GolfOpen presented by Botarin this week to sharpen up his game following a four-week break, and he would love to continue the fine run of form shown by members of the European Ryder Cup team of late.

The last five events on The European Tour International Schedule have been won by a player from Captain Colin Montgomerie’s Team, with Martin Kaymer winning last week’s KLM Open, Miguel Angel Jiménez clinching the Omega European Masters, Edoardo Molinari triumphing at the Johnnie Walker Championship, Peter Hanson winning the Czech Open and Kaymer, again, sealing his first Major at the US PGA Championship.

“It would be pretty special to make it six this week,” said McDowell, who has been in the form of his life this season to capture The Celtic Manor Wales Open and the US Open – his first Major title. “That really would be nice to head to Celtic Manor with another win under my belt.

“It’s been an amazing run for the European Team. There are so many guys playing well – obviously a couple of Majors in there, Miguel playing as well as he has been, Edoardo in amazing form this year.  We’ve got a pretty special team and I’m really excited to be going there with these guys. Obviously you never know what will happen in golf but we have a great chance.

“It was disappointing not to win a couple of years ago at The 2008 Ryder Cup over in the States. I played well personally but we didn’t get the job done, so to win in Wales would be pretty cool.”

McDowell is expected to be paired with fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, making his Ryder Cup debut, but the 31 year old does not mind who his partner is.

“Everyone’s obviously going to be talking about me and Rory, and that would make sense,” he said. “But this is a special team and everyone on it is in great form so it’s not important for me who I’m paired with. It’s an exciting team to be part of. It was one of my main goals this season to make it.

“It’s been crazy this year.  It’s been a great year for European Tour golf and this Ryder Cup Team is one of the best ever. There’s been a bit of a changing of the guard in Europe with Rory, Martin Kaymer and me and other guys playing as well as they have been.

“It’s going to be a great Ryder Cup and whatever happens you can’t take anything away from the fact it’s been an amazing season for The European Tour.”

Aside from the last five tournaments on The European Tour, there were some stunning victories earlier in the season for members of the European Team, namely Ian Poulter in the WGC-Accenture Match Play, Ross Fisher at the 3 Irish Open and Luke Donald at the Madrid Masters. Peter Hanson has also won twice, Miguel Angel Jiménez had two earlier victories to add to his win in Switzerland, and Edoardo Molinari clinched The Barclays Scottish Open.

Despite having already won twice to reach second place in the current Race to Dubai standings, McDowell admits it would be perfect to head to Wales as a three-time winner on The European Tour.

“Everyone has been playing so well so it was important for me to to Austria this week and make sure the game is in decent shape for Wales,” he said. “The Ryder Cup is a busy week and it’s difficult to get any work done on your game so it’s important I’m in good shape. To go there with another win would be fantastic.”

To wins tickets to the Saturday of the Ryder Cup email ‘Win Europe’ to pro@onlineteetimeshop.co.uk

Corey Pavin’s side are bidding to land the trophy for the first time in Europe since winning at the Belfry in 1993. Arguably the Europeans should never have lost this one from a commanding position.. Hide your heads Barry Lane and Constantino Rocca!

“Given the advantage of playing over in Europe, I think that gives the edge to the European team,” said Pavin.

The US ended a run of three successive defeats with an emphatic victory at Valhalla in Kentucky two years ago.

“Travelling is always difficult and the fans will be a big part of it: 80-85% are going to be pro-European, ” added the American captain.

“We’re competing on a golf course that is played on their tour so the European players are familiar with the venue. And Monty (European captain Colin Montgomerie) gets to set up the golf course the way he wants to as well.

“The U.S team haven’t won on European soil since 1993 so it’s going to be tough but I think the teams themselves are very comparable. I am looking forward to a pretty good battle.”

The Ryder Cup is live on Sky Sports all 3 days October 1st-3rd. Set your box to record to not miss a thing.

For your chance to go and see this and future Ryder Cups email us on pro@onlineteetimeshop.co.uk

Golf Pro Ams Worldwide

Golf Pro Ams is the one stop shop for a huge variety of PGA and Non PGA Pro Am events around the world.

The winter Pro am market is now as competitive as ever before with many events still hard to find on the internet and with places limited GPA can help advise you on the best events suitable for you.

The knowledgeable and experienced PGA Professional advisers have great contacts and relationships with all of the sports various event organizers and can advise on all aspects from flights to car transport at your destination.

The world number one could only tie for 28th at Whistling Straits to finish 12th in the Ryder Cup standings with the top eight receiving a place on the US team with Anthony Kim also slipping out of the top 8.

Woods will now have to rely on one of four wildcard picks on 7 September.

Small consolation for Dustin Johnson after his last hole blunder is his guaranteed inclusion in Corey Pavins team.