TWO-MINUTE CLINIC
Master the Half- Wedge
Don’t blow a golden opportunity when you could toss it on BY MAUREEN FARRELL
A NY TIME YOU’RE CLOSE enough to the green that you can’t make a full swing with-
out airmailing it, you might not be sure what to do. Do you swing slower? Do you swing shorter? Do you try to fly the ball higher? If you find yourself in this awkward position, you’re in what is commonly called “half- wedge” territory, a general term for any spot that calls for a less-than-full swing. Here’s how to regulate the distance. – WITH RON KASPRISKE
STEP TWO: KEEP YOUR BACKSWING COMPACT • Take the club back with your torso rotation, not your hands. • Allow your wrists to hinge the club up as you rotate. • Create an “L” shape with your arms and club as you go back ( left ). • Stop the backswing when your lead arm is roughly chest high.
STEP ONE ( ABOVE ): FAVOUR YOUR FRONT SIDE
• Play the ball in the middle of your stance. • Be sure your nose is in front of the ball (closer to the target). • As you start back, make sure your head stays in place ( above ).
40 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
MAY 2026
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