Equipment
Get better around the greens
We’ve all no doubt been in this exact situation before.
Picture yourself chipping onto the green, being a good 25 yards or so away. You know if you land the ball nicely there’s a good chance you’re in for a birdie putt.
You turn to your bag, and after a bit of internal debate, you pick up the wedge you’re most familiar with. But when you set up to the ball, instead of chipping it up in the air, you thin it, and send it shooting through the green. Or maybe you come down on the ball too much, and end up fatting it, and it only goes a few yards in front of you.
Mis-hitting the ball is frustrating, but it can easily be avoided with a bit of practice and getting clued up which wedge to use in each situation.
Today, we want to put your mind at ease, and remind you of the steps you can take to ace your short game throughout 2025.
Why do we thin and fat the ball?
We don’t doubt that every golfer on the planet has thinned or fatted a golf wedge shot before, and if you don’t set up to the ball correctly, you might repeat doing so the next time you’re out on the course.
There are many reasons why you might be thinning your shots, including having a rushed swing or being too steep in your down swing and not getting underneath the ball properly.
When you fat the ball you’re hitting the ground before the ball, so you might have the ball too far ahead in your stance. You might also be scared of committing to the shot, and end up decelerating in your downswing, resulting in you taking a chunk out of the ground.
When you visit us for a short game clinic, we’ll take a look at how you hit a wedge shot and get you hitting the ball better in no time.
Besides practice and getting some lessons booked in, you can also make things a lot easier for yourself by packing your bag with the right equipment. You might not even be aware, but wedges have different sole grinds that have an impact on your connection with the ball. Are you playing with the grind best for you?
Finding the right grind for you
The sole of the golf wedge being the part of the club that has the most interaction with the turf, it makes sense that this section has a huge bearing on how you pull off your chip shots.
Brands like PING offer multiple sole grinds with their golf wedges. In the S159 range, there are six individual grinds to choose from. The W grind offers maximum forgiveness across all forms of turf while the T grind allows for a more greenside versatility.
We also want to take a moment to differentiate between grind and bounce. The grind is the shaped sole of the wedge whereas the bounce is the angle between the leading edge (the part of the clubhead closest to the ball) and the lowest point of the sole. You may have heard the phrase ‘bounce is your friend’ and this is true as it offers more forgiveness on wedge shots as it helps you strike the ball properly.
When you come and see us in the pro shop, we’ll consider your skill level and get you fitted with the ideal grind for your game. You’ll be making the most of 2025 if you start it with some fresh gear, and when it comes to golf wedges, you really can’t beat the S159…
The PING S159 golf wedges
This wedge is beloved the world-over, particular on tour, and it’s clear to see why. Available in a few different finishes including Hydropearl Chrome & Midnight Black, this club looks fantastic from every angle.
The grooves on the clubface have been meticulously crafted to give you exceptional control over your wedge shots. PING’s wheel-cut groove crafting process allows for exceptional spin while an elastomer insert in the head gives the wedge a pleasing feel on impact.
As we’ve mentioned, this wedge comes in 6 individual grinds, so there’s a lot of variety available for the discerning golfer. Whether you want to hit an open flop shot or more of a closed bump-and-run, the S159 will give you the short-game control you’re looking for.
We stock a whole range of clubs in the pro shop, and if you’re looking to gain more confidence over your short game, we’re always available to consult you.
We’ll get you clued up on how each wedge in the bag best works and at what position on the course, as well as take you in for a gapping session so you can better understand how far you strike each of your clubs.
