The Best Free Golf Video Lessons565 Free Golf Lessons from the Best ProsOver 120,000,000 views
565 lessons from professionals, selected and summarizedOver 120,000,000 views across all videos
Pitching WedgesSpin (create a…)Wedge play = Pitching and Chipping Wedges Expert ⏱ 3 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Controlling Spin with a Wedge with Martin Hall

On the Golf Channel's "School of Golf," Martin Hall explains how to adjust spin based on the flagstick and the firmness of the green. He offers two contrasting strategies: one to make the ball bite into the green, and the other to let it roll toward a flagstick at the back of the green.

▶
Martin Hall
Martin Hall · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

10 minSame problemJustin Thomas's backspin pitch: grip and handsJustin Thomas · Expert6 minSame problemSpin on Approaches: Slide the Sole of the WedgeSimon Camirand · Expert8 minFrom the same proShort Swings for Beginners: The Martin Hall MethodMartin Hall · Beginner

What the lesson shows

Martin Hall points out that sometimes you need a lot of spin, and sometimes just a little, depending on the flag's position and how firm the greens are. To generate spin, you need to speed and friction: Even a brand-new wedge loses its effectiveness if the grooves or the face are dirty, which is why it's important to clean them. Then take your most welcoming club and take a swing a little shorter than the standard distance, but faster: Spin is speed.

When the flag is at the back of the green—where you want the ball to roll—he recites his little rhyme: less loft, soft swing. Keep your wrists still, as if they were in a splint, as Ken Venturi demonstrated. This swing also allows you to play lower: same distance, but a different swing speed. Martin Hall points out that this is a somewhat advanced topic.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Check the flag's position and the firmness of the green before deciding on your shot.
  2. Clean the grooves and the face of your wedge.
  3. To stop the ball, use your club with the widest face angle.
  4. Shorten your backswing and really accelerate through the ball.
  5. For a flag-stick shot, use less loft and swing more gently.
  6. Keep your wrists still to reduce spin and height.

Key Takeaways

Spin requires speed and friction.
Clean the grooves and the face: dirt reduces spin.
To get the ball to bite: the most open wedge, a shorter but faster swing.
To make it roll: less loft, soft swing.
Keep your wrists steady on the roll shot, which also comes out lower.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Playing with grooves filled with dirt.
  • Aim for spin with a long, slow swing.
  • Keep the same stroke regardless of the flag's position.
  • Use your wrists when you want to let the ball roll.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Wedges, a short, quick swing, toward a nearby flag
  2. Same distance with less loft and a soft strike
  3. Clean the grooves before each set

Your Questions

How do you generate spin with a wedge, according to Martin Hall?

You need speed and friction. Grab your most open club and take a swing that's a little shorter than usual but faster, with clean grooves.

How do you roll the ball toward a flag at the back of the green?

Less loft, a soft swing, and relaxed wrists. This shot reduces spin and also sends the ball lower.

Why should you clean the grooves?

Because dirt in the grooves or on the face reduces friction. Even a brand-new wedge won't generate its maximum spin in that case.

Learn More

All “Pitching and Wedges” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Spin” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Wedge Play = Pitching and Chipping” →Find the lesson that's right for you Justin Thomas's backspin pitch: grip and handsHigh pitch that stops: light left-hand grip in the palm, hands low to set up the bounce, long-putt tempo, and a “thrown” head for more spin. Justin Thomas's chip shot: the “nippy”The “nippy,” a low chip that stops on the second bounce: the ball is played back, the face is shielded by the body, and the three-ball drill (high, medium, low). Ball Climbing Up the Wedge Face: 3 Shots by MorikawaToo much loft at impact causes the ball to rise off the clubface: Morikawa demonstrates how to avoid this with a 40-yard wedge shot, a lob, and an uphill pitch. Martin HallAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Martin Hall). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros