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Pitching WedgesSpin (create a…)Wedge play = Pitching and Chipping Wedges Intermediate ⏱ 3 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Stopping the Ball on the Green with Paul Lambersens

How can you make your sand wedge shots stick? Paul Lambersens starts with three equipment considerations that are often overlooked, then demonstrates a counterintuitive technique: hitting the ball fairly low and making perfect contact to maximize friction.

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Paul Lambersens
Paul Lambersens · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

15 minSame problemBall Climbing Up the Wedge Face: 3 Shots by MorikawaCollin Morikawa · Intermediate / Expert10 minNext Level UpJustin Thomas's backspin pitch: grip and handsJustin Thomas · Expert3 minFrom the same pro4 Exercises to Improve Swing Speed in GolfPaul Lambersens · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Paul Lambersens answers a question he’s often asked: how to generate spin on approach shots. First, three material conditions. A clean club with clear grooves: the dirt from the last session must be cleaned off. A high-quality ball: With a hard ball, it's very difficult to block the ball; he recommends a high-end ball with a softer urethane cover. Finally, a good-quality lie, with short grass under the ball.

Technically, spin results from friction between the club and the ball—in other words, from perfect contact. Ball in the middle of the feet for a team that's on a slight downward trend, and weight on the front leg throughout the entire swing. A counterintuitive point: aim the ball low enough. With too much loft at impact, friction decreases. There’s no need to open the clubface: he maintains the intention of a low club path that veers left after impact, with his hands low. In his tests, the ball stops after the second bounce.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Clean the face and grooves of your wedge.
  2. Use a urethane-covered ball if you want your approach shots to bite.
  3. Check the lie: Spin requires the ball to be positioned properly on short grass.
  4. Place the ball between your feet and shift your weight onto your front leg.
  5. Keep the clubface square without opening it, and aim for a perfect, slightly downward swing.
  6. After impact, finish with the club and your hands low, toward the left.

Key Takeaways

Clean grooves: Clean the club before trying to generate spin.
A ball with a urethane cover grips much better than a hard ball.
Spin requires a good-quality lie.
Keep the ball between your feet and shift your weight to your front leg throughout the entire swing.
A relatively low trajectory creates more friction than too much loft.
After impact, the club and hands remain low and move to the left.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Trying to get spin with grooves still full of dirt.
  • Hit a hard shot, hoping to land it on the green.
  • Having too much loft at impact and hitting the ball too high.
  • Open up the face to gain loft.
  • Shift your weight back onto your rear leg during the swing.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Cleaning the grooves before the session
  2. Approaches with the ball in the middle, weight shifted forward
  3. A series of low shots with a low, left-to-right finish
  4. Counting the number of bounces before the ball comes to a stop

Your Questions

Which ball should I choose to get spin on my approach shot?

Paul Lambersens recommends a high-end ball with a softer urethane cover. He believes it is extremely difficult to stop the ball on the green with a hard ball.

Do you need to open the clubface to generate spin?

No. With this method, you keep the clubface square without opening it and aim for a fairly low trajectory, because too much loft at impact reduces the friction between the club and the ball.

Where should the ball and the weight be placed?

Keep the ball in the middle of your feet for a club that has a slightly downward path, and keep your weight on your front leg throughout the entire swing.

What is the end-of-motion reference point?

Maintain the intention of a low club path that moves to the left after impact, keeping your hands low. Squeeze the ball and finish low and to the left.

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. 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. A Partial Wedge Shot That Bites: The Morikawa MethodA feel-based system rather than a clock, a short backswing without decelerating, and a descending strike even uphill to make the ball bite. Paul LambersensAll of his lessons

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

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