Brandon Stooksbury and "The Wedge Book"

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By Rick V., Team Titleist Staff

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  1. Steve O

    Steve O

    Brandon:

    I seem to be a big fan of the skull and run one up shot, but I would like to figure out how the pro's hit a low trajectory shot and it bounces once or twice and it seems to check and then slow roll. Looking to find ways to for the Vokey to get my ball to dance a little.
  2. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Steve O said:

    Brandon:

    I seem to be a big fan of the skull and run one up shot, but I would like to figure out how the pro's hit a low trajectory shot and it bounces once or twice and it seems to check and then slow roll. Looking to find ways to for the Vokey to get my ball to dance a little.

    Hmmm...that's one of the hardest shots to hit around the green. It requires the perfect combination of club/ball, technique, and conditions. Keep in mind that spin isn't your only way to stop the ball...trajectory will do the same and is often much easier to accomplish than the "drop-and-stop" shot you see on TV!
  3. RRibble Jr

    RRibble Jr

    Hi Brandon,
    When/what types of shots do you like to use the leading edge and conversely when/what types of shots do you recommend opening up the face in order to use the bounce?
  4. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    RRibble Jr said:

    Hi Brandon,
    When/what types of shots do you like to use the leading edge and conversely when/what types of shots do you recommend opening up the face in order to use the bounce?

    That's an interesting question! Technically the bounce is "used" in some fashion in every shot, it's just a matter of when and how it hits the ground relative to the ball. I would rarely ever suggest hitting a shot that takes a deep, gouging divot where so little bounce was used it actually cut into the ground...perhaps when the ball is in deep rough and you're trying to hack it out. Rather try to image you're trying to just "bruise" the ground with the bottom of the club when you hit it...that's using the bounce!
  5. Darron K

    Darron K
    Fate, TX

    Brandon, I tend to stick with my 58° anywhere within 75 yards of the hole. Inconsistency is my issue. I tend to hit low and high percentage shots depending upon the situation. Chips, pitches and flops. Fat, perfect and thin. Any tips as to how I can get more consistent?
  6. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Darron K said:

    Brandon, I tend to stick with my 58° anywhere within 75 yards of the hole. Inconsistency is my issue. I tend to hit low and high percentage shots depending upon the situation. Chips, pitches and flops. Fat, perfect and thin. Any tips as to how I can get more consistent?

    There are some benefits to the idea of using only one club around the green. Unfortunately there are typically more challenges and disadvantages then benefits for most golfers. Different shots require different combinations of bounce, loft, angle of attack, and speed. Using only one club requires a golfer to be VERY good at manipulating the one club...and that can be a real challenge to learn. Using multiple clubs most times allows you to just change the club and get the different specifics you need for the shot...which is WAY easier than trying to manipulate the one club!
  7. RCCPA

    RCCPA
    Sapulpa, OK

    Brandon, needing some advice on bunker play - seems that I always hit shots too thin or fat. Advice welcome.
  8. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    RCCPA said:

    Brandon, needing some advice on bunker play - seems that I always hit shots too thin or fat. Advice welcome.

    Without seeing the actual motion I would guess that you're hitting the sand (or reaching the bottom of the arc of the swing) too far behind the ball. That can manifest itself in either a fat shot or a thin shot depending on the slope and depth of the sand. Draw a line in the sand with your club and straddle it so that it is exactly in the middle of your feet. Then take some practice swings doing whatever is needed to get the divot to start on the target side of that line. It's even ok to move your chest and head toward the target on the downswing to accomplish moving the divot in front of the line. That should get you going toward solving your problem...
  9. Ryan P

    Ryan P
    Erie, PA

    Can you share some tips on hitting easy sand wedges? I hit a full SW about 115 but seem to often get a 100-105 shot which is simply too long for my LW...any tips?
  10. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Ryan P said:

    Can you share some tips on hitting easy sand wedges? I hit a full SW about 115 but seem to often get a 100-105 shot which is simply too long for my LW...any tips?

    Sure...hit the SW softer! Ben Hogan is quoted saying "show me the man who hits full shots with his wedges...I want to play him for money!" I would encourage you to spend some time actually practicing hitting a less-than-full swings with all your wedges to get used to the shot...you might just find you like the softer swing better!
  11. Brandon S

    Brandon S

    Ryan P said:

    Can you share some tips on hitting easy sand wedges? I hit a full SW about 115 but seem to often get a 100-105 shot which is simply too long for my LW...any tips?

    You can read a few of the previous comments where I've written about this topic before, but, simply stated I wouldn't recommend ever trying to make full swings with wedges. The clubs just aren't built very well for it. The problem most people have with swinging "easy" is that they rarely (if ever) have practiced how to do so and they have no concept of distance control.

    The next time you go to the range find a target that is 100 yards away and use your sand wedge paying attention to the length of swing and tempo required to carry the ball 100 yards. Once you figure it out, find another target and do the same...then do it again with another target and perhaps another wedge. That way the next time you have 100 yards you'll have some experience to lean on for just how hard to swing your sand wedge instead and won't have to guess!
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