Taking that divot.

I'm a great believer in hard work at the practice range, the short game being the priority. I like to find a quiet spot with a very tight lie and work on my 52 and 56 wedges. I envision shots from 50-100 yards and concentrate on taking a divot after the ball, it really is a control shot when playing an approach on firm greens.
My favourite shot is a 52 wedge from 40-50 yards, I use Titelist Pro-V 1's, great feel from that particular ball, I play the ball back in my stance, I take a wee bit of loft off the club, slightly hooded. Playing from a tight lie I concentrate on the back of the ball and strike down and through. I choke down the grip about a couple of inches and don't use a lot of upper body movement.
I call it my " no fear " shot, I can throw it right at the flag and properly executed the ball will bite and stop. I carry a wee brush with brass bristles and prior to playing that shot I give the grooves a good rub.

Many say that practicing the short game is the quickest way to improve your scores... I would agree, provided of course that one has learned the fundamentals of the game, first.

I'm with cyc. I've got 9 pylons in my backyard, strung along at 30 foot intervals. Every day it isn't raining, I find time to go and hit a some wedge shots, and note how far they fly.

It certainly came in handy on the weekend - I got up and down a few times more than I'm used to, and actually stuck a wedge to 2" (big ball mark) and rattled the stick! All from inside 100 yards.