Dave Pelz - best tip....

Thank you for your report on Dave Pelz. I learned alot from your reply. One thing I have learned playing golf is to be open minded and try everything out. I only use one 56 degree sand wedge for everything around the green and from 70 yards out. I find it easier to master one sand wedge VS 4 wedges. Many instructors promote tons of clubs to chip with but I only use the sand wedge. If I want it to go farther I just hit it harder, if I want it to go close I ease up on it. There are times when a low pitch shot is need but usually I deloft the sand wedge and it will go low to the hole. Its amasing what you can do with one club if you master it. I think alot of the teaching pros take things to far with equipment, after all these manufactures have to make money, and there is alot of hype that goes with equipment. My Dad is a teacher here in East Texas and he has been my instructor sense I was 5. He is 62 years old and shoots consistantly in the low 70's. He is a Certified PGTAA Master instructor of golf and has been a Head Golf coach for several High Schools with great teams. He has played on many mini tours and did well. Not having the finiances to compete on the PGA Tour he has just played and enjoyed the game and teaching. He keeps things simple and works you hard on what you have to play with. He has watched Trivino play a round in Dallas with a Dr Pepper bottle. That says alot for modern day equipment. HA! New training aids, new wedges, Hybirds, cavity this and forged that. Ben Hogan had a way to play golf that was right for any person and all equipment. Hard Work! Thanks, Kelsey

hi kelsey
seve balestrros was given a 2 iron when about 8 and he played with just that club till about 10 when his brother let him caddy with him, by then he could chip, putt and fade the ball with that 2 iron, it gave him great hands and a belife in what he could do. he picked up the game by watching other and how they shapped the ball. but even with his amazing game he still went for 3 wedges and did use every club in the back for pitching and chipping, even a chip with his driver once.
i think plez makes a good case for 3/4 wedges in your bag as you will use them all more than a 2/3 iron on most courses. its knowing what one to use and why.
i remenber watching trevino and balsterios at st andrews in a one club challange in the late 70s. think sevi shot a 70 and lee a 71 using only a 5 iron, two of the best ever shapers of a ball ever and wonderful to see, i wish i could find someone with a video of it, think it was a bbc program.
glad you have picked up such a good game from a understanding dad.
bill

I can't recall when I last really NEEDED a 1, 2, 3 or 4 iron.

I have fairly consistent distance gaps between my 5 wood, my hybrid and my 5 and 6 irons, so it doesn't feel like I'm missing the long irons. I use 3 wedges (Pitch, Sand, Lob) and have dumped the 3 iron for a hybrid.

For next season, I plan to dump the 4 iron for a gap or approach wedge and perhaps even the 5 iron for another hybrid or even a 5th wedge.

After reading this I have just ordered his Short game bible and putting bible. Plenty of bedtime reading there I guess

hi brian
you wont reget getting plez books, both are packed with good tips and drills and he goes in to things you never think of such as the "clock on the greens" to the the "4 swing rule" when chipping and pitching, you will find so much in there to help you game improve.
bill

Yes, I just got the Putting Bible and it's just as good as the Short Game book.

Can't find Dave Pelz e-books in my country if there are e-book, please mail to me too....appreciate very much
I would love to have both the short game bible and the book on putting.
Email id spsaulakh@yahoo.co.uk
thanx

Having recently been reading through the Pelz web page, I came across his "Scoring Game Handicap" and wondered of those of you who are Pelz "disciples" (for the want of a better word... ) what are your Scoring Game Handicaps and how do they compare with your playing handicaps as suggested...

Will plan to complete the drills and work out mine over the next week or two...

Cheers

I have just ordered both The Short Game Bible and The Putting Bible from Amazon.

But while I anxiously await these late Xmas presents from myself, could some of your quickly explain what you mean by "4x4 wedge system", "3x4" or "3x3" ??

I suppose one digit is for the number of wedges, but what is the other digit for??

Hi Mox,

Dave Pelz suggests using 4 wedges: PW, SW, LW & XW. As you say that is the 4 of the first digit. The next digit is 3, this is for the three backswing positions : 7:30, 9:00 & 10:30 represented by a clock face. Using the 4 wedges and 3 positions you get 12 set distances under 100 yards that can be repeatedly achieved. This allows you to get within what he calls the Golden 8 (8 yards from the hole) on any approach.

You also have the short pitch and chip shot that gives many more permutations when within 15 yards.

You will not be disappointed with them.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

________________________________
Funny o'l game!

Ahh ... now I understand why it is said that he breaks it down to maths and science.

So, judging from the order of mention, XW would be something like a 64deg wedge - or is it more like a Gap or Approach Wedge?

hi max
yes a x wedge is about 64% but he also says to work out the spacing between them as brian said and you might be better off with gap wedge in place of a x wedge, depends on the type of course you play and if you have to play lots of high fluffy shots,
he say (plez) that you need at least three scoring clubs (3 wedges) and when your short game gets better you will need 4 wedges.
i use 3 wedges just now and find that works great for me.
was dave plez that started the pros using more scoring clubs and you will see in his book how he talked them round into dropping 2/3 irons for more wedges as you score more with a wedge the a 2/3 iron.
brian explanes the 4x3 and the 3x3 systen real good in a few words.
bill

I could easily see myself with 4 wedges, perhaps even 5, since I currently play a PW, SW and LW combination. Adding an XW or perhaps something in between the other wedges to even gaps would make perfect sense to me.

After all, 3 clubs from 100yds in, and 10 clubs for 100-250yds, seems to put a lot of stress on the precision of the longer shots, forcing you to try to put the ball at a certain distance from the flag in your first (par 4) or second (par 5) shot.

More clubs toward the shorter distances would leave you with more options for full shots even if your tee shot is a bit short or off center away from the dogleg, leaving you a "wrong" distance for approach shots.

From a science point of view. It makes sense.

__________________
//Mox
2008 bag:
Mizuno MX-500 460cc 10.5* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff. (about to be replaced by MP-600 10,5* UST Proforce V2 stiff)
Mizuno F-50 3w 15* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff.
Wilson Deep Red 5w 18* Graphalloy Fatshaft stiff
Cleveland HALO 3i hybrid 22* graphite regular
Mizuno MP-60e forged 5i-PW True Temper Dynamic gold R300 steel
Mizuno MP Black OX raw haze 50/6 GW, 54/9 SW, 58/10 LW
Heavy Putter B3-M
Titleist NXT Extreme

Yes, thats right.

I use 4 wedges: PW\GW\SW\LW and they all get good use.

Pelz suggests that once you know exactly what distance you can repeatedly hit each club with the three set back swings you write them on a strip of paper and clear tape it to the shaft of each wedge. When then faced with a particular distance you only need to pick the right club from reading it's scale. Nifty Eh!

Sounds like a good combo to me. Compared to the gap between 9i and PW, the gap between PW and SW is awfully large. Unfortunately, the wedges I use only come in 56 and 60 deg.


That is actually quite clever. I'm definately going to do that.