How to Hit the Golf Ball FURTHER? Not today! How to Strike your Wedges Better & Slow the Ball Down
James Ridyard demonstrates how to slow down wedge shots without compromising strike quality in this live lesson with long-driver Drew Cooper. By reintroducing dynamic body rotation and stabilizing the trail wrist, Ridyard shows how to eliminate 'jumpy' contact and achieve a soft, spinny trajectory. The lesson focuses on using the pivot rather than hand-flipping to control ball speed and vertical dispersion.
Shift pressure to the lead side midway through the backswing to establish a solid foundation for the strike.
Use an aggressive body rotation (opening the chest and hips) to move the club through the ball instead of using the hands.
Keep the trail wrist stable and 'passive' through impact to avoid adding unwanted speed and loft (flicking).
Focus on the right shoulder getting 'on top' of the ball during the pivot to maintain a lower, more controlled trajectory.
Stability in the trail elbow and wrist prevents the club from being driven vertically into the ground, leading to more consistent turf interaction.
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