Quick Tip
- Most amateurs kill wedge spin by casting, which means releasing the club too early through impact.
- Fix this by keeping your trail elbow below your lead elbow at the top of the backswing and maintaining lag into impact.
- Practice the “lag drill”: swing halfway back, pause, then swing down slowly to feel the correct wrist and elbow positions.
The Mistake: Casting Kills Wedge Spin
Imagine spending hours practicing your wedge shots but still struggling to get the ball to stop on the green. The culprit is often one overlooked swing flaw: casting. This means releasing your wrists and club too early before impact, which ruins the clubface angle and shaft position needed to generate spin.
According to insights shared by Collin Morikawa in a session with coach Grant Horvat, casting is the most common wedge spin-killing habit amateur golfers have. When you cast, your clubface opens and your shaft leans away from the target early, reducing friction between the clubface and ball. That kills spin and control.
Why It Happens: The Biomechanics Behind Casting
Most amateurs cast because their trail elbow rises above their lead elbow at the top of the backswing. This breaks the lag angle — the key wrist hinge between your lead arm and club shaft — and leads to an early release. It’s often a natural reaction to try and scoop or lift the ball, but it backfires by robbing spin.
Morikawa’s example shows that keeping the trail elbow below the lead elbow preserves lag. This position keeps the clubface square and the shaft leaning forward just before impact, maximizing friction and spin on wedge shots.
The Fix: Step-by-Step to Maintain Lag and Spin
1. At address, set your trail elbow slightly bent and positioned below your lead elbow, not flared out or lifted.
2. On the takeaway, keep your wrists hinged so the clubface points slightly upward when the shaft is parallel to the ground.
3. At the top of the backswing, ensure your trail elbow remains below your lead elbow. This maintains the angle between your forearm and the club shaft, preserving lag.
4. Begin your downswing by leading with your lower body and keeping your wrists hinged longer before releasing through impact.
5. At impact, the shaft should lean slightly forward, and the clubface should be square to the target line to create maximum spin.
The Drill: Feel the Lag, Fix the Cast
To ingrain this proper motion, try Morikawa’s recommended drill. Take your wedge to the range and swing back only halfway, then pause for one second. Check in a mirror or video to confirm your trail elbow is still below your lead elbow and wrists remain hinged.
Then, swing down slowly, maintaining this lag angle until just before impact. Repeat this motion to train your muscles to avoid casting. Over time, your wedge shots will gain more spin and control, making it easier to stop the ball close to the pin.
By focusing on this one habit, amateur golfers can make a huge difference in wedge performance without complicated equipment changes or swing overhauls. As All The Golf reported, Morikawa’s approach highlights a simple but overlooked fix that anyone can apply.
What to Watch Next: As players prepare for upcoming tournaments, expect to see more amateurs and pros alike emphasizing lag maintenance to boost wedge spin. The next ranking update will reflect who masters this subtle but powerful swing detail. For a broader view, explore our coverage of golf tips and game improvement guides.
Source: All The Golf reported
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