Keith Mitchell Demonstrating a Controlled Knock-Down Wedge

In this video I look at Honda winner Keith Mitchell hitting a 91- yard wedge shot with a technique designed to control trajectory and spin. The shot can be interchangeably called a “knock-down”, a “3/4”, or a “cut off”, and the idea is by reducing the length of both the backswing and the follow through and perhaps also by gripping down on the club the player can produce say a 9-iron shot with a 7 iron and achieve a flatter, more penetrating flight that will not spin up into the wind. My guess here is that Mitchell is not hitting his most lofted wedge but instead is taking less loft and cutting off the swing. It is also apparent that he has firmed up his wrists in the backswing and reduced the amount of wrist cock, which is also helpful when trying to reduce clubhead speed without swinging “easier”. I like this technique in general with wedge shots, especially players with a lot of power.

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