Rising LPGA star Francella tries to keep the momentum after her stunning first victory (Part 5)

Continued from blog entry – “Sustaining success (Part 4)”
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Intermediate wedges, advanced division

Golfweek Photos/Jules Alexander

“My wedge play has improved a lot in the past two years,” Francella says. “That’s been the main difference in my scores – between making a lot of money and not making a lot of money.”

There is, player and coach note, no magic bullet to improve distance and trajectory control, just the requirement of time and effort. The pair again emphasizes mirror work in Patri’s instruction studio to visualize the assortments of swing and grip length, pace of swing, and ball position that have helped increase precision and variety, especially on shots from 40 to 90 yards.

Francella’s preferred shot is a three-quarter swing that causes the ball to take one hop and spin to a stop, and she tends to play the ball back in her stance for a lower trajectory. “I don’t generally hit high wedges,” she says. “I’ll hit 9-irons 80 to 90 yards just to work on controlling trajectory.  I may hit those shots in a tournament if the wind is blowing, but the main thing is that learning to hit those shots with an 8- or 9-iron makes it easier with a wedge.”

When creating different shots, her swing alterations generally follow this order: Grip down; shortened arc; pace of swing. She varies ball position as well (pictured right).

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