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Short game gaps


jfrain2004
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Hi,
2 weeks ago I finally got round to actually measuring all my short irons 1/2, 3/4 shots and getting my exact distances. It paid off as I proceeded to play my best ever round last wknd.
My problem is I have distance gaps where I don't have an exact shot I know will get me within putting distance of the flag.
My 1/2 shot ( club parallel to the ground ) and 3/4 shot ( Club at right angle to the ground ) with my irons are SW 50/60 , GW 55/70, PW 62/95, 9I 110
Any of these distances I know my club/shot, and will be right up at the flag in 90% of shots. But ..... from 20 yrds (which is my max chipping distance ) to 50 I have to make up the shot on the spot, so no confidence and therefore could thin it or go fat. Same goes for 70 to 90 yrds.

Question is should I use a lob wedge for the shorter distances and find some other wedge for the 70 - 90 shots or go and develop/practice a 1/4 swing?. You may think why do I not give my GW 100% and get 80 but after hitting literally 100's of balls at a max of 3/4 power I know this is as hard as I want to hit a club to get consistency going.

Thanks ... J
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For me, that 20-50 yard shot is all about feel and experience. There is no set shot that I will hit from this distance. It could be a L, SW, or PW depending on the lie, the entrance to the green etc. If I have a good lie or a bunker/hazard I do the L, the sw is the stock shot and I tend to use it if the lie is tighter. The PW will be the shot if I need to run it.

As for the 70-90, I would say work on knocking down the PW. You have a 33 yard difference in your swing from what you say is 1/2 to 3/4. I would work on a "just past half" feel.

Once you get a comfort level, you need to work on the feel. I like to pick a spot, without necessarily knowing the exact distance to the centimeter, and hit all three of my wedges to that spot. This is great for feel and takes some of that mechanical thinking out of my game and frees me up to play. Good luck.

Cobra LTDx 10.5* | Big Tour 15.5*| Rad Tour 18.5*  | Titleist U500 4-23* | T100 5-P | Vokey SM7 50/8* F, 54/10* S, SM8 58/10* S | Scotty Cameron Squareback No. 1 | Vice Pro Plus  

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On those 20-50 yard shots, I think it's more important to focus on trajectory and what club will give you the trajectory you need.

But as always, just practice those shots. Try them with your different wedges and find out what works best from those distances for you.



3JACK
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But ..... from 20 yrds (which is my max chipping distance ) to 50 I have to make up the shot on the spot, so no confidence and therefore could thin it or go fat. Same goes for 70 to 90 yrds.

"It hurts when I go like that."

"Then don't go like that." Avoid the 20-50 yard range as often as you can. If your 3-Wood goes, say, 230 yards and you're 275 out, it's going to take you two shots to get to the green. Pick your favorite full swing wedge distance and lay up to that distance. As for actually hitting shots from the 20-50 yard range, it really is just a feel thing. Unless there's a club you can easily remove from the bag, there's no sense adding a lob wedge.

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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I just had a conversation with a member about this same exact thing. I struggle from that 20-55 yard range. Mentally, I'm trying to get the best result instead of taking the best shot. (This happens on long par 4s and par 5s) His advice was similar: try different clubs and find what you are most comfortable with.

Shindig-Your advice is terrific. Knowing you have two shots and taking two full swings with short irons is spot on.

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Taylor Made 24* Burner Accra Axiv 105 Tour Hybrid Shaft

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Shindig-Your advice is terrific. Knowing you have two shots and taking two full swings with short irons is spot on.

Thank you

Back before I could hit my 3-Wood off the deck, I'd sometimes be 200 yards out and pull a 9-iron. When I was playing with someone I didn't know before the round - most of the rounds I played - they'd sometimes see this and say "you hit a 9-iron 200 yards? No way," sometimes sarcastically. I'd explain "no, I hit it 105, and then my pitching wedge 95, and then I probably have a short or medium par putt."

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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On those 20-50 yard shots, I think it's more important to focus on trajectory and what club will give you the trajectory you need.

I second this sentiment. And what tourspoon eluded to in "feel and experience". Personally I tend to play 20-50 shots as chips with a medium trajectory.

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Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
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"It hurts when I go like that."

I second that. It's called course management skill. Play smart golf.

What's in the bag:
Driver: r7 SuperQuad 10.5° ~ UST Proforce V2 65g Regular
Wood: 906F4 18.5° ~ Aldila VS Proto 80g Stiff
Irons: MP-60 3-PW ~ True Temper Tour Concept S3
Wedges: Vokey Oil Can 252.08, SM56.10 & SM60.08Putter: Marxman Mallet 33"
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  • 2 weeks later...
Hi,

This may be a silly question, but... how do you get your distances measured?

And, since my swing is basically a 3/4 swing to begin with, should my 3/4 and 1/2 position be different than what they are described as?

What's in my bag:

Driver: R7 CGB Max, regular shaft
4-wood and 7-wood: :: Launcher, regular shafts
4-iron to A-wedge: X-20, regular steel shafts56- and 60-degree wedge: forged, stiff steel shafts, vintage finish, MD groovesPutter: Circa '62, No. 7, steel shaft, 35"Ball: NXT Tour or ProV1(x)...

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Hey, thanks for all the replies, seems with a bit more thinking before I play my approach shots I can avoid the need for nasty 20 - 50 yrd shots. As to how did I measure my distances I simply hit 10 - 20 balls with a given club, towards a green, and then looking at the pattern of these on the green, ( ie where they are closely clustered ) and ignoring any flyers which went long or under hit shots you get a fairly good estimate of your average with that club. Actually it was the pitch marks I averaged as I have little or no roll with 9I - SW
Not sure what is the best way to measure your distances for mid - long irons but hitting a bunch of balls would be a good place to start
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Note: This thread is 5854 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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