Getting up and down around the green?

[ks8829]

I need to improve my percentage of getting up and down around the green.
What do most of you use when chipping around the green?

a) only one club.
b) more than one club depending on the distance to the hole and same swing.
c) different swing for different situations.
d) others.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

I am currently getting up and down only 40% of the time and my goal is to improve that to about 80% and become more consistent. This improvement could possibly cut 4 strokes off my round of golf.

[gortyl]

There are a couple different schools of thought here - play around the green with mostly one club and learn to use it various ways or play with several clubs depending on the situation. The pros normally subscribe to the latter. I fall into the former category (note that it says "mostly" one club, not "exclusively" one club).

I use my 60 degree for most shots around the green and manipulate it to get the desired trajectory and roll that I want. I have the following shots:

- Slow takeaway, slow downswing for higher, soft chip that runs out just a little. This is especially good for a crappy lie in thick rough; I just make sure I grip the club tighter. Clubface square to slightly open.
- Flop shot. There are various degrees of this depending on carry distance and how high you need it to go over a bunker lip or how quick you need it to stop. Swing speed and how far you open the club face would dictate this.
- Pitch & run. Just had a pro friend of mine teach me this a few weeks ago. It's best used when you have just a few feet of rough or apron to get over and you want it to roll out. Grip down 4-5 inches on your 60 degree with the toe down (heel up), stand really close to the ball and make putting motion.
- Pitch & stop (or trickle more likely for me). Best for carrying a swale or lots of rough but stopping it before another swale or more rough, etc. Square to closed face, ball back of stance, more descending blow to pinch off turf.

Obviously there are times when I do use a 56 degree or hybrid (stuck against cut of rough), but I've gained so much confidence by practicing with the 60 degree that, even if it's not the most popular choice for a shot, it's the best choice for me. And no matter what you choose, you'll have to practice the hell out of it to gain that confidence. I think that's how I ended up with just one go-to club.....I'd be practicing with my 60 degree and 45 minutes later my sand wedge is still laying on the ground and it's time to go.

[Dent]

I have many shots

Pin Is Close to me but I'm off the green: Take out a 54* Deloft it and really attack the pin- I go for the chip in on this one.

Pin Is Far: either a 7 or 8 iron and let it just run right up.

Pin is Middle: Depending on the slope of the green and Illl either bump/run with a 54* or just pitch it on.

[Bump-n-MI]

58* for all types of shots around the green. Includes (but not limited to ) chips, pitches, bump-n-runs, flops, bunker shots, etc.... One club all the time.

[shortgame85]

I think the lie, the position of the ball in relation to the green, whether or not there are obstacles ( like a bunker, deep rough, etc. ) between the ball and the green as well as whether or not the green is tiered and where on that green is located the pin dictate to some degree the type of club and swing one may wish to use in order to get the ball close to the hole.

Some teachers advocate using the same wedge to hit all shots around the green, others, like David Pelz suggest that every club in the bag has a short game purpose. I watch people like Tiger Woods, who use different clubs for different types of short game shots, and I admire not only their results but also the creativity they use in choosing different clubs the for specific purposes and results they wish to achieve.

For example, I may wish to use a higher lofted club to achieve a high shot over a bunker to a pin to which I've short sided myself. While I could get over the bunker with a pitching wedge, I may choose my 56 degree wedge in order to create spin enough to stop the ball when it lands near the hole, which I might have difficulty doing with a pitching wedge.

On the other hand, if I'm a few yards off the green with a relatively straight shot at the pin located at the back of the green, no obstacle, but far enough off that I would not putt the ball, I might choose a 7 iron so that I can use a very short, easily contollable stroke, keep the ball low, land it on the green with enough top spin that it rolls to the hole.

Or, if my ball is on hardpan by an elevated green, I may wish to use a wedge with a very low bounce in order not to skull the shot.

Each of these examples illustrates the idea that diiferent clubs may have specific short game uses. I'm sure there are other ideas, but these make some sense to me in theory as well as practice.

[iacas]

Some teachers advocate using the same wedge to hit all shots around the green

I prefer this method. I'm using my 54 almost exclusively now, only occasionally using the 60 when I really need a lot of loft.

Stan Utley said to, so I do. And it's working out much better. So much more predictable.

[Eore]

I prefer this method. I'm using my 54 almost exclusively now, only occasionally using the 60 when I really need a lot of loft.

yeah, i've switched to this as well. just with my 56* for almost everything. 60* if i have no green to work with

lower scores, been getting up and down most of the time now

[Slim 11]

I use my PW almost exclusively. On occasion, I will putt with my hybrid from fringe, if I have to carry more than 18 inches of it or so.

This statement is for shots within about 25 yards of the green, including bunkers. 25-50 yards I use my 56*.

[shortgame85]

I prefer this method. I'm using my 54 almost exclusively now, only occasionally using the 60 when I really need a lot of loft.

Considering my thread, What I've Learned This Summer, perhaps I need to become more intimate with my 56 degree club.