What do you play when...

[GolfLove]

What do you play when you're about 20 meters from the pin, and the pin is right after a big bunker. I usually hit a flop shot, but it doesn't always end well. I would like to play a backspin like those TV guys, but, you know.... Can you with low handicaps hit backspin? And what do you do in situation described above?

[Chief Broom]

Take the bunker out of play by aiming your shot away from it even if it means not going for the green.

I won't always do this, but if there isn't much green to work with and I know the likelihood of me pulling off that delicate flop shot is low I'll lay up. I'd rather be in a position of having an easy chip and a short putt than a sculled wedge that could be a long ways off the mark.

[zeg]

If aiming away from the flag but toward a big part of the green with less bunker in the way is an option, I'd take that. If the green is deep beyond the flag, I'd probably consider a chip over the bunker even if I was going to roll well past the flag. I would essentially never try to get close if that meant I was likely to land in the bunker even if I hit cleanly. Flops for me are inconsistent enough that even on relatively clean contact, I might come up well short. For a chip or a pitch I'd probably clear the bunker unless I shanked it.

[GolfLove]

Is there anyone except me who would go directly on the flag?

And Zeg, how can your HDCP be 36.1; you can't have mroe than 36

[Zeph]

I'll use whatever wedge I find suitable and hit a shot depending on the lie. If it is fluffy and nice, I can hit a flop shot which lands softly. If it is fairway or not so good lie, I'll have to chip it over. I always go for the flag, but may hit it hard enough to make sure I don't find the bunker. The flag is usually placed so far from the bunker that it should be possible to get the ball all the way to it. Depends on the slope also of course, there is no definite answer to this.

[Chief Broom]

A smart golfer always plays the percentages. Play the shot you know you have the best chance of pulling off.

[sean_miller]

Is there anyone except me who would go directly on the flag?

20-30 yards is a nice comfortable lob wedge. Unless the lie is too "fluffy" or on hardpan, I'd probably try it - we're talking about a bunker, right? Not a water hazard?

[saevel25]

Is the flag right behind the bunker, for example your 20 meters short of the green and the flag is something like 5 feet behind the bunker. I would take a shot that lands 10-15 behind the pin. The thing with that pin placement is that most bunkers over time will build up the greeen because sand goes into the green. Some places will roll the greens, others let it go. So your more than likely to have an uphill putt if you just shot it past the pin on your approach. Don't mess with it, you don't have to hit it high to carry a bunker, even a medium approach shot that will hit near the pin will only roll out 15-20 feet. i bet you can get it up and in with in 2 strokes than trying to get up and down from the bunker.

[Shindig]

It's called being short-sided, and I don't go for the pin with this shot if there's a chance of missing the green in the process. I figure out where I'll have a chance at the putt and can make a 2-putt the worst-case scenario.

Also, consider the pin when making an approach shot - avoid shots that can leave you short sided. It's tough to ignore the pin - after all, that's why there are flags and not just holes in the ground - but sometimes that's what you should do. It's like the 50-yard bunker shot: far better to not be in the situation in the first place.

[sean_miller]

It's called being short-sided, and I don't go for the pin with this shot if there's a chance of missing the green in the process

There's a chance of missing the green on every shot - even the safe ones. If we work on bunker play, the small area between the bunker and the pin is in play - drop one on the apron and watch it release. Hit an oops into the trap? Try to get it up and down.

I like the odds of getting the lob close and accepting the possibility of facing a sandy up and down, versus accepting a long putt right off the hop. Different strokes . . .

[anotherday]

I'm not a great golfer, but I'd like to be a decent one someday. My personal choice would be to play the shot to hole out, or at least damn near.

If i go in the bunker then thats just more bunker practice i get. But how can you go through your game not knowing how to get over a bunker? Or a lake for that matter. Of course its smart to play away from it but you won't always have that luxury. Golf is a game you're always learning, so when you find yourself in a tough situation, why wouldn't you see that as an opportunity to learn how to get out of it?

I think when you're playing this shot you need to visualize it and have confidence that you can do it. As many people have said before.. you have enough people out there telling you that you can't do it.. you dont need to add yourself to that list. See it, do it.

Then again, i have the "luxury" of not being good enough to really be playing for score, but playing for experience. =)

[allin]

I will put it on the green, if I have a good lie and the green is firm I might flop it. Otherwise I would use either a SW or LW and live with some roll out. At my level a swing agressive enough to spin it back would be to high risk, so unless I am way down to my opponent I would not try it.

[James_Black]

I love my 60*, a 20m flop would be a bit scary to try hit (not worth it). It depends on what ball I'm playing if I'm playing with a premium ball I'll just hit a low shot that checks. If it's a bad ball I'd throw the ball up in the air and try land it on the fringe.

[jamo]

I'll go for the pin unless there is a slope in the green that could help me. I have 2 options really: I can hit a flop shot, which requires opening the blade and taking an open stance, or I can open the blade a little less, open my stance a little less, and hit down on the ball a little more, which produces a lower, spinnier shot.

[Arrogant_Kid]

Square Lag Flop.
Easiest way to do it. And yes, it spins back.

[DavidFehertysBike]

It depends how much room i got to work with. If i got a good amount of room to a back pin ill play a low spinnier (is that a word?) type of pitch over the bunker. If ive shortsided myself with no room ill play away from the bunker and just try to make a putt.

[zeg]

And Zeg, how can your HDCP be 36.1; you can't have mroe than 36

The limit is 36.4.

There's a chance of missing the green on every shot - even the safe ones.

Some shots are a lot safer than others, though. If there's a wide open look at a deep section of the green relatively far from the hole and only a thin strip of green behind the pin with the forced carry over the bunker, you're a lot more likely to miss long over the pin than to miss the deep green. Depending on what's past the green, it's not hard to imagine the better odds being with a long first putt than a tricky recovery from a missed green.

[Woters]

I'd have to attack the falg a la Lefty Style with a lob wedge, as long as i had the lie to try the shot, I certainly cant hit a high flop off very tight lies.

Nothing wrong with taking a percentage shot to the side of the green & try & scramble for a par save either. Fortune as they say favours the brave...