What do you play when...

[sean_miller]

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.

I was practicing this shot at the range yesterday - including the up and down from the bunker. Next time time out, if I'm not playing for money, I'll consider trying to hole it from the fairway. Either way, it's 1 stroke.

[killerduck]

How much room is there behind the pin? Or in front of it for that matter? I take my 56 or 52 and play for the 'fat bit' but go at the pin. This situation calls for my motto on all sports "Make the right mistake" ie; miss to the easier recovery point.

[saevel25]

Why flop it.. The only time i ever play a flop is if i need some serious ups, even then i am more confident in distance if i just play a normal pitch shot.

[sean_miller]

Why flop it.. The only time i ever play a flop is if i need some serious ups, even then i am more confident in distance if i just play a normal pitch shot.

I had to reread the posts to find a reference to playing a flop - haha, there it is in the first post. No wonder my opinion seems in contrast to the rest of the posters. With room past the pin, I probably wouldn't technically be playing a "flop" either.

[kpaulhus]

I would only try it if the bunker didnt have a huge lip or wall. If the bunker is pretty flat towards the pin then why not try it? Worst thing that happens is you land in the bunker and you can putt or chip in. I would def try to play it a little bit longer than needed though so Ill have a tough putt/shot either way. Some holes you just have to take your medicine and move on.

[Meddle]

I would just take my 56* wedge and just pitch it over. I'm not good enough to know whether the ball will go 24' or 28', but I know how hard to hit it so it gets over the trap, but not over the green. I use the same motion (kind of like a putt, using my shoulders and wrists a little, middle of my stance) for every chip/pitch, so I'm consistent enough with it, and just use it for everything.

[saevel25]

Nothing worse then messing up a flop shot and ending up with a fried egg lie in the bunker. Play it for 15 feet past the pin, don't mess with the bunker. You will increase your chances of making par or birdie than from the bunker.

[billysandy]

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

Your handicap can be over 36, but in competitions, the limit is 36. This means if you have a 47hcap like my friend used to have, you have to play with a 36 handicap in competition. So Zeg, i guess you were wrong too when you said the limit is 36.4.

And in this situation, it would depend if playing away from the flag would put me further from the flag if i went over it instead. If i was going over, i would certainly open the face to minimize the roll.

[mdl]

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'm with Shindig, but only cause I neither have a lob wedge nor have a bunker I can practice out of at my home course range. If I got to practice out of the sand and felt more confident of my up and down chances from there I'd be with you.

I'm actually pretty solid with the flop, but only out of the rough with a fairly fluffy lie. If I've got that, I'll go for the pin with the flop. If I'm in the fairway I'll just pitch it and accept a long putt. I've been working on the ultra steep pitch with the weight dramatically forward (a la Harrington) to really up the spin, but my sand game's one of my biggest weaknesses and I don't have the consistency with that shot yet to play it over a bunker.

[zeg]

Your handicap can be over 36, but in competitions, the limit is 36. This means if you have a 47hcap like my friend used to have, you have to play with a 36 handicap in competition. So Zeg, i guess you were wrong too when you said the limit is 36.4.

No.

3-4. Maximum Handicap Index The maximum Handicap Index is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. (See Section 10-5d.)

The handicapping rules are different in the UK, IIRC, so maybe the flat 36 limit applies for you, but certainly not for me. I want that 0.1 * slope/113 extra stroke!