Whats your play around the green in short, hard compacted grass?

[JHC09]

A lot of the courses here in my area have a very short hard surfaced grass, sometimes a little bald areas around and just off the green. I normally pull out the 56 degree wedge just off the sides and back of the green to chip up, but on it seems on the hard stuff I just chunk it 6 inches or thin it across the green. Might be time to try the PW or 9i to kick it up on the green and let it roll.  Thoughts?

[ghalfaire]

I take my 26* hybrid, use a putting grip, and putt it with the hybrid if I am not more than a few steps off the green on a tight lie.  Works great but takes a little practice as the ball comes off the face different than with a putter.

[mdiogo]

i second the hybrid..i take my five hybrid and make a swing like you would with the putter...be careful however because the ball jumps off the hybrids face and it is easy to lose control of the ball/...even on greenside rough this works well because it cuts through the grass nicely...ghalfarie says above me, it just takes some practice but you should be pleased with the results.

[GaijinGolfer]

I pull out the putter.  If the grass is that hard and compacted using a putter is the option with the lowest risk.

[tanktwo2]

if it is only a little fringe putter is probably the best option because you can judge the speed.

if it is a lot of fringe the speed is much harder(for me) to get right so I opt for a 9 iron, pitching wedge, or gap depending on how far the ball has to roll

[xxsoultonesxx]

If I have a good amount of green to work with I do the PW or 9-iron, but with the putting stroke. I am almost as accurate as my putter with this technique.

[lumpuckeroo]

Originally Posted by xxsoultonesxx

If I have a good amount of green to work with I do the PW or 9-iron, but with the putting stroke. I am almost as accurate as my putter with this technique.

Same for me, depending on the distance off the green and how much green there is to work with, I will even go to a 7 iron.

[Zeph]

When executed properly it doesn't matter what the ball sits on when chipping it. You hit the ball first, then the ground. Hard and tight lies makes pitching more difficult, but not impossible. If you chunk or blade it, you are not doing it properly. I use both shots, depending on the lie, what's between the ball and the flag etc. I generally opt for the chip since it's easier to make good contact, especially on tight lies. I have hit pitch shots too from hard lies, it works when you get it right.

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/45633/chip-vs-pitch

[saevel25]

If your doing that, then your technique is off. Make sure your keeping your head still, most of your weight on your front foot, and when you chip, make sure your rotating your hips a bit as you chip through. This will keep your hands from being the primary factor, and promote hitting the ball first.

Quote:

but on it seems on the hard stuff I just chunk it 6 inches or thin it across the green. Might be time to try the PW or 9i to kick it up on the green and let it roll.  Thoughts?

[nickel_aTm]

I'm no pro, but I've seen people struggle from those tight lies a million times over.  Particularly with people trying to pitch with a sand wedge it seems common that (1) hands aren't in front of the ball, (2) they're not contacting the ball first, (3) their hands are too active rather than quiet, and/or (4) they don't stay down.

[Mark5]

I use a Putter unless I have to get the ball in the air to clear something.

[zeg]

If possible, putter.  If there's some reason not to roll it, then I'll usually use a 7I and choke down and "putt" it, with the loft getting it a few inches off the ground and over any trouble.  However, that only works if the turf you are trying to hop over is very close and you have lots of room to roll out, and it takes practice to get a feel for how far the ball will run (I tend to hit too hard with it if I'm not careful).  If there's not room to roll out, then I'll use my 56° and do my best to hit ball first with an ordinary chip.

[sean_miller]

You could try blading it on purpose with a SW, or try to nip it off the turf with something between 8-iron and GW. It's hard to recommend the exact shot without knowing what you have in the bag. It's an easier chip shot with a blade iron than an offset GI club because it's a bit harder to get a sixth sense where the leading edge is with offset irons. At least that's what I've found.

Also try putting the ball, but some people tend to over cook those sending them rocketing off the green into the rough, or they hit it like a wet noodle then face the same shot.

Personally I don't care for the Utley definitions of chipping and putting, but if you do use his methods this is not a lie for a pitch shot. If you don't, try a knockdown with a LW or a PW. Ball back in your stance. Just don't try it with money on the line.

Quote:

A lot of the courses here in my area have a very short hard surfaced grass, sometimes a little bald areas around and just off the green. I normally pull out the 56 degree wedge just off the sides and back of the green to chip up, but on it seems on the hard stuff I just chunk it 6 inches or thin it across the green. Might be time to try the PW or 9i to kick it up on the green and let it roll.  Thoughts?

[zeg]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Also try putting the ball, but some people tend to over cook those sending them rocketing off the green into the rough, or they hit it like a wet noodle then face the same shot.

For just this reason, I always like to start off a putting practice or warm-up session by putting a few from the farthest-out edge of the fringe on the practice green, just to get some sense for how much extra 'cooking' is needed.

[Shorty]

Putt wherever possible if there is nothing between me and the hole.

[Fourputt]

In that situation, I use the lowest lofted club that I think will work.  The higher the loft, the less room there is for error.

If the grass is that thin or short, I'll putt if possible.  I may try to just skip an 8I chip too, it depends on how the shot feels.  If there is a need to carry the ball onto the green, then again I don't want to use any more than I have to to get it to the putting surface and rolling to the hole - most likely a PW or GW.  If the lie is that tight, then a high bounce club like a SW is not usually the best choice.

[jamo]

The old adage is that you should putt whenever possible.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

When executed properly it doesn't matter what the ball sits on when chipping it. You hit the ball first, then the ground. ...

I tend to chip with an 8-iron, hitting the ball first. One course I play at has a stretch of low holes with poor drainage, and lots of hardpan and splotchy grass by mid-summer from puddled water. Local pro says hit the ball first, regardless of club, and don't try to be fancy even if you're a single-digit HDCP.

As shorty and others said, putting can work. Warning: Don't try this unless you can get a smooth putter stroke going through the grass. If putter hangs up on practice swing, you need a little loft.

Hybrid or 5W from greenside can help, as long as you practice it.