What would you do to improve your chance of par?

[very handicap]

Today I played at one of the local courses.  On one of the par 4, i was short of the green after 2nd shot.  The ball was on fairway 3 yards off the green and 15 yards away from the pin.

I told myself, this is going to be an easy par.  So i pulled out my 56 degree, and did a chip and run.  Guess what, the ball landed 8 yards away from the hole and i finished off with 2 putts and walked away with a bogey.

I couldn't help but kicked myself walking back to the buggy and end up ruining the next 3 holes too.

Other than telling me to go practice my chipping, what would you do differently if you were in my shoes?  I have tried using a 7,8 or 9 iron to do a chip-and-run before, but that end up overshooting the green.

[The Recreational Golfer]

With a setup like you described, it will be easier to get the ball close to the hole with a 6- or 7-iron than with a wedge. Think of it as a giant approach putt.

Not that you can't hit this shot with a eedge, but running it along the ground is the easier shot.

Get a lesson in chipping, too. These are easy shots if you know how to hit them, but from what I see around me when I play, the proper technique isn't self-evident.

[MiniBlueDragon]

56 is a fair amount of loft for a chip and run. I normally grab my 7i and use my normal putting stroke with it. It should be just enough that the ball hops over any rough/fringe, lands on the green and rolls to the hole. Because you're using a putting stroke too it should be easier for you to judge distance.

[jetsknicks1]

Originally Posted by The Recreational Golfer

With a setup like you described, it will be easier to get the ball close to the hole with a 6- or 7-iron than with a wedge. Think of it as a giant approach putt.

Not that you can't hit this shot with a eedge, but running it along the ground is the easier shot.

Get a lesson in chipping, too. These are easy shots if you know how to hit them, but from what I see around me when I play, the proper technique isn't self-evident.

By looking at my handicap it's obvious that I don't make alot of pars. However, I've found that if I putt anything around the green, I end up better than I would have if I had chipped. Putting a wedge in my hand that close to the green is a recipie for disaster, but I can always at least get the ball on the green with my putter.

[Double Bogey]

Yep, I agree with Jet and MBD.  A 7-8 Iron or use the putter with a forward press.  That give ME the best chance to score.

[ghalfaire]

I agree with all the advice above about using a less lofted club, like a 7i.  But I personally use a 5 hybrid with my putting grip for shots like this.

[zeg]

I occasionally use the 7-iron putt approach, but it takes a fair bit of practice with that to learn the distances.  For me, for the same feel, the ball comes off a lot hotter than it does off my putter, even when I choke down.

In your situation, though, I'd probably do like you did chip with my 56 (or maybe 60), but that's because I'm generally more comfortable with those chips.  I tend to use iron chips when there's a lot of fairway to roll over---I'm a lot more likely to burn across the green with an iron chip, but that extra zip is good when it's rougher turf to roll over.

So, I guess I'd just practice distance control (and judging roll-out, which can be just as much of a problem on a shot like yours).

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by very handicap

Today I played at one of the local courses.  On one of the par 4, i was short of the green after 2nd shot.  The ball was on fairway 3 yards off the green and 15 yards away from the pin.

I told myself, this is going to be an easy par.  So i pulled out my 56 degree, and did a chip and run.  Guess what, the ball landed 8 yards away from the hole and i finished off with 2 putts and walked away with a bogey.

I couldn't help but kicked myself walking back to the buggy and end up ruining the next 3 holes too.

Other than telling me to go practice my chipping, what would you do differently if you were in my shoes?  I have tried using a 7,8 or 9 iron to do a chip-and-run before, but that end up overshooting the green.

Other than telling you to go practice your chipping, anything else is just telling you how I'd play that hole. Since I didn't see the lie or the pin position saying how I'd play it would be a guess too.

With a flag at the same height as the ball, I'd likely chip with something from 54 through 6-iron (depends on the day and the green). If the ball was below the pin I might hit a little punch with a PW or 9 iron into the slope.  With lightning fast greens I might use a LW, but if there's nothing to pitch over it's not necessarily worth the risk.

[Kieran123]

I would probably use my 52 GW. I use it for most chips, unless I need height ( I'll use my 60* ). I can keep it relatively low with a forward press and because I have used it so much in so many different scenarios, it usually works out pretty good.

[jamo]

They say that if you can putt the ball, you should. For most people, their worst miss with the putter will be much better than their worse miss with a wedge or an iron.

[Pope33]

I'm a big fan of using one club for 90% of all shots around the green. I can use my 56 and hit a low bump and run or I can open up the face and get a soft landing. The only time I don't use it is when I have a high flop with the 60.

Otherwise if you use too many clubs, it's extremely hard to judge distance with all of them. Get good at one or two and that's all you'll need.

[saevel25]

The theory behind one club method is that you get so use to that club your going to be better at it than spreading your time around using other clubs. Thats why Phil uses his sandwedge for nearly all his chips, he has two versions of his sandwedge, each with different bounces.

Listen, bogey isn't bad, you could do alot worse. Just stop beating your self over it, its golf.

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by very handicap

I told myself, this is going to be an easy par.

This is where your problem started. There is nothing easy about golf and to assume so only puts you in a position to be disappointed enough to affect you on the next three holes.  Whenever I think about results, I tend to lose that little bit of concentration needed to pull off that particular shot.  In my case, I cannot afford any mental errors as these are the ones that add strokes to the card quickly.

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by very handicap

....

Other than telling me to go practice my chipping, what would you do differently if you were in my shoes?  I have tried using a 7,8 or 9 iron to do a chip-and-run before, but that end up overshooting the green.

I would tell you use a 7,8, or 9 and go practice your chipping.  You don't take the club back as far with these clubs when you chip as you do with a 56.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by very handicap

....

Other than telling me to go practice my chipping, what would you do differently if you were in my shoes? I have tried using a 7,8 or 9 iron to do a chip-and-run before, but that end up overshooting the green.

I would tell you use a 7,8, or 9 and go practice your chipping. You don't take the club back as far with these clubs when you chip as you do with a 56.

Yep. That's why I added that I use a putting stroke for bump and runs. No need to hinge the wrists normally and if there is then a higher lofted club would be preferable. :)

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by very handicap

. . . par 4, i was short of the green after 2nd shot.  The ball was on fairway 3 yards off the green and 15 yards away from the pin. . . Other than telling me to go practice my chipping, what would you do differently if you were in my shoes?

I figured out your riddle. I'd take more club on the approach shot.

[meenman]

For that shot I would probably use my putter. Although if the niblick is in my bag its 50/50 which one I would use.

[Elvisliveson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniBlueDragon

Yep. That's why I added that I use a putting stroke for bump and runs. No need to hinge the wrists normally and if there is then a higher lofted club would be preferable. :)

My thoughts exactly. On something that you might be able to putt, but have a little too much fringe/fairway to go through, hit a 7/8i like you would a putter.