Chipping Question

[theboom]

I was wanting some feedback on what club most of you chip with around the green. I know this will vary depending on a number of circumstances.

Ex- what club do you grab when you are on the fringe with a chip between 10-20 yards?

-I have the vokey wedges (52, 56, 60 degree). I am struggling with consistency in this shot....I switch from the 56 to the 60 depending on how I am hitting each.

[Fourputt]

I was wanting some feedback on what club most of you chip with around the green. I know this will vary depending on a number of circumstances.

From the fringe I'm more likely to putt. It depends on the distance I have to roll the ball through the fringe before it gets to the green.

[J.P.]

Boom!

That's 30 to 60 feet! A rather long way!

No 60* or 56* here unless landing area is downhill or you have to go over something! More likely Gap, PW, 9i depending on variables of shot.

Brad Faxon on playing lessons quoted Davis Loves' father regarding chip shots.

"minimum air time - maximum roll time"

Land the ball 3 to 5 feet on the green with WHICHEVER club rolls the correct distance to the cup! That's it!

Practice with ALL your clubs including PW, 9i, 8i, 7i getting to know how far they roll out when you land them in a box 3 to 5 feet on the green!

Now, if there are undulations, or slopes between you and the cup, you may choose a more lofted club to land past the complicating green features on a flatter spot - yet still stop it close to the cup.

Practice the same chipping motion and amount of energy with each club, land them in the same spot, and pay close attention to how far each one rolls! Just like in your full shots, you simply choose the club that goes the distance you need!!!

That's too much writing - - sorry

Good Luck!!!

[Fourputt]

I agree with JP that if I don't putt the ball in that situation, I'm going to use a lower lofted club to chip with. I will probably use my 45° PW for such a shot, although I may even drop down to 9I. I used to use an 8I too, but my new set has stronger lofts, and even the 9I will only carry about 10 feet in the situation you suggest. I certainly wouldn't use a 56° or 60°.

[golfchief]

It really depends on the shot you want/need to play. I see alot of higher handicaps just grab a wedge when a 8,7,9 iron would be better. practice chips with all your clubs and you will learn more about your game.

[MGP]

I'm a firm believer in the philosophy, hit what you're most comfortable with and gives you the best chance of success... so I've been known to hit a lot of different clubs when chipping.

My favorite club is probably a 7 iron pitch and run, I hit it with a lot of success. Last fall I played in a 4-man scramble and chipped in twice during the round with a 7 iron. One was about 25 feet, downhill, right to left breaker from a foot or two in the first cut. Couldn't putt it and everyone else wedged long or wide. I looked at it and told everyone "I can make this this" and then stroked it dead center. I also dropped a nearly straight, slightly uphill chip from about 35 feet later in the round.

My other favorite chip is almost any shot with an ancient pitching wedge I've got. It's about a 52 degree wedge, rusted and worn with an aluminum (yes, aluminum) shaft. I can hit almost any kind of cut or lob shot with that thing and stop it where I want it. I probably hit 10,000 practice chips in our yard when I was in high school.

And that's the key to good chipping -- hit a zillion shots with a variety of clubs and find what works for you and you have confidence in. You can't hit a decent chip on the golf course if you can't honestly tell yourself "I can make this shot".

[CnsistntGlfJnky]

I agree with MGP...if your new to honing ya touch try placing 6-10 balls around various spots on the green n have at it with a variety of clubs...

[LarryK]

If my ball is on an upslope and I am trying to fly over something like a mound or bunker, I will use my 60-degree LW.

If I'm landing on fairly level ground and want it to roll out, then I will likely chip with my 52-degree gap wedge whether the shot is three feet or twenty yards.

[chingali]

"minimum air time - maximum roll time"

That is 100% perfect advice, I couldn't agree more. I'm just as likely to chip with a 6 iron as I am with a LW, it completely depends on the shot at hand.