Spin = illegal grooves?

[golfingal]

Earlier this year I played with a gal in a tournament who was hitting these very low screaming hot chip shots that almost appeared like they were skulled and going way over the green - but ended up skipping twice and stopping like glue next to the hole.  She did this from 5-20 yards off the green.  She was also about 60 years old - so not some young thing with extreme club head velocity.

I've hit tens of thousands of shots and never once had one do that and I'm a low handicap player (3) - and unlike many gals I usually hit down on the ball and trap it.  Sure, sometimes I'll get a little spin on wedges, but never this extreme.

It's always made me wonder if she was using illegal grooves or something.  I'm sure it's a combination of equipment and technique, but this stuff has always eluded me no matter how many shots I hit and no matter what club I try.  What up with this?    I'd love to be able to add this shot to my bag!  :-)

[dbuck]

I used to be able to do something similar years ago with just a Wilson Staff pitching wedge which I am sure did not have illegal grooves. It was a kind of low cut that would check quickly. I lost the skill somewhere along the line, and also the miss was a wicked shank. I am not a great golfer either, it was just a shot I picked up. Twenty yards would have been about the max I think. It didn't take a lot of clubhead speed, and was more technique than equipment--I was using a Wilson Staff Tour Blade pitching wedge--just like the 9 iron but more loft.

[TJBam]

Those old folks are tricky.  She probably had conforming grooves... with super glue residue all over the club face

[LuciusWooding]

They're not illegal for a good while yet, remember that. IIRC she has until 2024 or something unless she plays pro events. Even if she was using box grooves, it would be unnecessary to call her on it because she was probably within the rules.

I've hit shots like this using a prov1 and a brand new lob wedge on a wet day when hitting into an upslope. I'm a 23 year old male, however, and a lot higher spin player than most 60yo ladies. I've also used non-conforming wedges and gotten the ball to back up from 5 yards out with a flop shot, so there can be a drastic difference in spin. I'd say it's unlikely she was using CoC grooves if she got that much check from that close, but I don't think they were "illegal" yet because of how the rule is written.

[dbuck]

Of course when I could do that it was balata over rubber bands.

[Wally]

Earlier this year I played with a gal in a tournament who was hitting these very low screaming hot chip shots that almost appeared like they were skulled and going way over the green - but ended up skipping twice and stopping like glue next to the hole.  She did this from 5-20 yards off the green.  She was also about 60 years old - so not some young thing with extreme club head velocity. I've hit tens of thousands of shots and never once had one do that and I'm a low handicap player (3) - and unlike many gals I usually hit down on the ball and trap it.  Sure, sometimes I'll get a little spin on wedges, but never this extreme. It's always made me wonder if she was using illegal grooves or something.  I'm sure it's a combination of equipment and technique, but this stuff has always eluded me no matter how many shots I hit and no matter what club I try.  What up with this?    I'd love to be able to add this shot to my bag!  :-)

I've gotten quite good at this recently. I figured it out by chance and just messing around to "see what I could do." And my 60 degree wedge is a little over 3 years old. So, not the freshest grooves but I love the club and use it for basically all of my short game shots, bunkers included. The way I do it is too lay the club almost completely flat on the ground and open my stance to match this and then swing across my body line. The ball stops very quickly, immediately, or even hits and backs up a bit. Also, I try to "feel" my hands are a bit lower in my swing at impact since the clubface is so open, and to keep it open and lying fat.

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by golfingal

Earlier this year I played with a gal in a tournament who was hitting these very low screaming hot chip shots that almost appeared like they were skulled and going way over the green - but ended up skipping twice and stopping like glue next to the hole.  She did this from 5-20 yards off the green.  She was also about 60 years old - so not some young thing with extreme club head velocity.

I've hit tens of thousands of shots and never once had one do that and I'm a low handicap player (3) - and unlike many gals I usually hit down on the ball and trap it.  Sure, sometimes I'll get a little spin on wedges, but never this extreme.

It's always made me wonder if she was using illegal grooves or something.  I'm sure it's a combination of equipment and technique, but this stuff has always eluded me no matter how many shots I hit and no matter what club I try.  What up with this?    I'd love to be able to add this shot to my bag!  :-)

This is my go-to shot around the green and out to about 30 yards. Although I'm sure illegal grooves would help hit the shot, the technique is the important part.

Originally Posted by dbuck

Of course when I could do that it was balata over rubber bands.

Ahh the good old days. Nothing like smashing a drive, sticking a wedge, then watch your putt roll like an egg.

[Hacker James]

"Pal Joey"

[butt3r3dt0ast]

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

This is my go-to shot around the green and out to about 30 yards. Although I'm sure illegal grooves would help hit the shot, the technique is the important part.

I'm interested in what your technique is for this shot? I too would love to add this shot to my bag. I am also a low handicapper but just can't seem to tame this beast.

[geauxforbroke]

Originally Posted by butt3r3dt0ast

Quote:

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

This is my go-to shot around the green and out to about 30 yards. Although I'm sure illegal grooves would help hit the shot, the technique is the important part.

I'm interested in what your technique is for this shot? I too would love to add this shot to my bag. I am also a low handicapper but just can't seem to tame this beast.

The technique is based on the hinge and hold method with a 60* wedge. But to be perfectly honest, I don't really know what I do differently that create the low spinning shot. I spent a ton of time around the practice green when I was a kid and just developed it to play on the soft greens on my home course.

[GaijinGolfer]

Its all technique and how good the lie is.  On the matter of grooves, it makes no difference if you are in the short grass and Ive found that even with the new grooves, the difference in spin is pretty minimal.

Even out of the rough with cheap balls, I have no problem getting the ball to stop on the green with the new grooves.

[Hacker James]

Originally Posted by geauxforbroke

The technique is based on the hinge and hold method with a 60* wedge. But to be perfectly honest, I don't really know what I do differently that create the low spinning shot. I spent a ton of time around the practice green when I was a kid and just developed it to play on the soft greens on my home course.

Most of the time from just off the green, that is what I do. Once in awhile, and not even trying to, with an open faced lob wedge trying to hit a high lob shot, swinging easy, the ball will spin back a little, OTOH sometimes when  I am trying to spin it by coming down on the ball and trapping it, it does not spin, but takes a hop or two. go figger...