For those less than full swing shots from 60-80 yards or so ...

[David in FL]

Generally a 51* gap wedge. But to Erik's point, I hit an 8-iron from 75 yards today.

[Spitfisher]

60-80 yards....58 degree Cleveland RTG wedge, 81yards right to a gap, I vary the speed of the swing on each club for certain distances

[Lihu]

Playing with my 60 degree wedge. I presume that this wedge is generally for fairways, approaches or hard packed sand? It seeks like I need to come in shallower than even my U wedge in my I20 set. I played with getting out of deep rough and it's really hard to do. How would you guarantee that you only hit 40 to 80 yards with a full swing choked up club?

[turtleback]

From a tightish fairway lie I'd use my 52* GW.  From a fluffier rough lie I'd use my 56* SW.

[WUTiger]

Depends on whether you want to go the "feel path" or the "grid path."

Some people rely the feel path , a single club for all their shots, say, inside 80 yards. Maybe a 54*, whatever works. You just vary it for different distances.

For the grid path , you look up Dave Pelz and the Shortgame Bible . I didn't go full-Pelz , but I did borrow some useful suggestions. Make up a grid like the one below (most use either three or four wedges).

To get the yardages, go to the range on a still day and get the OK to hit partial shots with the balls you use when you play. Then, hit five shots for each cell of the grid, and take the average distance. (Throw out any chunk or skull shots). This gives you your yardstick. Recheck the distances for one swing range ever so often to see how consistent you are.

Swing-->	Quarter	Half	3/4	Full
PW	34	62	90	120
GW	28	54	80	108
SW	24	48	72	94
LW

I laminate a small yardstick card and clip it to my bag.

[MS256]

I played with getting out of deep rough and it's really hard to do. How would you guarantee that you only hit 40 to 80 yards with a full swing choked up club?

Controlling distance out of deep rough is tough for anybody with any club. Part of the problem is gaging how far the ball might be sitting above the ground. With a 60 it's very easy to get under the ball and only hit it with the top edge of the club. IMO using a 60 out of deep rough is a shot for highly skilled players, and they mess them up too.

There are different ways to control distance on less than full shots. Some have success with limiting the backswing like WUTiger posted. Some have success with choking down on the club.

Neither work very well at all for me. I just look at the target and hit the ball hard enough to get to the target. No different than if I was trying to throw a ball in a barrel from 40 yards and then another barrel from 60 yards.

[chip n run]

I'm old school in the fact that when I started playing there weren't choices in wedge lofts like there are now.  The hand me down clubs from my Dad had no pitching wedge or sandwedge, so I learned how to open the face of the 9 iron and vary the length of swing to hit the distance or height that I needed.  The pitching wedge I use today is the first one I ever owned and from using it all these years, I know what I need to do from certain distances.  So for me, my go to club from 100 yards and in is that old trusty pitching wedge.

[WUTiger]

I'm old school in the fact that when I started playing there weren't choices in wedge lofts like there are now. ...

Back in the early 1980s, we had PWs and SWs. At the time, I took lessons from a pro down in Oklahoma who had me do quarter swing and half swing for all my clubs from SW down to 7i.

This worked pretty well for about two years, but then I had a couple of seasons when I couldn't play much, and lost the touch.

[boogielicious]

Anything from a 7-iron to a 60° wedge.

Like this depending on the lie or obstructions, amount of green, etc.   Yesterday I had a 60 yard shot that I had to hit low.  I used a 6 iron and chipped it for a bump and run under some tree branches.

[dfreuter415]

... what is your stock club ?     I've tried a full lob wedge, and the super high ball flight seems unnecessary for these shots.     I've been working on my 54° sand wedge, with better, but still inconsistent results.    I'm not talking the 30-40 yard pitch shots; just the shots where you can't take your full swing and have to limit the backswing and take 50-75% of full power - these are probably my most difficult to get the distance right.   Curious what everyone else uses for their go to stock club ?

I do not have a "go-to" club, instead I use all of my wedges based on the situation. My children gave me Dave Pelz's, " Short Game Bible " a number of years ago. I follow many of his techniques for those shots that are 60 to 80 yards, and it has made a positive impact on my game.  I have also shared the book with my friends, and it has helped them, as well.

[BuckeyeNut]

If the shot is 60-70-80-100yds.....................it depends on the pin position and the wind.   I may play completely different shots with different clubs depending on the situation.    There Is no correct answer......just hit the shot!! .....and don't screw it up..LOL

IE...from 60yds....I may fly it to the hole with loft, or I may skip it in low......it just depends on the wind and pin position.

[ghalfaire]

I use anything from a 7I to LW.  I try to "drop" the ball on the front edge of the green and let it roll to the hole.  I never was a good "artillery gunner" like Phil.  Of course sometimes you can't do that and then you're forced to do the "throw it to the hole and hope it stops quickly" shot (also known as the get it over the bunker/lake and long is better that short shot).

[Foursum Golf]

52 or 56 depending on situation.