How to Tackle the 40-60 Yard Approach Shot

[Lihu]

[quote name="Lihu" url="/t/78796/how-to-tackle-the-40-60-yard-approach-shot/30#post_1088417"] That's probably because you have the skill to hit specific distances. Notice I didn't say by handicap? :-)

Erik is 100% right. I learned how to hit 3/4 & 1/2 shots in one range session. I just take the club back to 3/4 (or what feels like 3/4 to me) then make a smooth swing to a 3/4 follow through. I do the same thing for 1/2 shots. Honestly you'll be surprised how many times you get a good strike.[/quote] That's true once you have a swing you can repeat.

[billchao]

That's true once you have a swing you can repeat.

I'm sure you know this already, but everyone has a swing they can repeat. Bad players just repeat bad swings.

[Jakester23]

That's true once you have a swing you can repeat.

If you look at my swing thread you you see I've been changing swing for 3 years :). If you make sure to keep your head steady and don't shift your weight back you get good contact most of the time. My distances are usually good it's the right and left that I screw up.

[TimS65]

@iacas I have no doubt you are right with your stats BUT stats don't tell the whole story for "bad" golfers. They may get closer to the flag from 50 yards more often but for me my PERCEPTION was that I fluffed more shots with a half swing than a full swing and therefore I enjoyed playing a 100 yard shot more than a 50 yard one. It took me 6 months (and new wedges) to really be happy with half shots.

[Pretzel]

@iacas I have no doubt you are right with your stats BUT stats don't tell the whole story for "bad" golfers. They may get closer to the flag from 50 yards more often but for me my PERCEPTION was that I fluffed more shots with a half swing than a full swing and therefore I enjoyed playing a 100 yard shot more than a 50 yard one. It took me 6 months (and new wedges) to really be happy with half shots.

It doesn't matter if you're happy with it immediately when it's making you shoot lower scores even without any practice. You'll be happy with it as soon as you get into the clubhouse and add up the scorecard.

[DrvFrShow]

I'm answering the original question. It depends upon conditions, and my lie.

* windy and I'm on the fairway and the conditions are dry - I'd hit a knockdown with my 8 iron to land on the fairway and bound up onto the green. Hope it settles.

* greens holding nice, calm conditions, and I'm 40 yds out on the fairway or in the first cut? I'd hit a 60 degree lob shot and drop it right on the green. That's my money shot from 30 to 40 yds. 60 yds out I've hit a 80% 60* if I have to go over water to a tight pin where I do not want to hit to the back part of the green.

* 30 yds out and very dry conditions on tight lie downhill to an open green and no bumps? Putter.

However, I will point out that this was AFTER I put the requisite time in on my short game. It is essential that people put in time on their short games to learn how to hit those partial wedge shots off the short hairs and out of the rough. Prior to that I was looking at a duffed shot or a skull over the green.

[dfreuter415]

So then, in simplest, most generic terms (taking out all the myriad of variables ... lets say a perfect flat fairway lie, pin dead center in the green, no bunkers in the way, green is nice and flat) ... what club would you use to approach this shot from 40-60 yds ?

A number of years ago I read Dave Pelz's "Short Game Bible," and have subscribed to that method for shots inside 100 yards.

Generally, under your given conditions I would hit a lob wedge using anywhere from a 9:00 to 10:30 swing.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

That's true once you have a swing you can repeat.

If you look at my swing thread you you see I've been changing swing for 3 years :). If you make sure to keep your head steady and don't shift your weight back you get good contact most of the time. My distances are usually good it's the right and left that I screw up.

Yeah, same with me, but it all depends upon how close we think a chip should be to the hole.

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthehole

So then, in simplest, most generic terms (taking out all the myriad of variables ... lets say a perfect flat fairway lie, pin dead center in the green, no bunkers in the way, green is nice and flat) ... what club would you use to approach this shot from 40-60 yds ?

A number of years ago I read Dave Pelz's "Short Game Bible," and have subscribed to that method for shots inside 100 yards.

Generally, under your given conditions I would hit a lob wedge using anywhere from a 9:00 to 10:30 swing.

Pretty much concur, but I'm usually not on the fairway when I am 40-60 yards away unless it's a 260 yard par 4 and I mishit my drive or something like that.

[trickyputt]

Ok I will answer because its winter, but time to start practice. 40 to 60? Ok there are three shots, 40, 50 or 60. 40. My lob goes 70, so 1/2 lob (60 degree) which I will hit 35 yards. Maybe I am a bit strong, maybe not. The ball will stop short, so 37-38 or if I am over 42-43. 50. My 100 is my gap, so again a 1/2. Hopefully easy and it rolls in for eagle, if not 3-5 yards back to the hole. 60. My PW is 120 so again a 1/2 shot. A little roll out so easy goes it.

[billchao]

This is just anecdotal, so take it however you will:

I had a 45 yard shot today and the first thing I thought of was this thread. The ball was sitting down in the rough on a severe uphill lie. I had to alter my stance slightly so I can put a good swing on it. Went with my GW, hit it inside 10'. I considered that a good result. Never practiced that shot, ever.

Had a 95 yard shot earlier in the round in pretty standard rough. Choked down slightly on my GW and hit a 3/4 shot 85 yards. I considered that a good result. I practice that shot a lot; it's my go-to 100 yard shot.

So there you have it. From ~100 yards, a good result is within 15 yards of the target. From ~40 yards, a good result is within 15' of the target. I think it's pretty obvious which one leaves the easier putt.

[inthehole]

Ok I will answer because its winter, but time to start practice. 40 to 60? Ok there are three shots, 40, 50 or 60. 40. My lob goes 70, so 1/2 lob (60 degree) which I will hit 35 yards. Maybe I am a bit strong, maybe not. The ball will stop short, so 37-38 or if I am over 42-43. 50. My 100 is my gap, so again a 1/2. Hopefully easy and it rolls in for eagle, if not 3-5 yards back to the hole. 60. My PW is 120 so again a 1/2 shot. A little roll out so easy goes it.

I really like the way your system works - half shots for full shot distance ... Definitely going to try this

[trickyputt]

If its not a 1/2, 3/4 or full shot all I have left is pitching like I would putt. I guess you could call it a fairway chip?

[Pretzel]

If its not a 1/2, 3/4 or full shot all I have left is pitching like I would putt. I guess you could call it a fairway chip?

What's wrong with pitching normally? You say pitching like you would putt, but you don't mention regular pitch shots or regular chips. I could just be confused here though.

[WUTiger]

Part of this depends on turf conditions. If the ground is fairly firm, I might hit a chip and run, either a 7i or a PW. Landing point would be slightly more than halfway to the hole.

If the ground is softer, I would probably hit a half SW (56*) from 40 yards, and a half PW (46*)  from 60 yards. I would drop the SW (56*) on the flag, or drop the PW it just short of the flag and get a slight release toward the hole. (A 50* GW would split the distance - the 46* PW has a slightly hotter face than GW).

[trickyputt]

[QUOTE name="trickyputt" url="/t/78796/how-to-tackle-the-40-60-yard-approach-shot/54#post_1088579"] If its not a 1/2, 3/4 or full shot all I have left is pitching like I would putt. I guess you could call it a fairway chip?[/QUOTE] What's wrong with pitching normally? You say pitching like you would putt, but you don't mention regular pitch shots or regular chips. I could just be confused here though.

Well thats all a 1/2 shot is to me, the bottom part of a swing. I work pretty much to just have one swing. All the shots are just parts of it is all. I memorize some, and I suppose that I could learn a 2/3 shot or some others, but I have a 15,25,35 yard thing I do with my wedges so its sort of handled. My putting sucks eggs though. [quote name="WUTiger" url="/t/78796/how-to-tackle-the-40-60-yard-approach-shot/60#post_1088586"]Part of this depends on turf conditions. If the ground is fairly firm, I might hit a chip and run, either a 7i or a PW. Landing point would be slightly more than halfway to the hole. If the ground is softer, I would probably hit a half SW (56*) from 40 yards, and a half PW (46*)  from 60 yards. I would drop the SW (56*) on the flag, or drop the PW it just short of the flag and get a slight release toward the hole. (A 50* GW would split the distance - the 46* PW has a slightly hotter face than GW). [/quote] yep. And bounce. I can have a good or bad day depending on how the bounce treats me. I swear I am gonna end up with two identical sets of wedges with different bounce if this new set of wedges dont please me intimately. I have two other sets beside the 2.0s, maybe its just I need to choose favorites instead. Thats the calling of the course though isnt it?

[dchoye]

I'm proficient with a PW from 40-80 yard away. I' use the LW more inside 40 yards.

[trickyputt]

I'm proficient with a PW from 40-80 yard away. I' use the LW more inside 40 yards.

I am curious how you would describe your pw shot/swing at 40, then 60, then 80yds.

[RH31]

Reading Erik's comments that it's a mistake to lay up for your "money shot" full wedge approach shot (for me, its always been a full swing 54° from around 85 yds out) - which is how I've structured my entire golf game to date  :-(

So, now it appears it would be in my best interest to rethink my strategy and get better at hitting the 40-60 yard half swing approach shots.    Obviously, there are a lot of options as to how we approach these shots - could hit an easy PW or a more lofted wedge, or even run it up with an 8i.

So then, in simplest, most generic terms (taking out all the myriad of variables ... lets say a perfect flat fairway lie, pin dead center in the green, no bunkers in the way, green is nice and flat) ... what club would you use to approach this shot from 40-60 yds ?

Thx

Given the variables you described, I'd still have to consider wind and how hot it is to judge how much carry.That said, 60 yards is slightly less than a 3/4 lob wedge for me. The ball will fly pretty high and stop more or less where it lands. The 40 yard shot is more often than not just a half swing lob wedge. The ball won't fly quite as high or spin and stop quite as much as a fuller swing L wedge. Occaisonally, I'll try a lower shot with the 56 or 52 wedge, but i don't really get that much useful practice time with these shots so i don't rely on them very much at all.