Approach within 10 yards of green

[gbk56]

I have been having some problems with hitting shots that are 10 yards or closer to the green. Often times the greens are so fast that I can't stop my shots.

I usually take a sand wedge at this distance and try to hit the ball to edge of the green and let it run the rest of the way to the hole. Usually my aim is pretty good. The ball runs a few inches away from the hole and continues a good 10 yards or more past the hole. I've even tried to hit the rough first in some cases when conditions allow, but I get the same results.

For example, this weekend I was about 5 yards from the green and the hole was about 20 yards away and slightly downhill. I chose a spot about 4.5 yards away on the first cut of rough to land the ball an let the ball run the rest of the way. I hit the spot, the ball ran about an inch from the hole, and ran past the hole about 12 more yards. I wanted the ball to stop at least within 3 to 5 yards.

Any advice? Should I get more of a lofted club?

[FIJIGolf23]

A more lofted club would help most likely, but you have to commit to the shot. I always play this shot with a 52* or 60* wedge. The key is hitting the ball first so that you can get some spin on the ball. What kind of ball are you playing? If you are playing a "distance" ball then chances are you won't really be able to get the spin and precise control around the greens that is needed for these shots.

[Fourputt]

Sounds to me like you are shortsiding yourself a lot. I can't see any reason why from 30 feet off the green you shouldn't be able to make a good pitch or chip with a 56 degree wedge unless you are always leaving yourself with no green to roll out on. Making the shot check is less of an issue than leaving yourself with a reasonable pitch in the first place.

If you are hitting the shot from the rough, you will almost never be able to spin the ball enough to make it check quickly, so you have to explore other options. Play the ball more forward in your stance to hit a higher, softer shot when you do get in that situation. That may not be possible from a tight fairway lie, but from the rough you usually have a little bit of grass under the ball to help you slide the club under it.

Best advice though is to play to the fat part of the green and don't leave yourself as many of those difficult pitches.

[MPS67]

I recently learned of a short game stroke from one of David Ledbetter's short game videos. He calls it a ChipPutt, and because it's easy to do, it's good for higher handicappers like me. You simply take your wedge, and with the toe pointed down at address, use it like a putter. For some reason, when striking the ball near the toe, the ball will deaden upon impact with the green and only roll a short amount afterward.

[sonicblue]

Your approach sounds solid, so this sounds like a problem with your ball. If you're using a hard, distance-focused ball, you'll get very unpredictable roll with these touch shots around the green. Second possibility is, you're hitting the ball very flat. Even with a short, short shot like this, you want a firm, accelerating, downward strike on the ball. This will "pop" the ball up and get some spin on it, and minimize roll.

[gbk56]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am usually in the rough on these shot and hit it pretty solid. I am using a distance ball, so maybe I have to use a softer ball, use a more lofted club and try to get the ball in a better position with more green to work with.

[Mr. Writing Desk]

I almost feel silly for asking this question, but do you actually practice chipping and pitching at all? Or are you just trying to figure this out on the course?

Five yards off the green with a pin 20 yards away really shouldn't be a difficult chip unless you're really in thick stuff. I'd probably use a 9 iron to chip it if the rough isn't bad. Or I could take a 60 degree wedge, open the face very slightly, and make a smooth stroke that is no longer than it takes to get the shaft parallel to the ground: I know that stroke gets me 28 yards with that club. Choking down a few inches on a 56 degree wedge and making the same stroke would get be about the same distance.

I can't help but wonder if you're just swinging too hard because you don't yet have a feel for distance, or you're hitting the ball thin so it gets no upward trajectory and just kind of shoots off very low and fast. Looking at your handicap, I'd guess that that may be the more likely culprit rather than what ball you use. What is the trajectory like on these shots that rocket off on you?

[gbk56]

I almost feel silly for asking this question, but do you actually practice chipping and pitching at all? Or are you just trying to figure this out on the course?

I agree this should be a simple shot. I do practice at the range, but do not have access to a real green (just astro turf greens) for practice (makes if difficult to determine how much roll I will get). Initially I had problems with aim but I opened up my stance a little and put more weight on my front leg and tried to keep it quiet throughout the swing. This seems to have worked for accuracy. Now distance is my main problem.

The trajectory of my shot is usually about 2 to 2.5 feet in the air to hit it about 5 yards. My sand wedge I believe is 56 degrees and I choke up on it about halfway down the grip. When the ball lands it just seems to roll and roll and roll. On my old course I was okay with a PW, but on the new course I play (it is in the mountains) the ball just seems to take off on the green. I chaged to the SW because I thought having more loft would help. It did help a little to have more loft, but not enough. How far would you hit your ball? 5 yards? 10 yards?

[DBake]

It all depends on the lie that you have, as it is tougher to hit a lob wedge from the hard pan.

I have found that three different clubs work best for me around the greens. 8 iron, 52, and 58.

In general, shorter the grass = lower the loft and more grass = more loft.

[powerfade]

What type of stance are you taking? Are you chipping this with your feet together and the ball off the right foot?
or...
Are you pitching it, feet apart, ball in middle or back?
If the ball is back, you will deloft the club and hit a runner.

How far forward are your hands at address? How far forward at impact? Again, too far forward delofts the club producing a runner.

[gbk56]

What type of stance are you taking? Are you chipping this with your feet together and the ball off the right foot?

Feet apart

Ball toward the back Weight forward Hands slightly forward Should I move the ball forward?

[DBake]

Feet apart

I play my around the green shots from back to middle.

[Guest]

Nice meeting you guys here, I am from Singapore...

[supercow]

Feet apart

Depends on the type of shot you'd like to hit. More wrist cock, steeper angle of attack, ball forward = higher. Less wrist cock, shallow angle of attack, ball further back = lower.

[golfchief]

[QUOTE=gbk56;82629]
The trajectory of my shot is usually about 2 to 2.5 feet in the air to hit it about 5 yards. My sand wedge I believe is 56 degrees and I choke up on it about halfway down the grip. When the ball lands it just seems to roll and roll and roll.



If the greens are that fast you need to hit the ball higher than 2-3 feet up and let it drop on the green with less speed behind the chip the ball will not roll out as much.

[ripsid]

I use if it's in the rough/short grass and depending on pin I use my 60*.. but I will sometimes use my 8 iron to just putt it up there. It all depends on the pin though for me, and I will sometimes use a more lofted club say a pw and use my putting stroke as well.

[itzzzberny]

if you need more air less roll, use a sw w/ a putting stroke, no divot. (don't bend arms or wrist) the club should just graze the grass. i would suggest practicing on the range to see and feel your range w/ each club ( i use sw-9, but i've hear of people using up to 7).
then if you need more roll than air use a 9. same stroke as above.
when i started doing this, i cut 4-5 strokes off my handicap.
(for weight distribution, it should be even, think of a pendualum )
also important: its like a putting stroke but don't quit on the follow through. you should follow through on these shots, do not try to pop it (no follow through). poping it works sometimes but i've seen people attempt to pop it 5-10 yards and they blade it 25 yards.

you can also use this for longer shots (30-50yards; usually using a sw so you don't go rolling off the back of the green), just add a little wrist hinge on the back swing.

[Fried Egg]

Assuming you are making solid contact with a proper chipping motion, move the ball further up in your stance and open up the face of your sw. You will also have to open your stance a little to get the face aimed at your target. Now just make a small swing along your body line (kinda like a bunker shot) and try to keep the clubface open thru impact. This will add loft and spin to the shot.