Do you ever practice putting with a wedge (SW, GW or PW) off the first cut...

[Ernest Jones]

This exactly. I played in a tournament awhile back with a guy who did not carry a putter. Bellied a wedge for every putt.....pretty well too. Said he'd been doing it for a couple of years when he broke his putter in a fit of rage and never replaced it.

Lol.

[RayG]

The only time that shot MIGHT come into play is up against a really deep rough cut next to fringe. any fringe putt is generally done with the putter. IF the fringe is 'grabby' or 'sticky' I might take out the 5 wd to get the ball up on top and rolling as quick as possible.

[imsys0042]

I practice it sometimes for when the ball is close enough to the rough to warrant it. I also do it quite a bit in casual rounds for when I've pitched the ball to within 4-5 feet and just don't bother to get my putter. I'll putt it in with the wedge.

[meenman]

Never practice it, but use that shot often when needing to go over a bunker or even out of one if the sand is hard enough.

[Natural Patrick]

Never practice it, but use that shot often when needing to go over a bunker or even out of one if the sand is hard enough.

How do you use a putting stroke to go over a bunker ?  LOL

[boogielicious]

I voted yes, but I guess I misinterpreted your question.  I practice pitches off different lies and will use the fringe of the practice green as one of the lies. It is not to practice that situation, but just using the lie.

[meenman]

How do you use a putting stroke to go over a bunker ?  LOL

Putting stroke, use the bounce, works for me

[Ernest Jones]

How do you use a putting stroke to go over a bunker ?  LOL

[quote name="meenman" url="/t/82291/do-you-ever-practice-putting-with-a-wedge-sw-gw-or-pw-off-the-first-cut/0_100#post_1148258"] Putting stroke, use the bounce, works for me[/quote]On days when my pitching stroke is in the toilet, I'll do this. Set up is closer to a pitch than a putt (not choking down a bunch and not gripping with a putting grip) but from there I'll make a fairly level, putting like stroke with a lot of speed. Pops it up pretty good and will carry far enough to clear most reasonably small bunkers. Not my preferred shot by any means but on those days where you can't hit a decent short game shot to save your life...

[Yukari]

I don't practice it, but I have used SW for putting on few occasions

[dchoye]

..and more importantly which do you/would you improve more: your putting stroke or chipping stroke? I think it helps both but better for chipping improvement - especially cleaner contact. Opinions/experiences?

Yes Helps both chipping and putting but I think more putting stroke Using the belly wedge feels like a pure roller stroke

[Pretzel]

The only time I use this shot is when I am backed up against the collar of the rough with my ball still technically lying on the fringe. The wedge kind of skims across the top of the rough and rolls the ball nicely, while a putter (unless you putt with the toe of the putter, using it sideways, which is another thing I've done before in this situation) would get caught more and put an inferior roll on the ball from the same lie.

Not a frequent occurrence that I need to use it, so the extent of my practice with it is when I'm too lazy to grab my putter on the chipping green but still want to putt out.

[2112]

I've been using an 8 iron lately using a putting motion and getting some good results with it.

[uitar9]

Yup, just to practice using the wedges.

In real time, I've started  using my hybrid for those close to the green, weird uphill/downhill, deeper second cut, but still use a putting stroke . thats worked real well.

[Patch]

I voted yes. I do it all the time. Since my putting , and chipping strokes are identical to each other, it's a common practice regimen for me. Even after chipping the ball close to the hole, I have sometimes used my chipping club to finish out the hole. I have even used my metal woods from the frog hair on some occasions. It's just another way to save time, by not switching clubs for various shots.

[GolfLug]

I voted yes. I do it all the time. Since my putting , and chipping strokes are identical to each other, it's a common practice regimen for me. Even after chipping the ball close to the hole, I have sometimes used my chipping club to finish out the hole. I have even used my metal woods from the frog hair on some occasions. It's just another way to save time, by not switching clubs for various shots.

Interesting take. Thanks.

[dchoye]

update on the belly wedge. I been finding my LW has a curved leading edge and prefer using my PW or GW.

Most of the time the putter works well from the fringe or regular chipping. But the scenerios I find the belly wedge works well is if Im within 10 paces and I got sticky fringe and ball above the hole then I can make a putting stroke and strike the ball with the belly of the wedge ...also I been experimenting with a hybrid and that works well too.