Pitch shots: no spin when I want it, too much when I don't

[SoundandFury]

Everyone wants to know how to hit chips and pitches that stop on a dime right?  Well I can't do it on command either.  What I can do (often) is attempt to play a shot that releases, only to have it hop and stop 6" - 8" from the cup.  On the flip side, the times I do play for a ton of spin it releases.  Every once in a while I get it right (hit a beautiful low 70 yarder to a elevated green that hit and stopped on a dime 2" below the pin), but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

I'm perfectly happy to play shots that roll out.  Any suggestions how to figure out how the ball is going to react?  I play all of my standard shots from 10 to 70 yards the same: 56*, ball roughly in the middle of the stance.  For the shorter ones I want to play higher I move the ball up a few inches, and open the face.

[mvmac]

Everyone wants to know how to hit chips and pitches that stop on a dime right?  Well I can't do it on command either.  What I can do (often) is attempt to play a shot that releases, only to have it hop and stop 6" - 8" from the cup.  On the flip side, the times I do play for a ton of spin it releases.  Every once in a while I get it right (hit a beautiful low 70 yarder to a elevated green that hit and stopped on a dime 2" below the pin), but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

Are we talking about 70 yard shots or around the green?

I'm perfectly happy to play shots that roll out.  Any suggestions how to figure out how the ball is going to react?  I play all of my standard shots from 10 to 70 yards the same: 56*, ball roughly in the middle of the stance.  For the shorter ones I want to play higher I move the ball up a few inches, and open the face.

Depends on the club, lie, wind, slope, grain.

From around the greens if I want a shot to release I play more club and use a semi-pitch/chip stroke.

For a shot that I want to spin I use more speed, like this.

[SoundandFury]

Are we talking about 70 yard shots or around the green?

Depends on the club, lie, wind, slope, grain.

From around the greens if I want a shot to release I play more club and use a semi-pitch/chip stroke.

For a shot that I want to spin I use more speed, like this.

I'm more likely to get the spin I want from 50-70 (I'm guessing because the increase speed through the ball for a longer shot) than I am around the greens.  It's more often an issue when I'm maybe 2-5 yards off the green with a decent lie (when it's in thicker grass I play for the roll and almost always get it.

[SoundandFury]

I use a pretty much identical swing from the video for those shots btw.  Pretty much always use my 56* unless I have a ton of green to work with, in which case I'll go up to a PW or 9i.  For full information, I've been playing TM Project A balls mostly.  Figured those would be soft enough to spin when I want to, but if need be I'll go back to Pro V's.

[mvmac]

I'm more likely to get the spin I want from 50-70 (I'm guessing because the increase speed through the ball for a longer shot) than I am around the greens.  It's more often an issue when I'm maybe 2-5 yards off the green with a decent lie (when it's in thicker grass I play for the roll and almost always get it.

Yeah it's basically that way for everyone. For those shots you have to account for some roll out, won't be able to spin those as much as the longer swings. For the best control/consistent contact, use a pitching motion and utilize the bounce.

[SavvySwede]

Everyone wants to know how to hit chips and pitches that stop on a dime right?  Well I can't do it on command either.  What I can do (often) is attempt to play a shot that releases, only to have it hop and stop 6" - 8" from the cup.  On the flip side, the times I do play for a ton of spin it releases.  Every once in a while I get it right (hit a beautiful low 70 yarder to a elevated green that hit and stopped on a dime 2" below the pin), but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

I'm perfectly happy to play shots that roll out.  Any suggestions how to figure out how the ball is going to react?  I play all of my standard shots from 10 to 70 yards the same: 56*, ball roughly in the middle of the stance.  For the shorter ones I want to play higher I move the ball up a few inches, and open the face.

I'd take that everytime

[ryan772]

I cant ever get any of my short irons to roll. Every time i hit the green my ball is withen 2 ft of the place it hits.