Do Pros use this chipping method?

[iacas]

I think most pros, given a lack of "unique" things (like a tier or something), will simply play a shot that lands between 1/4 and 1/3 of the way onto the green toward the hole.

From just about any distance.

One of the many little things mentioned in LSW, btw.

[DrvFrShow]

I've been using Mickelson's method with my 55 and 64.

[Buckeyebowman]

I think that most of the pros have such precise distance control that they'd rather use one club for chipping and pitching. Plus the fact that they use high spin balls that they can scream a low pitch in that looks like it will finish a mile past the hole, only to have it check and grab to wind up 2 feet away!

I think that most of us chops will have better success getting the ball on the green and rolling as soon as possible.

[dchoye]

I was staying a resort in Florida that was associated with Nick Faldo golf course and during my stay there was Faldo on the TV promoting about the golf course and Faldo giving some tips to the resort golf instructors  One of the tips that I have found very valuable was a simple one about chipping . Faldo says it you are stuck with chipping motion. The simplest method to get unstuck was to hold the club and move your thumbs to the hole and not worry about any other movements 

I find that also helpful in putting, particularly fast downhill putts and I sure that is also the basis premise  for the "two thumbs putting grip"

Feels like I am  releasing just the butt end or handle of the club or putter

Edited May 7, 2016 by dchoye

[natureboy]

On 5/2/2016 at 9:40 AM, saevel25 said:

I've heard this technique mentioned many times, online and in golf magazines, for helping with distance control on chipping. You try to land the ball in the same spot but vary the club depending on the amount of roll out.

I have never seen a PGA Tour player do this. Most of the time it looks like they like to pitch the ball to what ever spot they want on the green and use spin to control the roll out. I was watching this video and the European tour player basically said he picks the club he feels most comfortable with.

See addendum below.

On 5/2/2016 at 6:59 PM, natureboy said:

Your note about contour and green speeds is a good one. The 'rule of 12 method' needs to be calibrated relative to your game and the average green speeds you face. Pros face very slick greens regularly and this may reduce the practical range of what clubs will work with the method.

I did a little further research, and I think it's fallen out of favor on tour due to the high stimps they face.

When Runyan who may have originated the method, made his videos he noted that the carry/roll ratio would drop by 4 (9 vs 5) from average to slow greens (roughly 7 and 5 stimp respectively at the time of the videos).

Projecting that forward in an exponential increase with increasing stimp (decreasing friction) puts only about 3-4 clubs in the 'useful' range (~ 1:13 carry:roll) that would have been roughly comparable to Runyan's published limit of 6 iron and higher / less club in competition (with greens that probably maxed out 8-9). That's not taking loft creep into account either, which probably further narrows the useful range of clubs to gap, sand, and lob wedge for tour pros if not just SW & LW.

I do seem to recall that Furyk uses a similar method (maybe more Stockton influenced) with a fairly wider range of clubs.

Edited May 18, 2016 by natureboy

[DrvFrShow]

It'll depend upon what I'm looking at too. If I'm behind the green and chipping downhill I'll definitely go to my 64 and fly it about half way. Uphill I'll use my 55 and fly it 2/3 the way. Flat 55 and 1/2 way. On the greens I play that seems to work out pretty well with a tour ball. My accuracy could be better.

The Rule Of 12 got too complicated.