824 replies to this topic

[GPJ_Longdriver]

As Ink said some real opportunities to put some decent scores on the board but the LW with chipping was letting me down.

 

Hi Joe,

 

Chipping with such a lofted club in winter conditions is fraught with danger, as you have such little margin for error in regard to contacting the ball first.

 

Soft greens can also impinge on the consistency of the predicted landing and roll out, so I reckon it's much easier option wherever possible, is to go with a less lofted club, eg a 50 degree or less.

 

That will assist in keeping the ball low, (lands more consistently) ........ and then getting it rolling quicker, (more predictable rollout ). It is also easier for contact as well in that you have more margin for error.

 

With taking more club, you will have to land it shorter (maybe off the green), but the lower height will help with maintaining the forward momentum.

 

Just a thought .........

[Chunky McChunkerson]

*SNIP*

 

Thanks and is something I have contemplated and done a little testing with. When I tried it at the range and on the chipping green at Heidelberg I have found it worse (Admittedly it is my AW as opposed to a Mack Daddy 50*) and found it worse. Will need more work on it for confidence factor. But I understand where your coming from!!

 

My biggest issue was chunking it with the AW. I think it is because of being a bigger head\proper club as opposed to a specific chipping wedge style club so the mentality\psychology of it was getting too me and I would decelerate on downswing and end up coming into the ground behind it or thining it because I was chunking on the 5 shots before. I have a 52* that I will be getting bent to 55* so this may help. 

 

I was at the range last night and worked a little on swing with the 60* again (admittedly perfect lies at Plenty Views. Like Goldy why cant we take these mats with us lol) and noticed I tended to be tentative again with the hit even on perfect lie.

 

I still think it is a mentality thing that I need to understand that a half to 3/4 swing is only going to go 30 or 40 meters which is what I struggle with. That a 60* is basically going to go straight up and down and not up and long type shot. So when I am 30 meters out I need to give it a swing and not be soft\slow swing with it. 

 

There was a few on the weekend where I could get it too land within a 2 feet of the hole and roll out a couple more feet when I was confident and did swing to hit it right. Then the next hole I would stand over the exact same shot and think I need a softer\shorter swing because it is on a diff lie\angle\hill\etc and end up hitting it 10 or 50 meters (Short or long\over back of green) instead of 30.

 

Does that make sense or am I full of it?

Edited by Joe79, 05 August 2015 - 08:52 AM.

[Goldy]

It makes sense...AND you're full of it.

 

Wanna hit a Plenty Views later in the week after work?

[Chunky McChunkerson]

It makes sense...AND you're full of it.

 

Wanna hit a Plenty Views later in the week after work?

 

Can do on Thurs night.... what time is after work for you? For me it is 530 as I finish at 330.

Edited by Joe79, 05 August 2015 - 09:19 AM.

[Goldy]

Probably closer to 6.30 for me.

 

I'll send you a text.

[GPJ_Longdriver]

No it does make sense Joe.

 

The thing is, we're used to doing short chips from the greenside fringe, and for most, they're also just used to hitting nothing but full swings.

 

These half and 3/4 shots probably need to be practiced more than full swings, particularly if your course management leaves you in that nasty 30-40m range often.

 

One thought is key though I reckon to success with these shots, and that's, you want your thru swing to be longer than your backswing.

 

A lot of people will take a bigger backswing than they need (cause they're used to hitting nothing but full swings), and then they decelerate thru impact, and finish with a short follow thru, when the exact opposite is what is required, in my opinion.

 

Setting up for these shots is also key, in promoting confidence. You want your weight on your front foot, and you want to keep it there throughout your swing. This will give you confidence that you are going to hit down and thru the ball with a descending blow, and not blade it or chunk it.

 

So no weight transfer at all, shortish backswing, and just accelerate thru the ball, and you should soon be able to dial those shots in with practice. I'd practice hitting that same distance with different clubs, different ball positions, face angles, etc, cause that's how we learn and add more shots to our arsenal.

 

Just my thoughts of course, but hope it helps buddy ....

[Chunky McChunkerson]

No it does make sense Joe.

 

The thing is, we're used to doing short chips from the greenside fringe, and for most, they're also just used to hitting nothing but full swings.

 

These half and 3/4 shots probably need to be practiced more than full swings, particularly if your course management leaves you in that nasty 30-40m range often.

 

One thought is key though I reckon to success with these shots, and that's, you want your thru swing to be longer than your backswing.

 

A lot of people will take a bigger backswing than they need (cause they're used to hitting nothing but full swings), and then they decelerate thru impact, and finish with a short follow thru, when the exact opposite is what is required, in my opinion.

 

Setting up for these shots is also key, in promoting confidence. You want your weight on your front foot, and you want to keep it there throughout your swing. This will give you confidence that you are going to hit down and thru the ball with a descending blow, and not blade it or chunk it.

 

So no weight transfer at all, shortish backswing, and just accelerate thru the ball, and you should soon be able to dial those shots in with practice. I'd practice hitting that same distance with different clubs, different ball positions, face angles, etc, cause that's how we learn and add more shots to our arsenal.

 

Just my thoughts of course, but hope it helps buddy ....

 

Definitely helps and the tips are things that i need as my thought process for these types of shots are all over the place at the moment so having something to think and keep in head will help.

 

Heidelberg has a nice little hidden practice green that you can chip\pitch onto from about 30 meters so I think I am needing to get in there and practice as you said.  

[Itchy4Scratch]

I always use either my 60 or 56 for pitches in that 30-50m distance range. If the green is above me or the shot is off a downhill lie it is always the 60. 

I like using more loft because it gives me more spin and therefore more control. The only reason I would use less loft is if I am afraid of leaving it short and don't need to hit it too high. 

Remember that chipping and pitches are two different shots that require different levels of control. Chipping is all about selecting the right club for the amount of roll you want. The more roll you want, the less loft you should use. 

Pitching is all about controlling carry distance which is why I nearly always use the 60. More spin equals more control in my opinion and the closer I can land it to my target, the more confident I am standing over the ball.

If I find myself having to land the ball in the fringe or rough then I know I am in trouble, so good course management can help this issue resolve itself in my opinion. 

GPJ's advice about the set up and the lack of weight transfer is spot on. Weight on the front foot and no swaying means you are going to get consistently good contact and therefore consistent levels of spin & roll out. 

[Tonk]

Joe,

 

I think you should print Gaz's last post out and put it on the wall. I think, for higher handicaps like ours we need to really consider how often we use the 60*. I was using it for full shots and constantly coming up short or going long over the back of greens. In winter it was a nightmare proposition to consider using it unless i was on a tight lie and needed to get over a bunker and stop it quick.

 

I've made a concerted effort to put it away for the past 3 months and I believe it has paid dividends. I'm bumping and running a lot more shots up towards the green. Get it on target and let it roll. 

 

Pick a spot at the range that's 40-50m away and practice using anything from an 8i through to your PW to get it to land at the target. You'll soon work out how far a back swing you need with each club to get it there.

[Whatahack]

Nothing wrong with the ol putter if you don't have to hit over a bunker   

[Chunky McChunkerson]

Nothing wrong with the ol putter if you don't have to hit over a bunker   

Yes that got used a few times on Sunday when I wasn't confident....when on the short stuff....  lol

[Rusty_Chopper_1984]

Can do on Thurs night.... what time is after work for you? For me it is 530 as I finish at 330.

I might gatecrash this...😉

[Goldy]

I might gatecrash this...

 

Feel free mate...7pm tonight.

[Rusty_Chopper_1984]

Feel free mate...7pm tonight.

Ill be there. They make a mean coffee at plenty views.☺

[Rusty_Chopper_1984]

Nothing wrong with the ol putter if you don't have to hit over a bunker

But much better feeling to put a wedge close.☺