Chipping or Putting From the Fringe

/ The Grateful Golfer

A while back, the commentators of the The Masters caught my attention. This may not seem that odd, but it actually made the stop and think about the answer. The whole premise was about putting or chipping from the fringe. I have discussed this before and personally I prefer to chip, but that does not seem to be the case any more.

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Image 1 – 2 feet to green

The commentator said younger players prefer to putt and older players prefer to chip. He never really suggested that either was better, but did indicate a change in way fringe play was being conducted. He said that if the ball is 5 yards off the green younger players are putting if they are on the fringe or in the fairway.

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Image 2 – 6 feet from green

I would suggest that the courses are manicured better than our local course and this may attribute to the change. However, 5 yards off the green would be extremely difficult to judge the speed and how the ball will exit the fringe grass. Personally, chipping would be the safer shot from 5 yards, but the young pros do not see it that way.

I really do not have an answer to this question – anyone want to weigh in? Would you putt or chip Images 1 or 2?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

23 thoughts on “Chipping or Putting From the Fringe”

  1. Pingback: Using a 7 Iron To Lower Your Golf Score | The Grateful Golfer

  2. This has been in my mind for some time as I watch a lot of European golf and some of the early transmissions from America. It all depends on the nature of the fringe, some courses have manicured fringes which suggest a putt. If the fringe is a couple of inches deep, I would always chip with a flat faced club – 7 or 8 iron. It seems to me that the pros are of the opinion that they want the ball on the surface rather than in the air. Any chip will land and check and arrest at first if even a little. My suggestion would be to find different conditions and hit a couple of gash bags with different methods to see what works for you.

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    • Charlie

      Great suggestion. You are definitely right that the conditions of the fringe will determine if putting is even an option. I will putt as often as possible. Confidence in the flat stick is very important to great golf. Great to hear from you.

      Cheers
      Jim

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  3. Pingback: Chip, Pitch or Putt for Lower Golf Scores | The Grateful Golfer

  4. Pingback: Chipping to Lower Your Golf Score | The Grateful Golfer

  6. Interest topic, Jim. I’m terrible at judging speed when there’s a transition between the different surfaces so I tend to chip if it’s any further away than picture 1. I agree with everyone else that you still have to evaluate at the whole situation at hand- if the hole is downhill, fast greens, and short-sided, then I would putt to keep things safe. I’ll even consider putting from a no-lip bunker if the pin is too tight.

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    • Crunchy

      It is tough to figure out what to do. I have two go to strokes, using a 7-iron for a bump and run; and a 60 degree for a lob. I use my 52 and 56 degree for various shots. Keep plugging away, you find your shot!

      Cheers
      Jim

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  7. Jim, since roll is easier to judge than flight, all things being equal, I’d putt both. Things may change after a check for which way the grass is growing. It’s much harder to putt a ball on the fringe if the grass is growing towards you and away from the hole; then I’ll usually chip. Good topic, thanks! Brian

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    • Brian

      I favour chipping, but I tried putting today and did not find it that effective. Off to the practice range for me. I like to have many different shots just in case I encounter something different.

      Cheers
      Jim

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  8. Jim

    For me it depends more on where the hole is located than the distance that the ball is off the green. If the hole is cut close to the ball (fringe) then I putt, however if it is toward the centre or further away, I am chipping. In addition, I would use a 7 iron on the top image to get it rolling sooner and an 8 iron on the bottom image as I will need a bit more loft to get the ball past the fringe and rolling smoothly on the green – in essence manipulating the ball flight to act as a putt once on the green. It is obvious that I am not one of the young golfers. Thanx for the great blog. KB

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  10. Putt both. Sometimes I will putt from 20 yards off the green. I think as a general rule the slower the greens then they are more like the fringe then putt. If the greens are fast then chip.

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  11. I would probably be putting both. I just find I have better results putting those shots in the 1st cut. I have used 3 wood and hybrid for shots like that, but putting is easy for me anyways. It might be because I am soooooo young though.

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  12. Jim, the fringe looks well maintained, so I’d say I’m putting both. I like the “keep it on the ground” philosophy around the green, just much more predictable for me. Every golfer is unique, no?

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  13. Hey Jim, I would putt Image 1 unless the hole was a long way off in which case I would do what I have been teaching golfers to do for a while now when faced with a shot like Image 2 – which is to use a hybrid or fairway wood with a putting stroke action. The reason for that is that I find the wider sole of the wood or hybrid will slide on the grass as opposed to getting stuck as a lot of golfers do while chipping with an iron. It doesn’t look like a pretty shot but it is extremely effective!
    Play well
    Ian

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