pitching

Pin In or Pin Out?

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

This is a quandary for all golfers regardless of your skill level.  You are on fringe within in 5 feet of the green.  You have a decision to make whether to leave the pin in or to take it out. It is really tough to determine the best course of action…..it could mean the tournament!   Okay a little mellow dramatic, but I think you get my point.  What do you do?

Dave Pelx from Golf .com conducted a scientific study to determine the answer.  He says leave the flag in as the rules allow.  Speed is the most important factor and the flag is your best friend when putting aggressively to the hole.

Don Trahan from Swingsurgeon.com has a completely different view.  He says the pin is only in the way, and whenever possible take it out.  He states that the pin reduces your margin of error and that removing it allows for a greater result.

Well there you have it.  The answer is depends.  There are so many variables regarding chipping, that there is on right answer….or so it seems.  The right answer is which ever you chose while making the shot.

I, for example, try to remove the flag as often as possible.  I believe that it does get in the way and if removed, it allows for a greater chance of the ball going in.  You know what they say – Pull the Pin, Its Going In!

What say you?

Pitching with a 52 Degree Wedge

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments
Close Chip

Within 8 inches from 50 yards!

What a fantastic day for golf!  At Laurentide Golf Course, it was bright, warm and sunny.  As I approached the first tee, I decided to focus on my wedge play during today’s round.  Each non-tournament round, I try to focus on a specific part of my game and make sure that I perform this skill the way I practice it.  Well today’s wedge play produced my shot of the day.

I have read many articles from Golf Digest with mixed results.  My suggestion is to focus on the big muscles when executing a pitch shot.  The wrists stay locked, forward of the ball on contact and your shoulder movement creates the speed of the club head.  These three simple things are all I focus upon when using my wedges from within 60 yards.  It can be duplicated and consistently results in a reasonable putt.  Today, my shot of the day was a 50 yard pitched that stopped within in 8 inches of the hole!

My time on the links today was awesome.  I was successful on focusing on my wedge play and relaxed enough to absorb the beauty of my surroundings.  I am a grateful golfer!

A Wedge or a 5 Wood?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

I have asked this question for years; should I replace my 5 wood for a 60 degree wedge.  This is a tough question. I have researched this question and found no definite answer. So here is what I think:

The lower the handicap the more wedges you require.  Most 15-25 handicap players will lean towards the 5 wood.  I would support that decision because they are still trying to hit the green from a distance and the 5 wood is a very forgiving club.

If you are a lower handicap player, like me, you have already switched to a 60 degree wedge.  I found that I had to practice and learn how to use it properly (and I am still learning) but it has significantly increase my up and down ratio around the green.

So what do you think?  Do you use a 5 wood or a 60 degree wedge?

Chipping In – What a Way to Lower your Score!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

Chipping In

Chipping is a quick way to lower your score!  However this is always easier said than done.  Every time a player steps over the ball they expect the rarest of results – a chip in.  How does one achieve this elusive feat?

I have heard and read many ways to effectively get the ball in the hole.  Use your 60 degree wedge; no, no, use your sand wedge it allows for better roll; wait, I thought that the 52 degree wedge was best…..or was that my pitching wedge…..mmmmm

Ultimately, the best club to use best the one you are most comfortable with.  If you consistently chip the ball short, then use a lower lofted club with the same stroke.  If you are consistently long, use a higher lofted club.  It sounds really easy, but most amateur golfers consistently use the same club over and over expecting different results – now that is the definition of insanity!

I like to use my 7 iron if I have no hazards to play over.  I find it rolls best for my stroke and I can hold it with my putter grip.  It allows for the touch I need to chip the ball in.  Normally, I am no more that 5 yards off the green when using my 7 iron (see the picture.  The dew line shows the result of my shot of the day).  Next, I like to use my 52 degree when I require a bit more loft and of course my 60 degree to flop the ball.  The 60 degree flop shot is always my last option because to the difficulty judging the distance.

What club do you like to use around the green?

Well there you have it.  It was wonderful on the course today.  I chipped in on the 17th hole and was grateful for the time spent on the links!

Chip or Pitch

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As I approach each green, I am always faced with the dilemma of putting (which of course is always my first choice), chipping or pitching the ball.  Of course the your choice of the next stroke will depend on many factors: your lie, the distance between the ball and the green, hazards between your ball and the hole….etc.

Ultimately, my preference is to pitch the ball.  I believe the best course of action is get the ball rolling on the green as soon as possible.  The convention that I have read is use an 8 iron for the greatest percentage of success.

I on the other hand like to use a 7 iron.  The 7 iron pitches the ball lower, provides better feel and ensures that the ball rolls the greatest distance on the green.   I hold it like a putter, swing it like a putter, and strike the ball with the same strength as I would with a putter.  With practice it has helped shave 2 strokes of my score.

Off to the links tomorrow, I am a grateful golfer.