Clubhouse Grille (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***) (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION ***)

[billh17]

Nice round Miami !

I am with most of you on the short stuff..  closed to the green i am mostly a bump and run with a nine iron. I use it because the roll will be as long as the carry, and it makes it easy for me to sorta-kinda-maybe get the ball within puttable distance. wedges ?  no problem from 65 to 110, I'll normally end up on the green. ( HOW IN THE WORLD  DO WE ADULTS STAND 60 YARDS or less  FROM A HUGE GREEN AREA AND CANT GET THE DAMN BALL ON THERE ? )Put me 30 yards out and i may end up short of the green...maybe over it...possibly off one side or the other

with no idea how it got there. I could kick it with my toe and get closer !

Edited July 31, 2021 by billh17

[NoTalentLefty]

Golf game canceled this last week. Senior Asthma is not fun.

[BIG STU]

Had sorta a weird day today. Ventured out for the first time in 15 months from my home course. Actually I did venture out in May for a Scramble I play in every year. But this is my first attempt away from my home course playing my own ball. The course we played Man O War here at the beach is a great course and as usual in great shape. They have bent greens which I love anyhow. Kinda up and down day on the front side especially. I could not get the lower body to work so I hit quite a few pull hooks. Has 2 doubles on the front side and 2 bogies shot 42. I sorta turned it around on the back and got hot with the putter. Ended up with a even par 36. But main thing I discovered I can still putt on slick fast bent greens. Had a ball with my bud Bear. He did play in one scramble with me at my home course but other than that we had not played a round of golf together for 15 months. 

 

Wednesday I had a good day. Me and the wife played in the 2 person 9 and dine and ended up winning it at -1. So I am feeling froggy again. One of my buds and his wife played with us and he said he thinks I am back. Main thing is I am not hurting much but still get stiff some. I also have the I guess permanent problem of nerve damage and sometimes my lower body does not rotate in time and I pull it on through with upper body strength.  Something I have to live with. I do realize I will never be 100% like I want but I am working on it. But at least I can play sorta competive at times. 

[scomac2002]

I think that they call it course management.  Gawd knows that I've been guilty of plenty of questionable decisions in hind sight this season.  On one bollocks of the finishing hole recently after a couple of total cockups I threw up my hands and putted from the rough!  I figured it couldn't be any worse than a third attempt with SW and I wasn't about to walk back to the bag to choose a different club to card a 6!

 

That particular par 3 is my nemesis as I can't make the green off the tee, so I have been hitting a hybrid for accuracy to the middle of the fairway leaving about 50+ yards in accounting for a couple of extra clubs for the elevation.  Maybe I should try pitching a 9i into the hill and hoping that it will bound up onto the green?  Perhaps I'll try that approach tomorrow.  I've played this course 25 plus times this year and parred that hole exactly once!

[NoTalentLefty]

1 hour ago, scomac2002 said:

I think that they call it course management.  Gawd knows that I've been guilty of plenty of questionable decisions in hind sight this season.  On one bollocks of the finishing hole recently after a couple of total cockups I threw up my hands and putted from the rough!  I figured it couldn't be any worse than a third attempt with SW and I wasn't about to walk back to the bag to choose a different club to card a 6!

 

That particular par 3 is my nemesis as I can't make the green off the tee, so I have been hitting a hybrid for accuracy to the middle of the fairway leaving about 50+ yards in accounting for a couple of extra clubs for the elevation.  Maybe I should try pitching a 9i into the hill and hoping that it will bound up onto the green?  Perhaps I'll try that approach tomorrow.  I've played this course 25 plus times this year and parred that hole exactly once!

I feel your pain

[Fellaheen51]

2 hours ago, scomac2002 said:

I think that they call it course management.  Gawd knows that I've been guilty of plenty of questionable decisions in hind sight this season.  On one bollocks of the finishing hole recently after a couple of total cockups I threw up my hands and putted from the rough!  I figured it couldn't be any worse than a third attempt with SW and I wasn't about to walk back to the bag to choose a different club to card a 6!

 

That particular par 3 is my nemesis as I can't make the green off the tee, so I have been hitting a hybrid for accuracy to the middle of the fairway leaving about 50+ yards in accounting for a couple of extra clubs for the elevation.  Maybe I should try pitching a 9i into the hill and hoping that it will bound up onto the green?  Perhaps I'll try that approach tomorrow.  I've played this course 25 plus times this year and parred that hole exactly once!

 

I feel your pain also.  We all have out nemesis hole(s).  Thinking of a certain 9th on a course we play.  Seemingly will rinse a ball 8 out of 10 times, despite aiming 45* to the left of that cursed pond.  (Damn water magnets.)  

 

LOL to the "screw it", I'll hit what I brought with me.  Not walking back.  Yep, been there.  What diff is it going to make?  

[chipa]

20 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

I putt from everywhere I can and do a lot of chipping and pitching with 7-9 irons. I only use

the high lofted wedges from the sand or thick rough around the greens.

 

I've learned to be realistic about my practice habits; or lack thereof. Some have the natural

talent but for most of us it takes hours and hours of practice to acquire and then to maintain

the skill to be consistent with high lofted wedges from various lies. I'll go practice from time

to time when it's cooler outside but when the heat arrives I tend to play only and not practice.

 

As mentioned before, elevated greens are the #1 course difficulty we encounter and when

we miss; especially short side, it seems like the high lofted wedge is the only option for

getting the ball close to have a chance to save par. My attitude about that these days is

mainly to avoid carding a big number and just get the ball on the green. A putt for par from

30 feet I can live with cause likely I'll make no worse than bogey most of the time.

 

For us recreational part time golfers it's the doubles and up that really kill our scores. If I

can get through an 18 hole round making no worse than bogie, that's a good round for

me.

 

My course is short but most of the greens are elevated and have big dropoffs to the left (and long), which is where I usually miss it. I too am happy just getting it somewhere w/in 30' when most of the time I'm chipping up hill and can't see the pin. I recently changed my irons to ones with less offset and less weight on the toe to see if this helps my hooking. At any rate a miss short and to the right is a lot better on most holes and at least I have a chance to save par. I did find a fantastic feeling 60 deg. wedge that is better than anything I've ever tried in 25 years of trying to play golf so I'm hoping it will help me on the lofted shots. I don't think I can really master a flop shot but at least an easy descending swing to ensure good contact with the clubface slightly open is the best I can hope for.

[chipa]

2 hours ago, scomac2002 said:

I think that they call it course management.  Gawd knows that I've been guilty of plenty of questionable decisions in hind sight this season.  On one bollocks of the finishing hole recently after a couple of total cockups I threw up my hands and putted from the rough!  I figured it couldn't be any worse than a third attempt with SW and I wasn't about to walk back to the bag to choose a different club to card a 6!

 

That particular par 3 is my nemesis as I can't make the green off the tee, so I have been hitting a hybrid for accuracy to the middle of the fairway leaving about 50+ yards in accounting for a couple of extra clubs for the elevation.  Maybe I should try pitching a 9i into the hill and hoping that it will bound up onto the green?  Perhaps I'll try that approach tomorrow.  I've played this course 25 plus times this year and parred that hole exactly once!

 

I have a nemesis hole too at my home course. The tee shot is fairly elevated and over a large tree that the top is about the level of the tee box but looks much longer than it is(only 180 carry). The fairway isn't too narrow but most of the time I pull it left or leave it right and lose my ball (or top it behind the tree). Then there is a shot 120 yards 70' straight up a hill with a big dropoff off the back.

 

After trying various hybrids and a 4 and 5 iron I have recently acquired a 7 wood that matches my 2 and 4 woods which I hit very well. I should be able to hit it 210 with the ball stopping quickly. I finally feel I have a chance to par this hole more than once every 10 times.

[Conrad1953]

4 hours ago, chipa said:

 

My course is short but most of the greens are elevated and have big dropoffs to the left (and long), which is where I usually miss it. I too am happy just getting it somewhere w/in 30' when most of the time I'm chipping up hill and can't see the pin. I recently changed my irons to ones with less offset and less weight on the toe to see if this helps my hooking. At any rate a miss short and to the right is a lot better on most holes and at least I have a chance to save par. I did find a fantastic feeling 60 deg. wedge that is better than anything I've ever tried in 25 years of trying to play golf so I'm hoping it will help me on the lofted shots. I don't think I can really master a flop shot but at least an easy descending swing to ensure good contact with the clubface slightly open is the best I can hope for.

 

IMO if you play and/or practice a lot you can get pretty good with a 60. It's all about developing

confidence with that club in your hands and accelerating through the ball. If you get the least

bit wishy washy you'll likely decel coming down and then flipping ^%$^*(&%#&^#!! happens.

[chipa]

2 minutes ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

IMO if you play and/or practice a lot you can get pretty good with a 60. It's all about developing

confidence with that club in your hands and accelerating through the ball. If you get the least

bit wishy washy you'll likely decel coming down and then flipping ^%$^*(&%#&^#!! happens.

 

You are right about accelerating through the short pitches, this is something I rarely almost never can do. That's why I'm so excited about my 20 year old LW, its weight is near the hosel which helps me get the clubface open real quick for my wristy takeaway.

 

Interestingly, based on what I've seen many pros have very long hosels on their wedges, Dechambreau even had a special set of wedges to get the cg closer to the hosel. I have seen very little discussion about this although someone did start a thread about the effects of the weight distribution on the cg. 

[Conrad1953]

8 minutes ago, chipa said:

 

You are right about accelerating through the short pitches, this is something I rarely almost never can do. That's why I'm so excited about my 20 year old LW, its weight is near the hosel which helps me get the clubface open real quick for my wristy takeaway.

 

Interestingly, based on what I've seen many pros have very long hosels on their wedges, Dechambreau even had a special set of wedges to get the cg closer to the hosel. I have seen very little discussion about this although someone did start a thread about the effects of the weight distribution on the cg. 

 

If I am understanding you correctly, you like a low MOI wedge. The low MOI makes it easier

to manipulate the face and thus easier to work the ball. This is something many better players

want. I'm not good enough to manipulate the face intentionally during my swing....and get a

satisfactory result.  If I am opening a wedge face to hit a shot I just grip the club with the

face already open and then swing normally.  We're all different!😄 

[Fellaheen51]

2 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

IMO if you play and/or practice a lot you can get pretty good with a 60. It's all about developing

confidence with that club in your hands and accelerating through the ball. If you get the least

bit wishy washy you'll likely decel coming down and then flipping ^%$^*(&%#&^#!! happens.

 

If one were to regularly utilize a high lofted wedge, AND not spend much time practicing with it, think the super-wide soled types would have merit.  Callaway Sure-Out, Cleveland Smart Sole.  One of the golf buds has a 62* (?) Sure Out which I've tried on several occasions.  With 15 seconds of tutoring, namely take full swing and not quit on it.  Didn't seem that difficult to hit the up and out "pop" shot from long greenside grass, the high drop and stop lob.  Set the club head square and taking a full swing a must.  No half swing finessing allowed.  He's quite proficient with it around the green.  Doesn't seem conducive to head manipulation tough, if that's how one plays a wedge. And not much distance is realized, seemed to max out at around 20 yards. 

 

My brief experience seemed to be that it was rather easy to get under the ball and launch it upwards (i.e. no blading).  Had to trust taking that full swing.  Too much of a specialty club to consider adding to the bag.  But if one regularly faced an inordinate amount of greenside elevation, thick grass in close proximity to the green, could see where it might be worth considering.  Kind of a Super Lob for Dummies.  

 

 

 

 

[Conrad1953]

16 minutes ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

If one were to regularly utilize a high lofted wedge, AND not spend much time practicing with it, think the super-wide soled types would have merit.  Callaway Sure-Out, Cleveland Smart Sole.  One of the golf buds has a 62* (?) Sure Out which I've tried on several occasions.  With 15 seconds of tutoring, namely take full swing and not quit on it.  Didn't seem that difficult to hit the up and out "pop" shot from long greenside grass, the high drop and stop lob.  Set the club head square and taking a full swing a must.  No half swing finessing allowed.  He's quite proficient with it around the green.  Doesn't seem conducive to head manipulation tough, if that's how one plays a wedge. And not much distance is realized, seemed to max out at around 20 yards. 

 

My brief experience seemed to be that it was rather easy to get under the ball and launch it upwards (i.e. no blading).  Had to trust taking that full swing.  Too much of a specialty club to consider adding to the bag.  But if one regularly faced an inordinate amount of greenside elevation, thick grass in close proximity to the green, could see where it might be worth considering.  Kind of a Super Lob for Dummies.  

 

 

 

 

 

I've never hit one of those wedges. There's been a lot of them advertised over the years.  I

guess if you need to hit one further they do make them with less loft. 

 

The scary shot for most, with high loft, is the one from a tight lie or hardpan. Did you try

that wedge from one of those lies by any chance?

[scomac2002]

My buddy, Dave has one of those TV wedges in his bag.  It's a C3i with 65° of loft.  He isn't all that proficient with it, but can hit the odd good shot with it.  I've never tried it, but maybe I should?  Doesn't really appeal to me as it has a huge sole with tons of bounce.  Sort of counter to what I'm really looking for.  I've got a low bounce lob wedge kicking around that i could toss in the bag just to see if it could be the ticket.

[chipa]

4 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

If I am understanding you correctly, you like a low MOI wedge. The low MOI makes it easier

to manipulate the face and thus easier to work the ball. This is something many better players

want. I'm not good enough to manipulate the face intentionally during my swing....and get a

satisfactory result.  If I am opening a wedge face to hit a shot I just grip the club with the

face already open and then swing normally.  We're all different!😄 

 

I'm not that good but I've noticed the low MOI helps me to get the clubface open to start the swing. This method isn't taught anymore apparently even though some big name players like DJ Johnson use it. I do feel that my new irons and wedges will help me take 5-7 strokes off my hc one because I rarely ever get up and down but also because they are basically blades that remind me to make a controlled swing. I think if I stay patient I can be in the 80's consistently.

[miamistomp]

 If you want to hit a 60 off tight lies - try an old Ram Forged Tom Watson Troon grind

  Very low bounce- I carry one for courses that have hard sand bunkers- but you need to be able to pick ball cleanly

 

Also -ideally a wedge has weight moved AWAY from the hosel so sweet spot is more in the center of the face

 

You should check Edel wedge site for some good info on wedge design

[Fellaheen51]

2 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

I've never hit one of those wedges. There's been a lot of them advertised over the years.  I

guess if you need to hit one further they do make them with less loft. 

 

The scary shot for most, with high loft, is the one from a tight lie or hardpan. Did you try

that wedge from one of those lies by any chance?

 

No, didn't hit it from tighter lies.  Nor from sand.  Only used it the first time because our balls were parked about 4' apart in thick grass.  And was curious with the club he was using.  Then another occurrence when I used it up a steep slope to the green.  Maybe six times total, very small sample size.  Have noticed that he uses it from close in fairway lies, but not what I would label as thin.

 

For awhile, had an original Hogan Sure Out.  Wide(r) sole, but not as wide as the current types IIRC.  Was really good from sand, and other types of thickish lies.  Problematic from thin ones.  Requiring an aggressively steep swing (more than I was comfortable with) to prevent blading the shot.  Would surmise these super wide wedges to play similar.  

 

 

[Conrad1953]

My current 60. It's a wide sole Ping Tour Gorge and works well for my purposes out of sand 

or greenside rough. Custom red, white and blue paint fill courtesy of Peanut's Daddy.

 

[nitram]

 

 

It really is this simple. With just a little practice you're gonna get it up and down 2 out of 3 times or better.

 

https://www.golfchannel.com/video/best-lessons-ever-chip-ray-floyd

Edited August 2, 2021 by nitram

[chipa]

On 7/31/2021 at 2:30 PM, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Concurrence with getting a putter in hand as soon as realistically possible.  No hesitation with putting from 15'+ off the green if there are no obstacles and the turf is not excessively long.  I'll whack away with much better chance for a successful outcome than chipping with an iron.  

 

I don't use a lofted wedge other than for shots that require their usage.  Sand, the high lob due to elevation, or over an obstacle short sided.  Strangely, consider myself a decent sand player.  A shot that doesn't fill me with trepidation.  The same distance shot off turf around the green, either a massive divot chunk or bladed.   If I can take a full swing with the 54* SW (~75 yards) I'm usually OK with that also.  Directional errancy aside.  

 

It's those touchy feely finesse shots that are so troublesome. What should be a simple chip/pitch onto the green with a 9i or PW depending.  Not shooting for the pin, simply getting the ball on the putting surface.  Anywhere.  Totally messes with my head.  I got the yips.  

 

Recent example.  Good drive to position.  A nutted 5 wood to exactly where I wanted to land.  About 40 yards out, the entire green to work with, a simple chip/pitch over a small mound onto the green.  With the slope funneling towards the hole.  Instead, bladed screamer through the green, down a slope, OB.  Drop, hitting 5.  Chunked.  Then another "chip" back across the green.  Two putts latter, walked off with a 9!!  Holy crapola, WTF was that?  A possible birdie opportunity descended to a quadruple.  Took two holes and a beer to unwind from that one.  

 

Such is the nature of things for the average hack golfer I suppose.  Nevertheless.  Should have whacked away with the putter if I had a do over.  Couldn't have been any worse.  

 

 

 

When I first started playing golf my friend called me "no chip" because I what you described was a typical hole. Everyone said to use a putting stroke aand chip with the lowest lofted club that will get the ball rolling as long as you don't have to go over a bunker or through thick rough but when I started playing Phil Mickleson and his flop shots were what everyone wanted to do. It took me over 15 years to figure out that the old school guys were right, by watching Shell's Wonderful World of Golf videos from the 60's and trying it on the course, but now at least I'm on the green consistently. I still do have to manage the high lofted pitch because my course is so hilly, I think I may finally have found the right club. However, even if I hit it will I'm going to stick to the high percentage chip.

[Divot License]

What a topsy turvy weekends golf I had. 

Saturday was a Texas scramble, 3 men and 1 women per team with 3 tee shots each requirement. I could not hit a bad shot. Hit 13 of the 14 fairways from the tee, barely missed a green and chipped it relatively close when I did miss. Wifey played really well also and one of our other guys played well also. My playing partners admitted afterwards I pretty much carried the team around for a gross 67 nett 59. We were well off the lead however with the winners shooing a nett 54 off a 14 handicap. 

 

I've ranted previously about how I think the new scramble handicap calculation is a bad formula so I won't open that door lol

 

Sunday was the usual roll up with the guys, wifey was not booked to play and was going to spend the day on the range and putting green but as we had a cancellation 10 mins before tee off she was dragged into the fray. I played about as bad as I feel I could, barely made contact with the club face off the tee let alone hit a fairway. Everything was a toe hook, with any club above an short iron. Some miracle escape shots and a hot streak with the putter on the back nine creating 3 birdies, salvaged a 9 over 81.  I had to check the card over as that score was far to good for how I was playing, but upon review many holes were drive into crap, hack a shot somewhere near the green and keep getting up and down. Not a fun round but my positive takeaway is that my short game is more solid than I give it credit for. 

 

Our group of 12 played the usual team event of best 2 stableford scores per hole from the 4 playing. Our team didn't stand a chance as one of the other guys shot a "course record" 67 gross and his team cleaned up. The record is contentious purely as it was not in a registered competition but it was all putted out and is the lowest recorded round on the course since the adjustment made 3 years ago. 

 

Wifey is playing really well and has transformed her back swing in the past 3 months to the extent that everyone yesterday commented on it. Her next lesson is on Friday where they are going to work on transition and get rid of her over the top move (a result of her previous bad backswing). I'm following her lesson with one of my own, she uses a different instructor from any at our club as when she worked at the club she wanted to keep her work and her golf lessons separate. Should be an interesting lesson and I'm excited to see what he makes of my swing, his son is a member of our club and is 14 and played of 0.3 currently. 2 years ago he qualified for the junior world championships at Torrey Pines and this year won the adult county pairs championship.
https://www.huntspost.co.uk/sport/twelve-year-old-prodigy-oliver-toyer-off-to-major-event-5181254

[Divot License]

My dad was a master of the 7 iron bump and run shot, he hit it anywhere from the edge of the green to about 40 yards as long as nothing was in the way. 

 

It's always been a shot I traditionally struggle with due to spin control, some would have a little bite, while others would come out flat and roll forever. Eventually I learnt (from an old journeyman tour pro) that it was technique that caused the issue. A few set up tweaks cured the inconsistent spin and now it's my go to green side shot if a valid option. 

[Fellaheen51]

 

1 hour ago, Divot License said:

What a topsy turvy weekends golf I had. 

Saturday was a Texas scramble, 3 men and 1 women per team with 3 tee shots each requirement. I could not hit a bad shot. Hit 13 of the 14 fairways from the tee, barely missed a green and chipped it relatively close when I did miss. Wifey played really well also and one of our other guys played well also. My playing partners admitted afterwards I pretty much carried the team around for a gross 67 nett 59. We were well off the lead however with the winners shooing a nett 54 off a 14 handicap. 

 

I've ranted previously about how I think the new scramble handicap calculation is a bad formula so I won't open that door lol

 

Sunday was the usual roll up with the guys, wifey was not booked to play and was going to spend the day on the range and putting green but as we had a cancellation 10 mins before tee off she was dragged into the fray. I played about as bad as I feel I could, barely made contact with the club face off the tee let alone hit a fairway. Everything was a toe hook, with any club above an short iron. Some miracle escape shots and a hot streak with the putter on the back nine creating 3 birdies, salvaged a 9 over 81.  I had to check the card over as that score was far to good for how I was playing, but upon review many holes were drive into crap, hack a shot somewhere near the green and keep getting up and down. Not a fun round but my positive takeaway is that my short game is more solid than I give it credit for. 

 

Our group of 12 played the usual team event of best 2 stableford scores per hole from the 4 playing. Our team didn't stand a chance as one of the other guys shot a "course record" 67 gross and his team cleaned up. The record is contentious purely as it was not in a registered competition but it was all putted out and is the lowest recorded round on the course since the adjustment made 3 years ago. 

 

Wifey is playing really well and has transformed her back swing in the past 3 months to the extent that everyone yesterday commented on it. Her next lesson is on Friday where they are going to work on transition and get rid of her over the top move (a result of her previous bad backswing). I'm following her lesson with one of my own, she uses a different instructor from any at our club as when she worked at the club she wanted to keep her work and her golf lessons separate. Should be an interesting lesson and I'm excited to see what he makes of my swing, his son is a member of our club and is 14 and played of 0.3 currently. 2 years ago he qualified for the junior world championships at Torrey Pines and this year won the adult county pairs championship.
https://www.huntspost.co.uk/sport/twelve-year-old-prodigy-oliver-toyer-off-to-major-event-5181254

 

Congratulations for Saturday.  Condolences on Sunday.  For the record, only in my dreams do I whack and hack it around for a  "crappy" 81.  Relativism.  Recognizing you have loftier expectations than I.  😁

 

Oliver got game.  Nearly scratch, winning 'ships at 14.  And per the article, only 3 years into taking up the game.  Good for him.  

 

 

Edited August 2, 2021 by Fellaheen51

[nitram]

This putting with loft was the way I was taught to chip decades ago. Back then almost every chip used a 6 or 8 iron. Of course these days that equates to about an 8 and PW but anyway, the most important part of this is calibrating your distances and finding which club offers you the best chance to meet the following air-to-roll ratios. 25%-1 part air to 3 parts roll, 33%-1 part air to 2 parts roll, and 50% 1 to1. For example, in my particular case this equals a 7-iron, 9-iron, and 52* wedge. Just start by trying to hit a 12-foot chip and set a tee at 3 feet, about a foot outside your line. Now take your 6 iron and address it like Mr. Floyd says, putt it trying to land it next to the tee and see how far it rolls out. Hit a dozen or so of these and adjust the iron until you can consistently get your distance (on a flat surface) within a 3 feet circle. Next, move your target tee to 4 feet for the 12 foot chip. Now take 2 clubs less than what you settled on for the 25% drill and repeat trying to hit your target at 4 feet and see which iron allows you the most consistency in finding the 3 foot circle. Lastly, move the tee to 6 feet and repeat.

 

If you will spend 10-15 minutes a day for the next week or whatever your schedule allows and warm up with this before a round you will become comfortable and amazingly proficient with this technique. And if you want to delve a little deeper into it, research Paul Runyan (Little Poison) and follow his "Rule of 12" which is basically the same thing I've mentioned here. It's definitely something you can trust when you find yourself green-side needing to get up and down. Don't be surprised if you even begin to hole them.

 

PS. In lieu of cash donations I simply ask for those of you who find this useful to get with Gus and increase my tab limits. 🍻

 

Edited August 2, 2021 by nitram

[BIG STU]

On 8/1/2021 at 3:05 PM, Conrad1953 said:

 

IMO if you play and/or practice a lot you can get pretty good with a 60. It's all about developing

confidence with that club in your hands and accelerating through the ball. If you get the least

bit wishy washy you'll likely decel coming down and then flipping ^%$^*(&%#&^#!! happens.

I just put my 60 back in the bag ( 588)--- Part of my exercise walking around the yard hitting whiffle balls--- Had been messing with the 60 some just cutting up. I got pretty confident with it again so last week I knew the course I was playing had fluffy greenside bunkers so I put it in. Glad I did because I ended up having to hit 2 flop shots and ended up getting up and down. The only bunker I hit was about 100 yards out so I used the good old 56 there.

[BIG STU]

7 hours ago, Divot License said:

My dad was a master of the 7 iron bump and run shot, he hit it anywhere from the edge of the green to about 40 yards as long as nothing was in the way. 

 

It's always been a shot I traditionally struggle with due to spin control, some would have a little bite, while others would come out flat and roll forever. Eventually I learnt (from an old journeyman tour pro) that it was technique that caused the issue. A few set up tweaks cured the inconsistent spin and now it's my go to green side shot if a valid option. 

My old man was the master of the 5 iron shot like Hubert Green that is IF my old man missed a green. I still do the 5 iron bump and run quite a bit at my home course. Now where I was playing Saturday it was slick bent greens. One hole I was sorta scared of the 5 iron and it being a tight lie definetly not the 56 wedge. Told Bear my playing partner I had not tried this in a while and used the 8 iron. Did well IMHO put it about 6 inches below the hole. But short game is sorta my thing and it is fun practice so I use a variety of different clubs around the green.

[Fellaheen51]

18 hours ago, nitram said:

This putting with loft was the way I was taught to chip decades ago. Back then almost every chip used a 6 or 8 iron. Of course these days that equates to about an 8 and PW but anyway, the most important part of this is calibrating your distances and finding which club offers you the best chance to meet the following air-to-roll ratios. 25%-1 part air to 3 parts roll, 33%-1 part air to 2 parts roll, and 50% 1 to1. For example, in my particular case this equals a 7-iron, 9-iron, and 52* wedge. Just start by trying to hit a 12-foot chip and set a tee at 3 feet, about a foot outside your line. Now take your 6 iron and address it like Mr. Floyd says, putt it trying to land it next to the tee and see how far it rolls out. Hit a dozen or so of these and adjust the iron until you can consistently get your distance (on a flat surface) within a 3 feet circle. Next, move your target tee to 4 feet for the 12 foot chip. Now take 2 clubs less than what you settled on for the 25% drill and repeat trying to hit your target at 4 feet and see which iron allows you the most consistency in finding the 3 foot circle. Lastly, move the tee to 6 feet and repeat.

 

If you will spend 10-15 minutes a day for the next week or whatever your schedule allows and warm up with this before a round you will become comfortable and amazingly proficient with this technique. And if you want to delve a little deeper into it, research Paul Runyan (Little Poison) and follow his "Rule of 12" which is basically the same thing I've mentioned here. It's definitely something you can trust when you find yourself green-side needing to get up and down. Don't be surprised if you even begin to hole them.

 

PS. In lieu of cash donations I simply ask for those of you who find this useful to get with Gus and increase my tab limits. 🍻

 

 

Thanks for posting this.  Haven't had an opportunity to practice this yet, preferably at the range I frequent with a short game area.  But did have the rudiments of the concept in mind when I went out for a "practice" nine at the local goat track yesterday.  Wasn't crowded so I fooled around chipping using a putting stroke and various lofts to gauge distance and rollout.  Chipping to spots on the green rather than using a tee.  Don't know yet if it was fleeting experience, but I seemed to be chipping a bit better than prior.  I was playing solo, so if the first result was unsatisfactory, dropped another ball and tried it again.  Not going to get away with that playing with the buds tomorrow.   But maybe there's some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.  

 

Don't have sway with Gus.  For services rendered Monsieur, feel free to place your grille expenditures on my tab.  I tear up the tab.  It is very convenient.  

 

 

Edited August 3, 2021 by Fellaheen51

[nitram]

Excellent! Just keep working on that 25% in a flat spot and get it down as it's the one you will use the most. Once you get it down the rest will come easier and you can begin to experiment with what to use on uphill and downhill lies and different green speeds. One thing I forgot to mention is to stand the club a little more upright towards the toe. Again, just a little bit. This will reduce the "footprint" of the club and eliminate some of the flubs.

 

Look, I know it'll feel a little weird the first hundred or two strokes but you'll get used to it. Kinda like you'll get used to taking your playing partner's money.

[Divot License]

20 hours ago, nitram said:

This putting with loft was the way I was taught to chip decades ago. Back then almost every chip used a 6 or 8 iron. Of course these days that equates to about an 8 and PW but anyway, the most important part of this is calibrating your distances and finding which club offers you the best chance to meet the following air-to-roll ratios. 25%-1 part air to 3 parts roll, 33%-1 part air to 2 parts roll, and 50% 1 to1. For example, in my particular case this equals a 7-iron, 9-iron, and 52* wedge. Just start by trying to hit a 12-foot chip and set a tee at 3 feet, about a foot outside your line. Now take your 6 iron and address it like Mr. Floyd says, putt it trying to land it next to the tee and see how far it rolls out. Hit a dozen or so of these and adjust the iron until you can consistently get your distance (on a flat surface) within a 3 feet circle. Next, move your target tee to 4 feet for the 12 foot chip. Now take 2 clubs less than what you settled on for the 25% drill and repeat trying to hit your target at 4 feet and see which iron allows you the most consistency in finding the 3 foot circle. Lastly, move the tee to 6 feet and repeat.

 

If you will spend 10-15 minutes a day for the next week or whatever your schedule allows and warm up with this before a round you will become comfortable and amazingly proficient with this technique. And if you want to delve a little deeper into it, research Paul Runyan (Little Poison) and follow his "Rule of 12" which is basically the same thing I've mentioned here. It's definitely something you can trust when you find yourself green-side needing to get up and down. Don't be surprised if you even begin to hole them.

 

PS. In lieu of cash donations I simply ask for those of you who find this useful to get with Gus and increase my tab limits. 🍻

 

 

[Divot License]

 

This is my new favorite YouTube channel. It's not an out and out instruction channel but more a vlog channel of a Europro Tour level professional trying to improve and share his love of the game. He is however very good friends with a Paul Warring (a European Tour winning professional) and Paul appears in many of the episodes. Even when present he doesn't do technical instruction but more provides playing golf advice and ideas to help people improve. Mainly I like this channel for the relationship these two have, and the realistic and helpfu advice about golfing your ball and not trying to make a perfect swing.