How do you play a standard 50 yard shot?

[Skaffa77]

I play a lower spinner pitch like shot. Open up the stance a bit, put the ball toward the back foot, choke up about 1/2 on the grip of my 54* wedge, swing back about half way, hit down on the ball. Low pitch shot that hits surface and stops fairly quickly. It's basically a punch shot with a wedge.

I always used to try that soft, high lob shot, but hitting a standard shot with anything less than 60-70% of my normal swing throws my rhythm off and it's usually a less than ideal result.

[TLUBulldogGolf]

Low driving 60 with spin, one hop forward and stop ideally.

[SnapHooker_307]

First couple months of the season, probably just a low bump and run, trying to hit the front fringe and roll out to the pin. Later in the season, either a low spinner or choke up and open a 58 and try to drop it right by the pin.

[Fjc27]

Poorly

[strug'-a-ling]

Unless it's very windy, I play my lob wedge forward in my stance and hit it pretty hard, making sure not to decelerate. It doesn't have as fast a spin as it would from back in the stance, but descends, wobbling, almost straight down as if by parachute. Often makes a deep ball mark that needs to be repaired and doesn't run at all to speak of. Just sits there like dropping an egg on concrete. Distance control is either good or bad. I don't practice much.

Terrible shot to play in the wind, though. Then, if not short sided, I try to run it on with a short swing and a pitching wedge to the near edge.

Nothing standard about a 50 yard pitch to the green, though, That's usually a badly missed approach shot for me, but it definitely happens.

[CaddiesFault]

my 58* 3/4 swing goes 75yds for reference.

for 50 yards:

narrow stance with ball slightly back in stance(similar to all my wedge shots) and as soon as i feel my wrist start to hinge, i stop and start the downswing. goes 50-55yds when hit correctly.

 

Definitely one of the harder shots for me. I can use my chipping motion up to 30-35 yards, and am very comfortable at 75yds. In between there is tough!

[Myherobobhope]

I never could get the low spinner to work consistently... I take a shorter swing with a blade first mentality to use the clubs loft... high and soft. Distance is more consistent with little wind.

 

im aggressively working on my short game, so hopefully this answer changes

[cardoustie]

3/4 64 degree or I knock down my 64 off the middle of my stance

PM grind is like cheating for these shots

[OrangeGravy]

To get the low spinner to work consistently for me, I have to be really shallow/wide. Steep and narrow = chunk city and no distance control. Not sure if that's a common or just unique to me.

[Golfjack]

Question: Knocking down 64 versus a 56 or 60 degree regular pitch for 50 yards. Wouldn't the lower degree wedges be easier to use and execute with more bounce forgiveness? Would love to know why you make this choice. Thanks!

[dpark]

I am a big Pelz fan for the short game.

50 yards shot as described by the OP is just a 9 o'clock backswing 56* SW. Nothing special. Wouldn't even think more than 2 seconds about it.

But bring up wind, false front, water behind the green or other kinds of trouble, then there are at least 3 other shots I could hit with a 48* PW, 52* GW or 60* LW

[aenemated]

So many other variables but if I assume a typical green I encounter in LA and have a clear shot, looking into the slope - my go to is a knock down, 1/4 52° wedge that flies low, bumps and checks.

Really, outside of extraordinary circumstances, I'm going to use my 52° somehow, someway.

[Myherobobhope]

I'll give that a try whenever I can get back to the range (kids just got the boot from school, so my mornings of freedom are no longer available). I think, more than anything, I was trying to do too much and learn a new shot AND how to control it's distance, without putting in the practice to earn it. This year my focus is on distance control first, with a swing I'm comfortable with. Once I get half swings more consistent, I might start trying to tinker with flight and spin.

I did not have huge problems HITTING the shot (very open stance, ball in the back of my setup)... I just had trouble generating consistency with it. I think I was trying to muscle it through, which led to inconsistent direction and length. I wasn't uncomfortable with the shot, I just wasn't consistent... I also did not devote much range time to consistency last year. It's something I'm working on this year.