PW as a chipper

[SkrappyHacker1]

Does anyone else do this? My 44° PW is the club I feel most confident with when chipping. I used to use my 50° gap wedge for chip shots but never hit it consistently.

 

I know, I know. Just buy a damn chipper

[Mcgeeno]

I'll use all sorts of clubs from a 7i all the way to LW depending on the shot. Nothing crazy about hitting a little bump shot with a PW.

 

I think thats more "old school" as I see the majority of the good juniors using one club for all shots.

[Loki]

A "damn chipper" is a waste of real estate.

[Mustard_Tiger]

For any shot around the green that I want to keep low to the ground (in other words, chip) I use my 46 degree PW (Titleist 718 AP2). For shots around the green I want to get in the air I use my 60 degree LW. My preference, when possible, is to use the 46. Of course that's not always possible.

 

I truly don't understand people who use a 58 or 60 degree wedge exclusively around the green.

[lefthack]

When I first learned I didn't have a PW, only a SW and learned to do everything with it. Now I have 3 wedges, but use my 52/8 for almost everything inside of 30 yards minus heavy rough or sand, then it's 56. But my PW is good for everything from 100-30 yards.

[@_the_crook]

depends on the lie, what you need to clear and the rollout desired.

you don't need high flight if the runway is open.

choke down on a five iron.

wedges - we don't need no stinkin' wedges.

 

 

[Mr. Clean]

What is a wedge?  I have an equalizer👍🏻
 

You can “chip” with any club in the bag, no constraints for me 👋🏻

 

[cgasucks]

2 hours ago, SkrappyHacker1 said:

Does anyone else do this? My 44° PW is the club I feel most confident with when chipping. I used to use my 50° gap wedge for chip shots but never hit it consistently.

 

I know, I know. Just buy a damn chipper

 

A 44d club is a 9 iron in my world.  Aside from that.  If you're confident chipping with that club, good, nothing wrong with that. 

 

Whatever works for you.

[Soloman1]

Yes, a Pitching Wedge is good for, uh, pitching.

[FootWedge16]

A majority of amateurs would shoot lower scores if they used bump and runs with an 8, 9, or pw in almost every situation that doesn’t require a flop.

 

 

[Ghostwedge]

When I started playing Jack ( yes, that Jack) told me chip and pitch with a PW.

Then Kite (yes, that Tom) came along and said use 3-4 wedges and some guy named Pelz (yes, that Dave) said use 5i thru lob and create 36 different shots.

I stuck with Jack, phew......

[ChipNRun]

Chip with the club that works.

 

Inside 20 yards, I use either a 7i chip and run, or a cut shot (not lob shot) with a 58* LW.

 

Some days, if the greenside grass is a shaggy 1-inch long, I will use a PW.

[TomRUtah]

2 hours ago, Mustard_Tiger said:

For any shot around the green that I want to keep low to the ground (in other words, chip) I use my 46 degree PW (Titleist 718 AP2). For shots around the green I want to get in the air I use my 60 degree LW. My preference, when possible, is to use the 46. Of course that's not always possible.

 

I truly don't understand people who use a 58 or 60 degree wedge exclusively around the green.

 

I'm the same, though I use a 58º when I need to get it in the air.  Occasionally, I'll use the GW in lieu of the PW.

[Righty to Lefty]

44 degrees is a 9 iron but it is a very good technique to apply whenever possible.  I had to break myself of always pulling out a bunch of loft just because I am close to the green and started using a variety of clubs to get the ball on  the ground and rolling as quickly as possible. There is a time and a place where loft is needed but I want to be forced into hitting those shots and not automatically defaulting to them.  The less loft used the more the shot feels like a putt and so my scrambling percentages were definitely showing improvement.  

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Mark O'Meara and Craig Stadler used lob wedges for the full variety of shots around the green, including chip and runs. Takes a sound technique, practice and patience to make a single club work for all shots, attributes which are in very short supply these days. (Well played Phil, he can do it as well.)

[Bad9]

90% of my non bunker shots inside 100yds is done with my GW which is 50°. If I really need to hit it high or try to stop the ball really quick i use my 58° lob.

[PJE]

Depends upon the shot you want or need to hit and the green contours and speed, but if it's working go with it. 

Several years ago, people often chipped with pitching wedges, 9 irons, and 8 irons. It's less common today.  I think because today's club lofts are stronger.  Many people also play game improvement irons which can be chunky and kind of awkward for chipping. 

[SkrappyHacker1]

15 hours ago, cgasucks said:

 

A 44d club is a 9 iron in my world.  Aside from that.  If you're confident chipping with that club, good, nothing wrong with that. 

 

Whatever works for you.

 

9 hours ago, Righty to Lefty said:

44 degrees is a 9 iron but it is a very good technique to apply whenever possible.  I had to break myself of always pulling out a bunch of loft just because I am close to the green and started using a variety of clubs to get the ball on  the ground and rolling as quickly as possible. There is a time and a place where loft is needed but I want to be forced into hitting those shots and not automatically defaulting to them.  The less loft used the more the shot feels like a putt and so my scrambling percentages were definitely showing improvement.  

 

My PW is 44°. 9i is 39°

[Vinsanity23]

1 hour ago, SkrappyHacker1 said:

 

 

My PW is 44°. 9i is 39°

Yes, however, these are more or less loft jacking statements 

[Pepperturbo]

Green conditions (speed & undulations) and desired shot determine which club is best for chipping or baby pitch shots.  It can be LW (58'), SW (52'), PW (47') even 9i (43').  Almost daily I practice fully open face as well as toe chipping and LW/SW leading edge putting too.   The one thing I don't do is use the same club for every shot; it's a recipe for coming up short of the pin, possibly long, and not getting up and down.   

Edited May 25, 2021 by Pepperturbo

[SkrappyHacker1]

37 minutes ago, Vinsanity23 said:

Yes, however, these are more or less loft jacking statements 

More like delofting

[blink3665]

18 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

Green conditions (speed & undulations) and desired shot determine which club is best for chipping or baby pitch shots.  It can be LW (58'), SW (52'), PW (47') even 9i (43').  Almost daily I practice fully open face as well as toe chipping and LW/SW leading edge putting too.   The one thing I don't do is use the same club for every shot; it's a recipe for coming up short of the pin, possibly long, and not getting up and down.   

 

I dont often agree with Pepperturbo... but here we are. 🤣

 

Use the best tool for the job at hand. Depending on lie, conditions, distance to fly, impediments, how fast it needs to stop, etc... All those things will change what club I use for a chip or pitch. My yard is a horrible mix of deep rough, tight lies, dead grass, swales, and uneven ground. I throw a bunch of balls down and play em as they lie. It requires a ton of different clubs and different shots with those clubs.

 

No need to waste a spot in your bag for a chipper. Use whatever you feel comfortable with. Hell, I've used a hybrid for certain shots around the green.

[mark m]

Yes. Pull the clubs you are comfortable using. For me, it’s typically 8i to LW depending the shot; distance, carry, run out, undulations, and soon.
So I’m at the Old Course a few years ago and had a chip shot, and Douglas my caddie says, “Seve would’ve used a 9i here.” I agreed on the shot type. I laughed, Douglas was a beauty, former club pro, knew the game and I said OK, “give me the PW, loft is about the same as Seve’s 9i.” Chipped it up there close. He had a flask. A little Whisky doesn’t hurt. He was a character. Good times. 

Edited May 26, 2021 by mark m

[Ferguson]

I was taught at a young age, "get the ball on the green and rolling like a putt."   

 

If you want to be a better chipper - do some research,  Tom Kite and Harvey Penick. 

[theorangeman]

I used to have a chipper and loved it.  Now that I live on a golf course and practice/play nearly every day, I decided to get rid of it.  I'm glad I did but it was definitely an adjustment.  The clubs I use the most are my utility wedge (gap) and sand wedge.  When I have a fluffy lie and need even more loft, I pull out my 58*.  I started using my wedge a bit more lately but need to get more practice under my belt with it.  I would imagine my 8 and 9 iron will be used eventually but not yet... baby steps.

Edited May 26, 2021 by theorangeman

[JeffreySpicoli]

3 hours ago, Ferguson said:

I was taught at a young age, "get the ball on the green and rolling like a putt."   

 

If you want to be a better chipper - do some research,  Tom Kite and Harvey Penick. 

I was taught the same. I use the lowest lofted club that I can.

[theorangeman]

Just now, JeffreySpicoli said:

I was taught the same. I use the lowest lofted club that I can.

 

Probably makes sense.  Since joining a new club with super fast greens, I've found myself liking more loft though.  I've had a hell of a time getting the speed right and have had more success popping it up a bit more.  Not sure this is the right strategy but it's what naturally I've gravitated towards.

[JeffreySpicoli]

3 minutes ago, theorangeman said:

 

Probably makes sense.  Since joining a new club with super fast greens, I've found myself liking more loft though.  I've had a hell of a time getting the speed right and have had more success popping it up a bit more.  Not sure this is the right strategy but it's what naturally I've gravitated towards.

You bring up an interesting point as far as green speeds. I was taught golf in the 1970s when greens were slower.

 

To be fair, I have modified my approach by chipping/pitching over areas on the outskirts of the green that would cause major speed or direction changes. This wasn’t as much of an issue with slower greens.

 

Having said that, I still use the lowest lofted club possible expect for the above caveat.

[DavidCrockett]

I choose the wedge with the appropriate bounce (and sometimes grind) for the intended shot.  These are far more important to me than loft.

[Paddy_2_Iron]

Depends how far away I am.  For "pitching" I use a 45 degree pitching wedge.  (Usually)

Edited May 26, 2021 by Paddy_2_Iron