Punch out club?

[Seattlegolfnut]

1 minute ago, kiwihacker said:

To me there are two situations. One is where you have very little option but to chip the ball back into play be it anywhere from 10-50 yards. Employing the technique you describe makes sense in that situation. The second situation that I find myself in more often is where you have an opening and can hit a full shot but you have to start the shot low to get it under the trees. For this shot I play it off my back foot and swing hard with a normal grip. I can hit this shot about 180-190 which is normal distance for my 4/5 iron. 

Good summary there. I'm okay with the first one; similar to what @Krt22 described for the course-management shot. The one I have so-so results is like the latter, except without the room for a full shot backswing...not even a half shot sometimes. But lots of fairway ahead if I could just hit a low screaming bullet few feet off the turf.

 

This and all the other responses are giving me lots of ideas to work on. I'll hit the range and attempt to get some clarity, or at least feel a path forward...

[Marty86]

I use anything from a PW-6 to punch out, just all depends on how far I need it to run out. I can also use a half swing 3h but its not as consistent in terms of where I want it to go.  I need to try my 5i and see if I cna bunch that out even lower but with more rollout. I've been experimenting a lot with this though as if I do hit into the trees I can usually take a line whether sideways or forward (depending where I have the more confident opening), and each result in different distances I need to hit. 

[BallerNate]

1 hour ago, Seattlegolfnut said:

Appreciate that! I've never really learned that bump and run being in the Northwest where there's usually a bump but no run most of the year on soggy grass. Thankfully that hasn't been the case the last several weeks!

Gotcha. Well, the Bump & Run and Punch shots are very similar mechanics and are clutch to have in your tool bag for sure!

 

I had a “Chipper” while I was learning to play, so that’s probably why those shots are so natural for me. Both worth the effort to practice at and be able to execute for sure.

[toypor]

Learn from the master. 

[Barfolomew]

Nothin is worse then when someone or me lol hits a punch out shot through the fairway into the rough on the other side.... compound one mistake with another.... you already cost yourself 1 stroke leave it at 1 stroke lol...

 

That fairway is 200 feet wide and you were so greedy you had to hit it 205 as if you couldn't stop it 100 feet shorter and be in the short stuff haha

[ChipNRun]

22 hours ago, Seattlegolfnut said:

At least once a round I find myself in the trees wishing I had a club that I could punch out ~100 yards and fly it about 5 feet off the ground like a low bullet.
 

My lowest lofted iron is a 22* 4 iron. Usually when I need to punch, I grip way down on the shaft (past the grip) and dramatically forward lean to deloft.

 

You have a workable strategy: get the ball out into the fairway and set up a short approach, hopefully for an up-and-down.

 

To hit the ball low, practice hitting the shot with a half and three-quarter swing. Assuming you play right-handed: sweep through the ball smoothly with solid left-side control. Ball will stay lower if you don't overly compress it and cause it to rise. Try it with your 4i.

 

Also, try it with 6i for more control.  You could toe it in a bit to deloft it, and aim slightly to right the ball will hook slightly and run out into the fairway.

 

Thee two shots are not hard to master. Plus, the pair will open up new understanding of ball flight for you.

[LCP]

You really just need lower loft. Our course regularly has overgrown trees near the fairway and I've been punching out of them for years. Sometimes a 22º iron might work, but lots of times its just way too much loft. Now I use an 18º 2 iron.  It ROCKS for this kind of stuff. Before I had a 2 iron, I had a 17º hybrid and it worked pretty good, but I just have more control and confidence with the 2 iron.  If it really needs to be really low, I've even used my 12º strong 3 wood.  With a de-loft and a punch swing, that thing can go 200 yards and never get more than 4 feet off the ground.

[ShowMe]

Hand wedge.  Works great out of bunkers, too.

[LoopySwing13]

Try setting up with the ball 1-2 balls behind center.. lean 60-40 toward the target, and feel you rotate around your front leg without swaying back. This changes your swing arc to bottom out past your leg and produce a low flight. 
 

I do this with any club from 52*-4I depending on yardages and windows for flight in front of me. Also, use tempo and SS to control distance and flight too. Often times when you try to swing aggressive you will end up launching the ball higher. 

[PEI_Golfer]

18 hours ago, Seattlegolfnut said:

Gotcha on that...makes sense.

 

I'm with you that I don't find it hard. Just feels really uncomfortable (unnatural) to choke down on the 4i so much with my bottom hand on the shaft; hence my question about any equipment out there that was more wedge-length with a lower lofted head. I figured not but was curious.

 

You gripping down that much is more on you with a lack of confidence and technique.  

 

As I said, it doesn't take much effort to hit a ball 100y (if that is needed for a punch out) with a 4i.  Even try some 1 handed swings where you can't accelerate that much and have to focus on making good contact and you'll see it fly at least 50-70y's.

[bladehunter]

All depends on how far I’m trying to hit it. Could be 4 iron to lob wedge.  But any club will be off or behind my back foot.  Keep your head down.  Fight the urge to watch. And pick a tiny target to hit the ball through or at.  Always a target.  I think a lot  of folks fail at layups because they do not pick a target. They just swing at the fairway as a whole. Pick a divot or tuft of grass or something to try to hit. 

[uglande]

My all-time favorite punch-out club is my Mizuno MP-20 blade 4 iron. It's not always in the bag, so if not then it's the 5 iron. But I love punching out with a thin-soled, low-bounce club because it's usually a shot off of hardpan, dirt or dried-out grass. If it's a fluffier lie, then I might pick something else. But 9/10 it's my lowest lofted iron. 

[MattM97]

Like @bladehuntersaid it all depends on the situation. Am I trying to advance this ball as far forward as possible while under a tree then I'm looking at a 4 to 6i depending on where I'm standing. If I'm just going out sideways then I was like an 9 to PW just to get me in the fairway for a better shot. 

[White&Gold]

I've always preferred my 4i. While an 18* H may be the better option, I don't feel as comfortable playing it unless its the perfect lie. So a 4i allows me to use the same club no matter what shot/lie is required. 

 

I've always tried to play the ball into the fairway at an early entry point, then shape the ball so that it runs toward the green. This makes distance control less important, which is great because I'm not going to spend hours on the range leaning to control choke down 4i distance. Much easier to just play a conservative entry point into the fairway, and either draw or fade your way toward the green. Actually, it ends up being more of a true hook/slice. I'm no shot shaping expert, but I have good success putting the ball either far forward(slice) or far back(draw) in my stance.

[jac1292]

I almost exclusively use a 6 iron. I would say unless you're in a special situation, getting used to punching a certain club 100 yards then adjusting length of swing to control distance is the way to go. For me, a six iron comes out low with little spin. A waist high back swing gets me around 100 yards. 

[iNeedMoreGolf]

Its literally a must have shot for me... sometimes o find myself under some trees... i take usually 4iron and keep it low... i can even hook a low one left if i have to.. most of the time it goes ok.

[Seattlegolfnut]

You guys have all been awesome with your replies. I really like this forum. 🙂

[mootrail]

On 8/9/2021 at 12:47 AM, JungleJimbo said:

How about experimenting with a cobra one length...

 

No need to experiment.

 

I carry the King Utility Black One 4 instead of a 5 iron.  It's amazingly easy to punch out with this tiny club.  No weird flat lie angle with a long iron or hybrid.  No need to grip down.  Really easy to hit from the turf or tee, but it's only 5 iron long.

 

I sometimes carry a King F8 One Hybrid 5 instead of a 6 iron.  It's an insanely good trouble club, but the Utility is better at the straight punch shot.

 

 

[philly2kuk]

On 8/9/2021 at 1:41 PM, ode said:

Try to learn how to pitch, chip with all of your clubs, like you do when close to the green.  If you ever play solo throw a ball down at 100 yards and hit a punch shot to the green and see what club works the best.  You might be surprised at what that ends up being.

This is exactly what I was going to say and something my first coach told me, “always practice every shot with all your clubs”. I could use anything from an 8 iron up to 4 iron for something under 5ft depending on the distance I want and how much flight/roll.

Edited August 12, 2021 by philly2kuk

[rkinsm03]

I think this same exercise, quarter to half swings on the range with a variety of clubs, not only helps for the "escape" but also helps dial in some feels and the brain thought re path/alignment/face angles.  Doing this with 3w, 9i, 6i, 3i fairly regularly can help you be comfortable with "how low can I go with this club, and how far?"  Pick a very specific range target to help with alignment and ball path ie threading the trees . . . 

[bnperrone]

Looks like hitting punch shots has been covered, but one thing I can say for sure is that if I was carrying 13 clubs I'd absolutely add a driving iron. I had an MP-H5 1-iron for years, but the clubs on the market now are so good since driving irons became mainstream.

[Seattlegolfnut]

54 minutes ago, bnperrone said:

Looks like hitting punch shots has been covered, but one thing I can say for sure is that if I was carrying 13 clubs I'd absolutely add a driving iron. I had an MP-H5 1-iron for years, but the clubs on the market now are so good since driving irons became mainstream.

I'm thinking the same thing after digesting all the feedback. Will work on getting more comfortable with not choking down and hitting longer club punch shots, but I could see some multi-use for a low-lofted driving iron while I still keep my traditional irons capped at the 4i (22*) and woods / hybrids for most of the longer tee / fairway shots.

[crazygolfnut]

I use my 3 wood almost all the time.  Easy punch out between 100 and 170 yards depending on conditions. 

[garyt]

I choke down to the shaft on my 3 wood . It's the only way I can keep it really low and still get good distance.

[NNJ111]

has anyone ever tried a 2 or 3 iron, with weight added, the lie set at 1.5 flat and the shaft 1.5 inches short (or 2 flat and 2 inches shorter) which plays at stiffer flex than their normal set of iron shafts? Ie basically a lower lofted 3 iron with a 6 iron shaft?

 

was thinking of getting a maltby 3 iron with a PX LS 7.0 shaft cut short with lie properly adjusted as an experiment for the shot OP needs, as well as for worm burners or a super low cut and curious if anyone has ever done this…

 

I know the answer is learn how to hit a stinger consistently, and I’m working on it, but often I’m in a lie where the shorter shaft would really help, and my 2 utility and 4 and 5 irons (ZX5) tend to really want to launch the ball 

[Seattlegolfnut]

1 hour ago, NNJ111 said:

has anyone ever tried a 2 or 3 iron, with weight added, the lie set at 1.5 flat and the shaft 1.5 inches short (or 2 flat and 2 inches shorter) which plays at stiffer flex than their normal set of iron shafts? Ie basically a lower lofted 3 iron with a 6 iron shaft?

 

was thinking of getting a maltby 3 iron with a PX LS 7.0 shaft cut short with lie properly adjusted as an experiment for the shot OP needs, as well as for worm burners or a super low cut and curious if anyone has ever done this…

 

I know the answer is learn how to hit a stinger consistently, and I’m working on it, but often I’m in a lie where the shorter shaft would really help, and my 2 utility and 4 and 5 irons (ZX5) tend to really want to launch the ball 

you and me are golfing twins....that was really the intent of my OP post.

 

Haven't yet found any special clubs out there (e.g. like how there's a high lofted special "chipper") made for hitting low bullets out of trees when the branches hang down 5' from the pine cones and only enough room for small club chip length swing. That's what really forces me to choke down onto the shaft of a 4iron and try to deloft it to fly it low and far (when there's tons of fairway ahead of me).

 

I may experiment and make one like you describe from an old 2 iron.

Edited August 12, 2021 by Seattlegolfnut

[NNJ111]

57 minutes ago, Seattlegolfnut said:

you and me are golfing twins....that was really the intent of my OP post.

…

I may experiment and make one like you describe from an old 2 iron.

I think I’m going to do the same, we can update the group later haha…

 

Part of me thinks this could be useful for me. I would probably get more from this than a fairway or 2 hybrid/utility at most places I play 

[kevinricci]

If you play it back in your stance, it will add backspin, which you don't want for a low runner. Play it in the center and don't swing too fast.

[nitram]

Shaft parallel backswing to 3:00 finish with a 24* 4-iron

[Stinger83]

punch out shots are so fun. of all the shots in golf . bending a low 4i under/around/and over a tree is the most exciting