Chipping with a 5 iron

[doctor220]

1 hour ago, Cwebb said:

 

Incorrect.  Speed is no issue at all, if you use a short enough swing.  The problem is that most players are so used to a longer pitching swing length for everything.  A chip is a shorter back swing,....then speed control becomes nearly as easy as a putt.

 

and the first bounce is more predictable, because a lot of spin is being taken off.  So whether you happen to land on a soft spot, a firm spot, grain, no grain,....the ball behaves more consistently.

 

Ya darn if only those tour pros knew how to play golf , grandpa who was on tour 40 years ago says he’s got the magic recipe 

[J-Blade]

All I can add is, pros are way better with wedges and every other club than we are, even if you are a low handicapper, I think. Therefore, the less lofted iron with a putting stroke approach might work better for some of us. Practice it and see. It did work for me in college, but then, that was over 40 years ago. For a while before he passed a few years ago, my college coach taught at one of the local courses. I should have asked him what the current thinking was on that issue and if he still taught that. 

 

I'm going to practice with several irons and see how it goes. My gamer iron set are Ping ISIs, so I assume the lofts are more old school than more modern irons. 

 

I remember reading Tom Kite's instruction book many years ago and he sometimes used bellied wedges around the green. I tried that a few times and it was ugly, but then I am not Tom Kite. I'm rereading Harvey Penick's books right now. Let's see what he says..

[smashdn]

Bellied wedge is a good play sometimes.

 

I practice them as part of a putting drill.  You have to have a pure strike to get the ball moving and rolling correctly with a wedge.  I feel like it helps me make better contact with my putter.

[Cwebb]

4 minutes ago, J-Blade said:

All I can add is, pros are way better with wedges and every other club than we are, even if you are a low handicapper, I think. Therefore, the less lofted iron with a putting stroke approach might work better for some of us. Practice it and see. It did work for me in college, but then, that was over 40 years ago. For a while before he passed a few years ago, my college coach taught at one of the local courses. I should have asked him what the current thinking was on that issue and if he still taught that. 

 

I'm going to practice with several irons and see how it goes. My gamer iron set are Ping ISIs, so I assume the lofts are more old school than more modern irons. 

 

I remember reading Tom Kite's instruction book many years ago and he sometimes used bellied wedges around the green. I tried that a few times and it was ugly, but then I am not Tom Kite. I'm rereading Harvey Penick's books right now. Let's see what he says..

 

Also look into Ray Floyd's book "Scoring"

 

[Cwebb]

29 minutes ago, doctor220 said:

Ya darn if only those tour pros knew how to play golf , grandpa who was on tour 40 years ago says he’s got the magic recipe 

 

That's a narrow minded and sad perspective.  Consider that this thread was started, because a high ranked tour player has decided to try it in a major. 

 

Most tour players have teachers as well and are regularly thinking about and trying new things, to maybe save a stroke here or there

Edited June 13 by Cwebb

[doctor220]

38 minutes ago, Cwebb said:

 

That's a narrow minded and sad perspective.  Consider that this thread was started, because a high ranked tour player has decided to try it in a major. 

 

Most tour players have teachers as well and are regularly thinking about and trying new things, to maybe save a stroke here or there

Trying it in a practice round and actually doing it are two different things. Sure you can try new stuff but a blanket statement of “ lots of folks on tour would do better chipping more irons “ is just wrong. If you said Joe local 20 cap, maybe but absolutely not for tour pros. 

[Haroputt]

I use 5 iron for chipping as well as my LW 

I hole out with 5 iron chipping this season 

it depends on the greens 

I don’t watch much golf anymore  

I recall Kaymer who won the last US open at Pinehurst used a putter a lot for off the green while the other players were using wedge. 
I believe it was the shape of the pinehurst #2 course were mostly green with turtle back slopes Not sure what it’s like now but lower loft chip club or putter  might be a better option at this course of the greens are still the same 

Edited June 13 by Haroputt

[GoGoErky]

4 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

I didn't say it was hard or not doable.  I said I wouldn't use a traditionally lofted 5i, much less a strong lofted one.  There's no need for that loft inside the yardages you state.  I am used to large 11-12+ stimp greens, never used more than a 7i.

 

FYI, pros are not used to using much more than 9i for chipping.  If someone uses 5i, it will be fun to watch.  Yesterday, I watched an announcer use 5i and putter from just off the green.  The result wasn't good for either.

 

If that works for your game, fine.

It’s a great shot to have. Being able to use that club can help on long chips, is one the green to roll the ball like a putt. Is it great for every course no but it’s a good shot to have in the bag 

[J-Blade]

At the US Open just now, Sahith Thegala, whom I know from Pepperdine before I retired (Super nice guy, by the way) just holed out on a chip and run using his 5 iron... The defense rests 🙂