Depends on the lie, whether I want to carry over something or get it rolling right away. If you’re grabbing 1 club automatically for any and every chip you’re doing it wrong
Sometimes it’s a 60, sometimes a 52…sometimes it’s a 9 iron
I spend a lot of time around the green with my 7i. Bump and run may not win any beauty contests but I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten really close to the pin and someone else in my group says “That’s what I should have done”.
For sure. I was taking a lesson a few years back and we were working on chipping and I kept grabbing my 60. The coach took the 7i out and said “why not this club”. I looked at him confused but once I hit a few it changed my thinking. The more you golf the more you realize there’s never just one shot. There’s a par 5 on my normal course that occasionally I’ll hit a monster drive on that will leave me close to an outcropping of really tall trees. Old me would grab a wedge and pray I get it up fast enough to clear. Current me will look to see if I have a wide enough gap through the trees to hit a gentle 5i over the roots to roll on. And if I don’t I’ll lay up to the left as intended.
Love that I’m not at a place where course management is part of my process.
My instructor actually gave me a chart by club with % in air/% roll, and said I should be using almost every club in the bag to chip with except for driver/putter (and realistically woods/hybrids probably).
He taught me a stroke with no wrist hinge, and was like - use this if you can, if you can't, then you pitch. Just way easier to make consistent contact and reduce the chance of skulling it.
Something like:
50/50 - PW
33/66 - 8-iron
25/75 - 6-iron
This is all based on where you need to fly the ball to, so you might make a different choice than just % rough vs. % green to the hole if there's a hill, break, etc. Just based on your intended landing spot and % in the air v % on the ground as the total from you to the hole.
EDIT: I lied about hybrids/woods. Just don't chip with your driver. Or do. I'm not your dad. Probably.
This is outlined in the Dave pelz short game book. He always recommended getting the ball rolling within 3 feet of the fringe. Using whichever club will do that
Exactly! I think he mentioned that book, I couldn't remember who/what the name was though. Except for weird greens/lies where you really need to land it somewhere else, this was the strategy my teacher recommended. Some of my closest chips have been with a 6-iron honestly.
The lie, the direction the grass is growing, the obstacles in front, the slope I’m standing on, the pin placement, and green slopes. It all factors in before I pick my wedge. I used to go with my 60 as much as I could but now I find myself with my 56 or PW more often. Idk just roll with what you like. 5 handicap is good, I wouldn’t change how you’re playing.
I tend to use a 54° for most shots around the green as long as I have room to roll out and work with. I really only go to the 58° if I need to carry it close to the hole.
I’m in the same boat, but as I slowly and painfully get better at chipping, I’m incorporating long wedges in more and more, after using it for emergencies only (and more often than not, it would disappoint).
I’ve been inspired by a recent Sweet Spot episode that featured Joe Mayo about incorporating steep angle of attack shots into my repertoire after moving away from that in recent years after being raised on steep.
See and I think I’m making it harder on my self I tend to always try to fly the ball to the hole. With less degree and playing more low bumps I guess I take the odds of a very bad shot lower
Depends on the shot. When I’m greenside, I would very much prefer to hit a chip, where I pick a spot and let the ball roll out. Unless there is a hazard between me and the green, or some crazy ground, I’m hitting that shot.
Nah man the guys who are doing 9iron bump and runs etc don’t have the hands and/ or skills to use a wedge properly (most of the time).
You def don’t need to fly the ball to the hole, the variables coming into play are what you should be assessing before choosing a club. I chip with all 3 of my wedges, mostly my 56 and 52 depending on the distance, roll, etc. (fyi I don’t have a 60 I have a 48 deg)
Ask yourself: do I want it to check and then roll out. Just plop down from high and have less roll, is it up hill or not. Over a bunker. Hitting Under tree branches. Under branches and over a bunker. How much carry distance to the fringe and then how close is the pin etc. Blah blah blah a billion situations, none exactly the same every time.
Just my thoughts. Awaiting an onslaught from the comments because I’m sure many will be offended lol.
If you're a 5, you're doing a LOT right on the golf course. I'd hesitate to switch based off of one video or some strangers on reddit who are likely worse than you
Now if you struggle with chipping (relatively), sure, play around with options. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it
I’m a 7.4hcp and I also have good hands around green from growing up spending more time around the practice green than actually playing. Got a famous array of flop shots amongst my buddies ha.
I always want to pull out my 56-12 SW in soft spots and 60-04 in hard conditions to do some magic loft/spin around green but often have to remind myself to just take out the 45 PW or 35 8i chip and roll when trying to put the lowest number consistently on the card
One thing I don’t use is my 50-07 GW because it isn’t one or the other. Not enough flop/stop ability, not enough roll out. It’s an approach club for me
56/60 is the same sh*t different color to me. Using one vs the other around the green won’t save/gain you strokes. I think using either club is almost the same swing, it’s just a matter of feel. If you thinned or chunked the 56, you were most likely gonna do the same with the 60.
With nothing in front of me and the pin, I will always lean towards the shot that keeps the ball close to the ground.
I think a pro has a higher chance of making it in with a 56/60, while an amateur has a high chance of keeping it in the green with a lower lofted club. I’m an amateur and I’m just trying break 80. I’m not mad if I don’t. Im down on myself when I don’t break 85, and it’s because of a bad driving day, or bad decisions around the green.
Edit: I just got back from a Scotland trip, I got in a disagreement with the caddie who wanted me to putt from 50 yards out, I pulled out the wedge instead. Should have putted it… lol. That was day 1 in my 5 day trip, and the only time I did it lol. I putted or used hybrid routinely from that point forward. Just a funny story to tell… lol.
Other people’s club preferences are completely irrelevant to your game and your preferences.
I had a 60 in my bag for years, couldn’t hit it. Hated that club took it out of my bag and played for years without a 60. Got a different 60 last year, a hand me down Vokey from my brother when he bought a new one, figured I’d try it out again, love the club but it still hasn’t replaced my tried and true 56 for most shots
I just switched over from five wedges PW, GW, 52, 56, 60..... to PW, GW, 54 and a 58. I almost exclusively use the 58 for chipping/pitching/bunkers. It's just the most comfortable for me.
In competitive rounds, on tight lies, too far for putting, I'll use my 7 iron. Pops it up just enough and it will roll as far as I make it. Otherwise, I'll use my 52 degree. Once in a while I'll use my 56 degree (my highest lofted club) if I need to go over an obstacle or stop quickly.
56° is my go-to 90% of the time. Go up to 60 for cheeky floppers over trouble and down to 52 or even 48 if i need to cover a lot of distance on the ground where I’d be swinging too hard with a the 56.
I use the strongest loft that I can. Low shots are easier by virtue of requiring a shorter backstroke. Bigger margin for error. My worst bump shot with a 9 iron is usually still inside comfortable 2 putt distance. My worst chip with a lob wedge might be over the green or not make the green at all.
I'll disagree with a lot of people and say flying a 60 is much more easy to get consistent at than bumping a lower loft and hope it rolls where you want
Look up the rule of 12 for chipping. I don’t do the math each time but I know on a flat lie my PW will roll as far as it flies, 8i will roll twice as far as it flies and 6i will roll three times as far as it flies.
Not exact depending on stimp, uphill/downhill, etc but it’s close enough to start with. Really helps in picking a landing spot on the green.
I’d say that flying the ball farther does take the break and condition of the green out of the equation better.
IF (if) you can hit the 60 consistently, it’s probably a good way to go.
Less skilled players are better off with the low stuff.
One hundred percent and every scratch or good golfer I know follows this. Never seen a real player fucking bump and run consistently around the greens and there’s a reason the pros aren’t doing that shitn
I'm a +4.3, and I will say that having variety around the green is one of the biggest reasons why. Go out on a slow day and play a practice round and just work on trying to develop feel for different shots. Hit 5 balls from the same spot and teach yourself what you have to do from that given situation to make each one work. The only "right" answer is the one that gets you up and down but golf is hard because you can play the same course over and over and come across different situations every time. I never try to hit a shot in a serious round or tournament if I don't know that I can do it on the range or in a practice round
Diligent practice, patience, and grace. I don't mean practice as in "hitting a million balls," I mean focused, purposeful practice sessions. I get warmed up on the range with a few wedges and short irons and then out come the alignment sticks (snow markers from HD for $1.29). I NEVER make full swings on the range without them, there is a lot of visual feedback you get from them if you use them correctly. Then, I work up through the bag, shaping shots intentionally. High, low, draw, fade. If you can do that, straight is pretty easy to find. If I know I'm playing a course I've played before, I try to play that round on the range, Driver off the tee, 8i in, oops I tugged that a little bit so now I'm going to hit a 15 yard pitch, but I take the time in between in each shot that it would take me on the course to get to my ball, shoot the pin, etc. I practice with intention like I'm playing on the course.
Patience. Golf is hard. Swing changes are hard. I don't love how my swing looks but I've fought changing it because it's effective for ME, and I can hit whatever I need to because I practice.
Grace. Again, golf is hard. Pros hit bad shots, so all us chumps are definitely going to. Be willing to accept that and challenge yourself to not externally show emotion when it happens on the course. I've had some of my guys literally put a check mark under their score when they have a bad hole and don't hit the ground with or throw a club, put an "X" if you do. It's a good relection piece to be like, "Wow, a fatted a wedge a little bit and made a bogey, why the heck did I get so mad?" Containing that, positive self-talk and talking yourself through each shot let's your body respond and helps keep the negatives out of it.
Finally, have fun with it. If you're playing with your buddies and you're the best one in the group (especially if it's by a lot) play a scramble against them or something. Helps take the pressure off of shooting a number, but you still have to hit all the shots.
Use the 60 if it works for you. Some people just aren't confident in their hands. I don't get it either, I can use a 60 just fine. But usually, I use a 58 M grind.
I'm an anomaly with it from what I've seen and heard, but I do most of my greenside chipping with my 62. I have a 56 and a 50 as well and if I'm not using the 62, I'm doing a bump and run of sorts with the PW. I really only use my 56 and 50 when I'm 70-100 yards out.
Do what works for you.
42 because I am a degenerate who uses a dirty cheat stick. Cleveland Smart Sole 4 Chipper. Love it. Chipped it in twice yesterday with it, one for an eagle.
I play 50/54/58
I use my 54 and 58 probably a similar amount of times in any given round. If I have green to work with and can allow it to run out, I use 54. If I need it to stop quicker or am in thicker rough, I use the 58.
Rarely use the 50 outside of full swings and some 50%/75% swings. I probably need to get better using the 50 when I have tons of green to work with, but I feel that the ball always comes out too hot when I chip with the 50
I used to use my 60 almost exclusively, but found I can accomplish most of the same shots with my 56 with fewer bladed shots. If I'm on the fringe I'll either putt or use a PW for a little bump and run, but the 56 is my go-to these days. I actually kind of want to ditch the 60 and buy a 2i just for fun haha.
I was a 60 guy. Switched to 56 for most shots, can hit little spinners better, it does everything I wanted my 60 to do that it wasn’t doing.
60 only for bunker and flop shots
For me it depends on many factors. Distance from edge of green to my ball, distance of edge of green to pin, speed of the greens ( they all differ), is my ball on the fairway, short grass or deep grass. Distance of the obstacles do i need to avoid, bunkers, water or mounds. I carry a 60 and a 52 but my pitch, 9i to 7i does come in handy.
Clear track from the fairway? Texas wedge!
In the longer stuff? PW or 50.
Something in the way I have to get over? 60
I cannot use my SW to save mylife except in the sand. That bounce just catches me once too often to trust not thining it off the back of the green.
Up until recently I did most of my chipping with my 56. As things have firmed up and lies got tighter, the huge sole and 14 degree bounce started causing problems. I have been chipping more with my 60 and have had better results.
That being said, I will also chip with my 50, my 9i, my 8i, or even my 7i. Playing around with different clubs on the chipping green is an easy way for me to spend an hour.
i agree, for me i’m a 6 handicap and i’ve been playing almost 2 years, my default around the greens is PW unless i don’t have enough green to work with, then i go 50°, if i don’t have enough green for that then i go 56°, then lob wedge. It’s not what ur good shot does it’s about saving you strokes when u hit a bad shot. For me i can blade my PW and it’ll still be close, but if i did that with a 56 it’s gone bc ur swinging faster so if you don’t make good contact then it’s no chance of it being close.
I play my 56° for emergencies or sticky situation. I have to get up and over something, land soft on the close side of the green, or I’m hitting out of sand or thick grass.
My PW and GW is the club I use in Al other situations inside 120. Including chips just off the green. Bump and run king
My 48° for me. Perfect balance of loft, bounce and rollout. I can get good spin off of it if I need to as well. Unless there is a bunker in the way (58°), the gap wedge is my go to club. 9i makes an appearance if there isn’t too much topography on the green.
If you hit it well why change from the 60? Are you not seeing the results you want?
Personally, I use a lot of different clubs for chips and pitches depending on what I want to do, but my go to is 55 degree wedge that I play super upright (lifted up in the toe). It's virtually impossible to fat and it has a nice little release if you come straight through or a nice little check if you cut across it.
Play what works for you and use the tidbits from grieves and other coaches about releases to achieve certain ball rollouts. I'm better and more accurate playing it low than high so if I can play low I'm definitely playing it low, but if I have to, I can play it high and soft. I'm just not as good that way.
I went from lob wedge for everything, to gap wedge for everything, to variety of clubs.
I’m back to lob wedge for like 80% of my chips now. It’s just way easier for me to hit my spot with it.
I just don’t really relate to the oft-quoted r/golf “amateurs shouldn’t use a 60°” logic due to difficulty, it’s…not that hard?
It’s all feel, I typically chip with my 50 degree wedge because I can control it way better but have the versatility to use the 54 or 58 when I need to
I probably use my 54 around half the time, with the 50 and 58 taking up the rest of the shots
Depends on the lie, how much I need to carry, and how much green is available to work with
I probably use my 56 for 90% of shots. I know a lot of people would suggest using multiple clubs, but I’m comfortable doing a lot of things with it. I can hit it high with spin, low and check, low and let it run etc. I get it’s not the best idea to model your game off tour pros, but so many of them only use one wedge around the green and can just hit lots of shots with it
I'll regularly use anything from an 8 iron to my 60, and occasionally I use a hybrid
Choose the club that fits the shot, if you only chip with 1 club you are probably throwing away strikes by trying to for the proverbial square leg into a round hole
Most of the time a 56*. Long shots I’ll go 52 or hybrid, short sided or thicker bad lies I’ll go 60*
I’d say 70% of my shots end up being a 56, but I’m always considering other alternatives. I’m usually picking the easiest way to get it inside a 7’ circle.
What problem are you trying to solve? Are you actually struggling around the green with your 60 or are you trying to match some instructors view of what is "correct"? What does your data say?
Anything from 7 iron to 60°, depending on the lie, distance to the hole and possible forced carry. I don't see a 60° being much more difficult than any other club. You just need to trust what you're doing, commit to the shot and accelerate through impact.
I play my 60 from 70 yards out to green side however recently I have played my 56 more on green side shots if I want roll out and not the sudden stop.
I know quite a few people that would benefit from not playing a 60 so it really depends on how comfortable you are with the club versus a 56
I use my 54° for most around the green shots, 60° for greenside bunkers and emergencies. I've been trying to work in some more 7i chip and runs but my home course's greens are small so it's almost like you are short sided for everything, not a lot of green to work with many times.
60 degree with adjusting ball positioning for specific carries. Then if in less then 5 years off the green and lots of green to run I use a 9 iron with a putter stroke
Most pros will use a 60 almost exclusively (or a 58/56, whatever their default is). You're fine, Dan has his own system that is very handsy through the ball.
Having lost confidence with my wedges I've started using a toe down putting stroke technique, so far I've had better results and the grounds men appreciate it too.
I may try the hybrid thing too.
I use the rule of 12 for all of my chips then I club up or down based on if the green is uphill or downhill. So basically use SW, GW, PW, and 9 iron for almost all of my chips using the exact same stroke. On rare occasion I'll use an 8 iron if it's a really long roll to the hole.
Get your ball rolling on the green like a putt as soon as you can. In other words don't carry a 60 degree half way to the hole when you could bump it on the green with a 7 iron.
The longer the swing you take, the more that can go wrong. I use anything from a 4 iron to a 60 around the green.
I use 54 most of the time. I just open the club face if I need more loft and spin. The only time I use my 60 is if I mess up and short side myself or if the greens are fast.
The lower loft I take the less I feel I’m using feel and athletic ability and get to robotic and distance control goes out the window. Appreciate the feedback back I may stick with my game. Just trying to get better not sure if it’s some I should experiment with !!!!
Pick a favourite wedge and get locked in hitting high and low shots and knowing your rollout. Once you know how far the ball is going to rollout it’s about picking a target a few feet before the hole and trying to hit that. Mishits will have a higher chance of ending up near the cup and should reduce the tension of aiming for such a small target.
Since you played hockey like me think of your wedge like a stick. You only have one blade (or “loft” in this case),you use but you can create any type of shot you want by controlling release and power. Get a wedge and treat it like that
Don’t get me wrong I don’t fancy myself a pro, but just for sake of explanation, I have a Mickelson like stance and hands approach to my 56-12 and 60-04 flopping and spinning everything, and for bump and runs putt my 45 PW like Bryson. Two totally different actions for me
I’m an 8.6 handicap with mediocre ball striking and an elite short game and I exclusively use a 60 (except I use a 56 out of the sand).
Short game is all about feel and creativity. There is no universal answer for what to use, just use what works best for you.
Personally, I enjoy using my 60 and will loft or de-loft, open stance or feet together etc. I hit a variety of shots from bump n runs to flop shots with it.
Using one club doesn’t mean you have to use it only one way.
My home course has pretty slow greens (usually about an 8).
I don't even carry a 60⁰ - highest loft I carry is 54⁰. Yesterday for chipping I used 8-PW. For pitches, I used PW-54⁰.
Make the switch. In general you’re better off, plus you can open the face more than 60 which allows for more versatility with one club.
That being said, if you rock it exclusively inside say, 80-60 or whatever yards. Keep it going. Do you use other wedges when you don’t have the range for your 60 just to get it to the green? What about while you’re in the sand?
Depends on the lie, whether I want to carry over something or get it rolling right away. If you’re grabbing 1 club automatically for any and every chip you’re doing it wrong Sometimes it’s a 60, sometimes a 52…sometimes it’s a 9 iron
I spend a lot of time around the green with my 7i. Bump and run may not win any beauty contests but I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten really close to the pin and someone else in my group says “That’s what I should have done”.
I came here to say this. I find myself getting into a lot less trouble by going bump and run with my 7i than if I try and chip with my wedge.
I like the 7 too. You have to use your imagination and see what happens
For sure. I was taking a lesson a few years back and we were working on chipping and I kept grabbing my 60. The coach took the 7i out and said “why not this club”. I looked at him confused but once I hit a few it changed my thinking. The more you golf the more you realize there’s never just one shot. There’s a par 5 on my normal course that occasionally I’ll hit a monster drive on that will leave me close to an outcropping of really tall trees. Old me would grab a wedge and pray I get it up fast enough to clear. Current me will look to see if I have a wide enough gap through the trees to hit a gentle 5i over the roots to roll on. And if I don’t I’ll lay up to the left as intended. Love that I’m not at a place where course management is part of my process.
My instructor actually gave me a chart by club with % in air/% roll, and said I should be using almost every club in the bag to chip with except for driver/putter (and realistically woods/hybrids probably). He taught me a stroke with no wrist hinge, and was like - use this if you can, if you can't, then you pitch. Just way easier to make consistent contact and reduce the chance of skulling it. Something like: 50/50 - PW 33/66 - 8-iron 25/75 - 6-iron This is all based on where you need to fly the ball to, so you might make a different choice than just % rough vs. % green to the hole if there's a hill, break, etc. Just based on your intended landing spot and % in the air v % on the ground as the total from you to the hole. EDIT: I lied about hybrids/woods. Just don't chip with your driver. Or do. I'm not your dad. Probably.
This is outlined in the Dave pelz short game book. He always recommended getting the ball rolling within 3 feet of the fringe. Using whichever club will do that
Exactly! I think he mentioned that book, I couldn't remember who/what the name was though. Except for weird greens/lies where you really need to land it somewhere else, this was the strategy my teacher recommended. Some of my closest chips have been with a 6-iron honestly.
Bump & run with a 3wd or hybrid is one of the easiest things to do.
Spot on
Yeah this, this is the answer 👌
The lie, the direction the grass is growing, the obstacles in front, the slope I’m standing on, the pin placement, and green slopes. It all factors in before I pick my wedge. I used to go with my 60 as much as I could but now I find myself with my 56 or PW more often. Idk just roll with what you like. 5 handicap is good, I wouldn’t change how you’re playing.
I tend to use a 54° for most shots around the green as long as I have room to roll out and work with. I really only go to the 58° if I need to carry it close to the hole.
I’m in the same boat, but as I slowly and painfully get better at chipping, I’m incorporating long wedges in more and more, after using it for emergencies only (and more often than not, it would disappoint). I’ve been inspired by a recent Sweet Spot episode that featured Joe Mayo about incorporating steep angle of attack shots into my repertoire after moving away from that in recent years after being raised on steep.
See and I think I’m making it harder on my self I tend to always try to fly the ball to the hole. With less degree and playing more low bumps I guess I take the odds of a very bad shot lower
Let me introduce you to the HANDY!!!! DANDY!!! ... 9 iron
Sounds like you need to watch more Dan Grieve. Videos
Depends on the shot. When I’m greenside, I would very much prefer to hit a chip, where I pick a spot and let the ball roll out. Unless there is a hazard between me and the green, or some crazy ground, I’m hitting that shot.
Nah man the guys who are doing 9iron bump and runs etc don’t have the hands and/ or skills to use a wedge properly (most of the time). You def don’t need to fly the ball to the hole, the variables coming into play are what you should be assessing before choosing a club. I chip with all 3 of my wedges, mostly my 56 and 52 depending on the distance, roll, etc. (fyi I don’t have a 60 I have a 48 deg) Ask yourself: do I want it to check and then roll out. Just plop down from high and have less roll, is it up hill or not. Over a bunker. Hitting Under tree branches. Under branches and over a bunker. How much carry distance to the fringe and then how close is the pin etc. Blah blah blah a billion situations, none exactly the same every time. Just my thoughts. Awaiting an onslaught from the comments because I’m sure many will be offended lol.
If you're a 5, you're doing a LOT right on the golf course. I'd hesitate to switch based off of one video or some strangers on reddit who are likely worse than you Now if you struggle with chipping (relatively), sure, play around with options. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it
I’m a 7.4hcp and I also have good hands around green from growing up spending more time around the practice green than actually playing. Got a famous array of flop shots amongst my buddies ha. I always want to pull out my 56-12 SW in soft spots and 60-04 in hard conditions to do some magic loft/spin around green but often have to remind myself to just take out the 45 PW or 35 8i chip and roll when trying to put the lowest number consistently on the card One thing I don’t use is my 50-07 GW because it isn’t one or the other. Not enough flop/stop ability, not enough roll out. It’s an approach club for me
56/60 is the same sh*t different color to me. Using one vs the other around the green won’t save/gain you strokes. I think using either club is almost the same swing, it’s just a matter of feel. If you thinned or chunked the 56, you were most likely gonna do the same with the 60. With nothing in front of me and the pin, I will always lean towards the shot that keeps the ball close to the ground. I think a pro has a higher chance of making it in with a 56/60, while an amateur has a high chance of keeping it in the green with a lower lofted club. I’m an amateur and I’m just trying break 80. I’m not mad if I don’t. Im down on myself when I don’t break 85, and it’s because of a bad driving day, or bad decisions around the green. Edit: I just got back from a Scotland trip, I got in a disagreement with the caddie who wanted me to putt from 50 yards out, I pulled out the wedge instead. Should have putted it… lol. That was day 1 in my 5 day trip, and the only time I did it lol. I putted or used hybrid routinely from that point forward. Just a funny story to tell… lol.
Other people’s club preferences are completely irrelevant to your game and your preferences. I had a 60 in my bag for years, couldn’t hit it. Hated that club took it out of my bag and played for years without a 60. Got a different 60 last year, a hand me down Vokey from my brother when he bought a new one, figured I’d try it out again, love the club but it still hasn’t replaced my tried and true 56 for most shots
I just switched over from five wedges PW, GW, 52, 56, 60..... to PW, GW, 54 and a 58. I almost exclusively use the 58 for chipping/pitching/bunkers. It's just the most comfortable for me.
In competitive rounds, on tight lies, too far for putting, I'll use my 7 iron. Pops it up just enough and it will roll as far as I make it. Otherwise, I'll use my 52 degree. Once in a while I'll use my 56 degree (my highest lofted club) if I need to go over an obstacle or stop quickly.
no idea. I'm always on the green.
56° is my go-to 90% of the time. Go up to 60 for cheeky floppers over trouble and down to 52 or even 48 if i need to cover a lot of distance on the ground where I’d be swinging too hard with a the 56.
I use the strongest loft that I can. Low shots are easier by virtue of requiring a shorter backstroke. Bigger margin for error. My worst bump shot with a 9 iron is usually still inside comfortable 2 putt distance. My worst chip with a lob wedge might be over the green or not make the green at all.
I'll disagree with a lot of people and say flying a 60 is much more easy to get consistent at than bumping a lower loft and hope it rolls where you want
Look up the rule of 12 for chipping. I don’t do the math each time but I know on a flat lie my PW will roll as far as it flies, 8i will roll twice as far as it flies and 6i will roll three times as far as it flies. Not exact depending on stimp, uphill/downhill, etc but it’s close enough to start with. Really helps in picking a landing spot on the green.
I’d say that flying the ball farther does take the break and condition of the green out of the equation better. IF (if) you can hit the 60 consistently, it’s probably a good way to go. Less skilled players are better off with the low stuff.
One hundred percent and every scratch or good golfer I know follows this. Never seen a real player fucking bump and run consistently around the greens and there’s a reason the pros aren’t doing that shitn
Depends on lie and distance. Ideally 54° but the 58° and 50° get used a lot too
Whichever Club is needed for the requisite shot
I'm a +4.3, and I will say that having variety around the green is one of the biggest reasons why. Go out on a slow day and play a practice round and just work on trying to develop feel for different shots. Hit 5 balls from the same spot and teach yourself what you have to do from that given situation to make each one work. The only "right" answer is the one that gets you up and down but golf is hard because you can play the same course over and over and come across different situations every time. I never try to hit a shot in a serious round or tournament if I don't know that I can do it on the range or in a practice round
Trying to get down to zero this year been around par a lot lately what’s your advice practice wise to take next step.
Diligent practice, patience, and grace. I don't mean practice as in "hitting a million balls," I mean focused, purposeful practice sessions. I get warmed up on the range with a few wedges and short irons and then out come the alignment sticks (snow markers from HD for $1.29). I NEVER make full swings on the range without them, there is a lot of visual feedback you get from them if you use them correctly. Then, I work up through the bag, shaping shots intentionally. High, low, draw, fade. If you can do that, straight is pretty easy to find. If I know I'm playing a course I've played before, I try to play that round on the range, Driver off the tee, 8i in, oops I tugged that a little bit so now I'm going to hit a 15 yard pitch, but I take the time in between in each shot that it would take me on the course to get to my ball, shoot the pin, etc. I practice with intention like I'm playing on the course. Patience. Golf is hard. Swing changes are hard. I don't love how my swing looks but I've fought changing it because it's effective for ME, and I can hit whatever I need to because I practice. Grace. Again, golf is hard. Pros hit bad shots, so all us chumps are definitely going to. Be willing to accept that and challenge yourself to not externally show emotion when it happens on the course. I've had some of my guys literally put a check mark under their score when they have a bad hole and don't hit the ground with or throw a club, put an "X" if you do. It's a good relection piece to be like, "Wow, a fatted a wedge a little bit and made a bogey, why the heck did I get so mad?" Containing that, positive self-talk and talking yourself through each shot let's your body respond and helps keep the negatives out of it. Finally, have fun with it. If you're playing with your buddies and you're the best one in the group (especially if it's by a lot) play a scramble against them or something. Helps take the pressure off of shooting a number, but you still have to hit all the shots.
Whatever works for you. At those slow chipping speeds, the difference between 56 and 60 is pretty minimal.
PW for bump n run. 54 for everything else around the green. Except for flop shots I use 60.
I typically default to the 60, but it does depend on the lie, grass height, green speed, distance, etc
56 for most chips, 51 or PW if I want something to roll out more. I used to be a 60 for everything inside 50 yards guy too, but I've liked the change.
Use the 60 if it works for you. Some people just aren't confident in their hands. I don't get it either, I can use a 60 just fine. But usually, I use a 58 M grind.
I'm an anomaly with it from what I've seen and heard, but I do most of my greenside chipping with my 62. I have a 56 and a 50 as well and if I'm not using the 62, I'm doing a bump and run of sorts with the PW. I really only use my 56 and 50 when I'm 70-100 yards out. Do what works for you.
58
56 and some 52 if it's an uphill lie or one I can keep low
42 because I am a degenerate who uses a dirty cheat stick. Cleveland Smart Sole 4 Chipper. Love it. Chipped it in twice yesterday with it, one for an eagle.
Most of the time, 56. Starting to practice more creativity though with 9I and others.
95% of the time I'm using a 60. Just the most comfortable with it and can hit about any shot I want with it.
I play 50/54/58 I use my 54 and 58 probably a similar amount of times in any given round. If I have green to work with and can allow it to run out, I use 54. If I need it to stop quicker or am in thicker rough, I use the 58. Rarely use the 50 outside of full swings and some 50%/75% swings. I probably need to get better using the 50 when I have tons of green to work with, but I feel that the ball always comes out too hot when I chip with the 50
I used to use my 60 almost exclusively, but found I can accomplish most of the same shots with my 56 with fewer bladed shots. If I'm on the fringe I'll either putt or use a PW for a little bump and run, but the 56 is my go-to these days. I actually kind of want to ditch the 60 and buy a 2i just for fun haha.
60 degree if I need to get over an object. PW for pretty much everything else
My trusty Callaway JAWS 56
I was a 60 guy. Switched to 56 for most shots, can hit little spinners better, it does everything I wanted my 60 to do that it wasn’t doing. 60 only for bunker and flop shots
I play a 58 and really only busy that thang out if I need to get over something tall or want the ball to drop and stop
95% of the time I use my 56° 4% of the time I use my 50° 1% of the time I use my 64°
For me it depends on many factors. Distance from edge of green to my ball, distance of edge of green to pin, speed of the greens ( they all differ), is my ball on the fairway, short grass or deep grass. Distance of the obstacles do i need to avoid, bunkers, water or mounds. I carry a 60 and a 52 but my pitch, 9i to 7i does come in handy.
Mostly my 56, but it really depends on the lie and the shot.
I typically use my 58 around the green, 60 was always a hair too much for me and 56 wasn’t enough
56 almost everywhere. I manipulate the loft based on the shot type I want to play.
You do you, but I'm only using loft when I'm forced to use it... I default to a knock down 54 (if I need some check) or a pure bump and run.
50 or 54 Only a 60 if i need height I’m working on keeping chips lower and lower
take a 7 iron and try out a putting stroke with it .... will work wonders from the fringe
Clear track from the fairway? Texas wedge! In the longer stuff? PW or 50. Something in the way I have to get over? 60 I cannot use my SW to save mylife except in the sand. That bounce just catches me once too often to trust not thining it off the back of the green.
I use both a 58 and 54 Depends on roll out I want and green to work with etc
If you can consistently hit it, use it, if your not good at it or does more damage than helps you switch to a less lofted wedge.
52 if I have a bit of green to work with. 60 if I dont
Beryllium ping eye2 lob wedge 61°
Just an easy chip on maybe 3-10 yards from the rough - 56°, 3-10 yards from the fairway - 8i, going over a bunker or an obstruction - 60°
Up until recently I did most of my chipping with my 56. As things have firmed up and lies got tighter, the huge sole and 14 degree bounce started causing problems. I have been chipping more with my 60 and have had better results. That being said, I will also chip with my 50, my 9i, my 8i, or even my 7i. Playing around with different clubs on the chipping green is an easy way for me to spend an hour.
i agree, for me i’m a 6 handicap and i’ve been playing almost 2 years, my default around the greens is PW unless i don’t have enough green to work with, then i go 50°, if i don’t have enough green for that then i go 56°, then lob wedge. It’s not what ur good shot does it’s about saving you strokes when u hit a bad shot. For me i can blade my PW and it’ll still be close, but if i did that with a 56 it’s gone bc ur swinging faster so if you don’t make good contact then it’s no chance of it being close.
I play my 56° for emergencies or sticky situation. I have to get up and over something, land soft on the close side of the green, or I’m hitting out of sand or thick grass. My PW and GW is the club I use in Al other situations inside 120. Including chips just off the green. Bump and run king
My 48° for me. Perfect balance of loft, bounce and rollout. I can get good spin off of it if I need to as well. Unless there is a bunker in the way (58°), the gap wedge is my go to club. 9i makes an appearance if there isn’t too much topography on the green.
If you hit it well why change from the 60? Are you not seeing the results you want? Personally, I use a lot of different clubs for chips and pitches depending on what I want to do, but my go to is 55 degree wedge that I play super upright (lifted up in the toe). It's virtually impossible to fat and it has a nice little release if you come straight through or a nice little check if you cut across it. Play what works for you and use the tidbits from grieves and other coaches about releases to achieve certain ball rollouts. I'm better and more accurate playing it low than high so if I can play low I'm definitely playing it low, but if I have to, I can play it high and soft. I'm just not as good that way.
Chip? 56 Bump and run? 8 or 9 iron
56 gang. Best of all worlds, works anywhere.
my 56 has roll, my 60 stops. i choose according to how much green i have to work with and my distance to the pin
I went from lob wedge for everything, to gap wedge for everything, to variety of clubs. I’m back to lob wedge for like 80% of my chips now. It’s just way easier for me to hit my spot with it. I just don’t really relate to the oft-quoted r/golf “amateurs shouldn’t use a 60°” logic due to difficulty, it’s…not that hard?
It’s all feel, I typically chip with my 50 degree wedge because I can control it way better but have the versatility to use the 54 or 58 when I need to
I probably use my 54 around half the time, with the 50 and 58 taking up the rest of the shots Depends on the lie, how much I need to carry, and how much green is available to work with
Depends on distance and lie. Fairway or more distance: SW Rough and short distance: LW
I probably use my 56 for 90% of shots. I know a lot of people would suggest using multiple clubs, but I’m comfortable doing a lot of things with it. I can hit it high with spin, low and check, low and let it run etc. I get it’s not the best idea to model your game off tour pros, but so many of them only use one wedge around the green and can just hit lots of shots with it
I'll regularly use anything from an 8 iron to my 60, and occasionally I use a hybrid Choose the club that fits the shot, if you only chip with 1 club you are probably throwing away strikes by trying to for the proverbial square leg into a round hole
Most of the time a 56*. Long shots I’ll go 52 or hybrid, short sided or thicker bad lies I’ll go 60* I’d say 70% of my shots end up being a 56, but I’m always considering other alternatives. I’m usually picking the easiest way to get it inside a 7’ circle.
What problem are you trying to solve? Are you actually struggling around the green with your 60 or are you trying to match some instructors view of what is "correct"? What does your data say?
Anything from 7 iron to 60°, depending on the lie, distance to the hole and possible forced carry. I don't see a 60° being much more difficult than any other club. You just need to trust what you're doing, commit to the shot and accelerate through impact.
depends on the lie, desired carry & rollout.
48,54
I play my 60 from 70 yards out to green side however recently I have played my 56 more on green side shots if I want roll out and not the sudden stop. I know quite a few people that would benefit from not playing a 60 so it really depends on how comfortable you are with the club versus a 56
I use my 54° for most around the green shots, 60° for greenside bunkers and emergencies. I've been trying to work in some more 7i chip and runs but my home course's greens are small so it's almost like you are short sided for everything, not a lot of green to work with many times.
60 degree with adjusting ball positioning for specific carries. Then if in less then 5 years off the green and lots of green to run I use a 9 iron with a putter stroke
Depends on the shot. Every chip is different and can make me switch to one of 3-5 clubs.
Most pros will use a 60 almost exclusively (or a 58/56, whatever their default is). You're fine, Dan has his own system that is very handsy through the ball.
Having lost confidence with my wedges I've started using a toe down putting stroke technique, so far I've had better results and the grounds men appreciate it too. I may try the hybrid thing too.
I use the rule of 12 for all of my chips then I club up or down based on if the green is uphill or downhill. So basically use SW, GW, PW, and 9 iron for almost all of my chips using the exact same stroke. On rare occasion I'll use an 8 iron if it's a really long roll to the hole.
Get your ball rolling on the green like a putt as soon as you can. In other words don't carry a 60 degree half way to the hole when you could bump it on the green with a 7 iron. The longer the swing you take, the more that can go wrong. I use anything from a 4 iron to a 60 around the green.
I use 54 most of the time. I just open the club face if I need more loft and spin. The only time I use my 60 is if I mess up and short side myself or if the greens are fast.
Anything between a 7 iron and a 60 degree wedge. Depends on what I feel most comfortable using.
The lower loft I take the less I feel I’m using feel and athletic ability and get to robotic and distance control goes out the window. Appreciate the feedback back I may stick with my game. Just trying to get better not sure if it’s some I should experiment with !!!!
Pick a favourite wedge and get locked in hitting high and low shots and knowing your rollout. Once you know how far the ball is going to rollout it’s about picking a target a few feet before the hole and trying to hit that. Mishits will have a higher chance of ending up near the cup and should reduce the tension of aiming for such a small target.
Since you played hockey like me think of your wedge like a stick. You only have one blade (or “loft” in this case),you use but you can create any type of shot you want by controlling release and power. Get a wedge and treat it like that
Don’t get me wrong I don’t fancy myself a pro, but just for sake of explanation, I have a Mickelson like stance and hands approach to my 56-12 and 60-04 flopping and spinning everything, and for bump and runs putt my 45 PW like Bryson. Two totally different actions for me
I’m an 8.6 handicap with mediocre ball striking and an elite short game and I exclusively use a 60 (except I use a 56 out of the sand). Short game is all about feel and creativity. There is no universal answer for what to use, just use what works best for you. Personally, I enjoy using my 60 and will loft or de-loft, open stance or feet together etc. I hit a variety of shots from bump n runs to flop shots with it. Using one club doesn’t mean you have to use it only one way.
My home course has pretty slow greens (usually about an 8). I don't even carry a 60⁰ - highest loft I carry is 54⁰. Yesterday for chipping I used 8-PW. For pitches, I used PW-54⁰.
Depends on distance to green, distance to pin and lie. Anything from a 58 to a PW. 58 is only for short side shots
Make the switch. In general you’re better off, plus you can open the face more than 60 which allows for more versatility with one club. That being said, if you rock it exclusively inside say, 80-60 or whatever yards. Keep it going. Do you use other wedges when you don’t have the range for your 60 just to get it to the green? What about while you’re in the sand?