I was in a match recently with some friends, and we had a very lively debate on the best shot type to use around the greens when in fairway, rough or fringe. I really think there are two factors at play here, those being a) what shot do I/you have the most confidence in, and b) which shot type is best suited to the situation I/you are facing. Honestly, I’m not sure one is more important than the other, especially if you’re able to get it close enough for an easy putt or can hole the shot. So, let’s discuss each.
But before we dive in, there’s a VERY IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: the wedges and balls you use can have a very dramatic effect on everything you’ll read below. I use Cleveland wedges, that have incredible spin capabilities and use TaylorMade Level 93+ TP5x balls also with high spin capabilities. I don’t much like the bump and run game; I prefer to have my ball stop where I hit it.
First, The CHIP.
I used this shot a lot all the way through making Masters level, I think mostly because that’s what the all-wise WGT caddie would give me when I was just off the green. As I mentioned, I hit it a lot and over time really came to hate it due to what I considered “unpredictable outcomes.” Currently, I use it about 5% of the time, mostly when I’m 11 yards or less from the pin and my lie is level or slightly uphill. I rarely if ever use the Chip when facing a downward sloping shot. I usually hit it with half to full backspin as that’s what has made it predictable for me. As I’m sure you know, it lands softly and rolls, so the left/right break of the green can really move the ball. I don’t love the Chip, but we’re no longer mortal enemies and when the situation above is presented, I don’t hesitate to use it. I’ve holed a lot of Chip shots in the 4-10 yard range. But I’ve also hit a lot of Chip shots that have rolled 3 yards by the pin and missed the putt coming back. So now I use it only when I know where it’s going to go and stop, that’s my key point.
Next, The FLOP.
For a while, the Flop is all I used. It’s a great shot when you need that high, soft shot that lands gently and won’t roll out. Of course, the trick with the flop is it comes off the clubface and to the right. So, you have to know how much left to aim based on how far away you are, or as some people do, know how early to stop the meter to allocate for the shot going to the right. Also, due to the Flop’s high loft, the wind affects this shot greatly, so you have to know how to allocate for wind drift. My 64-degree wedge will hit a Flop 20 yards at 100% power. You’d think that at 50% it would hit it 10 yards, but I’ve found that’s not the case. With the Flop, there’s a “power curve” in that to hit it 10 yards, I’ve got to hit it about 60-65%. For me, that’s a lot of variables (coming off to the right, wind drift, power curve) and when you have a lot of variables, a lot can go wrong. So, I use it when there’s not a lot of wind, the green is pretty flat, and when my ball is at or just under the maximum yardage for my Flop shot (20, 29 and 38 yards with my 3 wedges) because I like to hit this shot full and with just a bit of backspin. use the Flop about 10% of the time.
Finally, The PITCH.
Those that I play with regularly know I’m a Pitch Bigot. It’s my “Go To” shot from 7-30 yards away, and I can usually get the ball within a yard or two from the fringe, the fairway or the rough up to 40/50. Thus, it’s what I use about 80% of the time. I really love this shot because it’s easy to hit. It goes where you aim it. It will stop on a dime meaning you can take left/right break out of the equation, it’s not effected much by wind, and the power curve for the Pitch is consistent. With my Cleveland wedges and TaylorMade balls, I like to hit this shot with full backspin, as it usually stops about a foot or less from where it lands. I’ve hit hundreds of shots right at the pin, and if it goes by, it’s only by a foot or two due to how fast this shot stops. Hit it into an uphill lie and it’s like Velcro. Hitting it to a downhill lie will get you a little roll out, but it will listen to you if you yell STOP where a Chip will completely ignore you. One thing you have to know about this shot though is that due to how it stops, it’s not really easy to hole Pitch shots with full backspin. I can’t tell you how many I’ve hit that land just short of the cup, are DEAD online, and I wind up with a 2-4″ putt. While it’s good that I’m left with a short putt, it’s bad that I didn’t hole it. So now, I’m hitting the pitch with just less than full BS so that it rolls just a bit, giving it a chance to actually go in the hole, which it now often does.
NOTE: When hitting the Pitch shot from the rough, you don’t get the spin you do from the fairway or fringe, so adjust accordingly for a bit more roll out, especially in 40/50 rough where I’ll subtract a full yard or two, more if I’m pitching downhill.
So, there you have it: The “Risk/Reward” CHIP shot, the “If everything goes according to plan” FLOP shot, and the “Money-on-the-Line Dependable” PITCH shot. I’m sure you have your favorite just-off-the-green shot and I’m anxious to hear everyone’s feedback. When I was learning WGT, a really good player told me “the only way to get better is play all the courses and learn all the shots.” I didn’t like hearing that, but now know that he was absolutely correct. So, I encourage you to try these three shots and figure out where, when and how each of them works for you the best.