Chipping or Pitching In With Backspin?

[Dan Twomey]

A common spot for me and I assume others is just off the green anywhere from a few feet to a few yards into the rough. What's the best way to pitch or chip in with lots of backspin to minimize roll out? I'm especially interested in this when I'm trying to get onto a green that has a downhill grade facing away from me. Hints welcome!

Regards,
Dan

[guitarman]

A common spot for me and I assume others is just off the green anywhere from a few feet to a few yards into the rough. What's the best way to pitch or chip in with lots of backspin to minimize roll out? I'm especially interested in this when I'm trying to get onto a green that has a downhill grade facing away from me. Hints welcome!

Regards,
Dan

If I'm chipping from just a few feet off the green then I don't really want spin to minimize roll out. I plan my shots to land a certain place and roll to where I want it to go towards the pin.
If I'm hitting a wedge with a fairly full swing say from 60 to 100 yards then I want my ball to stop dead.

[Hacker87]

the only thing I could think of that could create moderate spin would be playing a flop shot and opening the face wide open and basically just cutting the ball and flying it high into the air, i'm not positive you'll get a lot of spin but you'll get a softer landing which whould reduce the roll out, hope that helps

[cdnputter]

Dan, I'm not sure if you want to be trying to hit a short shot with a lot of backspin. However with the situation you've described, green running away from you, you might need a chip with spin to control distance.

When I'm stuck with a shot like that, I use my 54 degree SW and play the ball slightly back in my stance, but I'll also move my hands down to the edge of the grip so my bottom hand is almost touching the shaft. Then make a solid pass at the ball, making sure I hit the ball then the ground, that will ensure the spin to help control the rollout from the chip. I'd only recommend this type of shot from the fringe or fairway cut.

If the ball is in any deep stuff, you'll need to make a different shot, probably one that has the ball bounce on the fringe and roll towards the hole. This type of shot almost never has spin on the ball.

[nevermind]

The type of ball you use is a huge factor around the green. Premium high spin balls can add a lot more spin then typical distance balls on short shots.

[dekker]

I don't think you have a hope in h*ll of putting backspin on the situation as you describe it. The best case scenario would be to land on the very top of the slope and trickle down to the hole.
It's impossible from such a short distance to hit a down-slope with enough spin to halt the ball.
Watson's chip-in at Pebble Beach is a perfect example of picking a spot and letting the slope do the work.

[nearace]

I like to get the ball rolling,much more than trying to do a flop shot,I will allways be happy with an uphill put instead of a killer down hiller.

[cdnputter]

I don't think you have a hope in h*ll of putting backspin on the situation as you describe it. The best case scenario would be to land on the very top of the slope and trickle down to the hole.
It's impossible from such a short distance to hit a down-slope with enough spin to halt the ball.
Watson's chip-in at Pebble Beach is a perfect example of picking a spot and letting the slope do the work.


I'm with you dekker, get it on the green and let the ball roll into the hole.

Just a random thought, a chip should be no higher than 2 feet high, I think it was either Walter Hagen or Ben Hogan who said when practicing chips you should be trying to hit the ball underneath a park bench seat.

[guitarman]

I don't think you have a hope in h*ll of putting backspin on the situation as you describe it. The best case scenario would be to land on the very top of the slope and trickle down to the hole.
It's impossible from such a short distance to hit a down-slope with enough spin to halt the ball.
Watson's chip-in at Pebble Beach is a perfect example of picking a spot and letting the slope do the work.

Yup, trying to get spin on the ball from a short distance is a sure way to send the ball over the other side of the green.

[Dan Twomey]

On a somewhat related note.......what's the lowest iron you chip with? I've only been taught the traditional chipping with a 7 and 9 iron. Just recently I saw Weir chipping about six inches from the edge of the green with a hybrid. I tried that and it works well. Any other choices?

Regards,
Dan

[guitarman]

On a somewhat related note.......what's the lowest iron you chip with? I've only been taught the traditional chipping with a 7 and 9 iron. Just recently I saw Weir chipping about six inches from the edge of the green with a hybrid. I tried that and it works well. Any other choices?

Regards,
Dan

I haven't used the hybrid in a while as my wedges have been very accurate lately, but when I was using the hybrid (depending on the lie) it did work very well.

[landlord]

If you want backspin and minimal roll out with little green to work with, you first of all need a premium ball. But it's doable (if high risk) in two different ways I can think of, depending on your lie. Both are best with your LW.

(a) If you can get under it:

With a short (but slow, deliberate, flat, and non-wristy) backswing, come through under the ball as fast as you can. Make sure you don't release the clubhead; i.e., leave the clubface the way it was when it went under the ball and don't break or turn your wrists after you hit the ball. That will pop it up with a bit of backspin. It's sort of a mini flop shot, except it's done in the same way as you'd impart backspin to a ping pong ball with a ping pong paddle.

(b) If you're not sure you can get under it:

Again with the short but slow and deliberate backswing (a little steeper and wristier this time), chop down hard on the upper-back half of the ball -- the higher up the better. Follow-through is unimportant and in fact it might be best to continue right into the ground. This gives some serious backspin if you do it right, but you obviously have to practise to see how much oomph gives how much spin.

IMO the main thing on any chip shot is to decide on and commit to a place where the ball will first touch down. Then hit to that spot. Make that spot the last place you look before pulling the trigger.

Oh, and don't look up to see where it went before it's been on its way for a while. :rolleyes:

[TourIQ]

Oh, and don't look up to see where it went before it's been on its way for a while. :rolleyes:I would add ... DON'T DECELERATE the club through impact.

[xander.uk]

The hybrid is a great option from just off the green or around the fringe......but that is simply used as a putter.

I always play a rolling option rather than a check spin option as it is more reliable.

If you fail to get the spin then its rolling off the green ( downhill option as described ) but with the chip n roll shot you just need to get pace right.

If you want to try the check spin shot then use a high loft wedge ( preferably a nice new sharp grooved 1 :) ) and a firm strike into the back off the ball ( keep your hands forward and grip down a bit on the club and hit it firmly )

I guess the best exponents of this shot are phil and tiger so good luck :D

[ShortgamePro]

It's not as tough a shot as everyone seems to be making it out to be. You can put some spin on the ball to reduce the roll, and keep it relatively low at the same time. You just need to learn how to do it properly. Granted if you are in thick thick rough you need to ad lib a bit and you shouldn't expect spin. But out of normal rough, or the fringe/fairway its a shot you can execute if you know how.

1) Use anything from a gap wedge to a lob wedge
2) Play the ball a little more forward in your stance & open your stance
3) Open the face of the club
4) Cut across the ball like you are hitting it left of the hole and keep the club relatively low to the ground.

Experiment with it for a bit until you get an idea of what you're trying to do.

[cdnputter]

It's not as tough a shot as everyone seems to be making it out to be. You can put some spin on the ball to reduce the roll, and keep it relatively low at the same time. You just need to learn how to do it properly. Granted if you are in thick thick rough you need to ad lib a bit and you shouldn't expect spin. But out of normal rough, or the fringe/fairway its a shot you can execute if you know how.

1) Use anything from a gap wedge to a lob wedge
2) Play the ball a little more forward in your stance & open your stance
3) Open the face of the club
4) Cut across the ball like you are hitting it left of the hole and keep the club relatively low to the ground.

Experiment with it for a bit until you get an idea of what you're trying to do.

Be careful with step 4, especially if you're using a lob wedge, this can lead to skulling the ball across the green into a bunker. :eek:

The key is to practice, practice, and then practice this a little more. And by practice I mean hours, trying this for 5 minutes before a round probably won't ensure success.

[Flog]

On a somewhat related note.......what's the lowest iron you chip with? I've only been taught the traditional chipping with a 7 and 9 iron. Just recently I saw Weir chipping about six inches from the edge of the green with a hybrid. I tried that and it works well. Any other choices?

Regards,
Dan

If I'm less than 5 feet off the green I almost always use my 6i. I practice with it a lot and find it gives me the best combination of height and roll. If it's a long way to the pin, I've been known to go as low as a 4 to get the ball rolling quickly.

[landlord]

Pul-lease. DanTwomey is not asking whether he should roll it or fly it, he's asking how to execute a downhill chip with some English on it.

[Flog]

Pul-lease. DanTwomey is not asking whether he should roll it or fly it, he's asking how to execute a downhill chip with some English on it.

As you can clearly see, or not, he also asked what the lowest loft that anyone chips with-- only 2 posts before yours. That's what I quoted and that's what I replied to.
:rolleyes:

[landlord]

As you can clearly see, or not, he also asked what the lowest loft that anyone chips with-- only 2 posts before yours. That's what I quoted and that's what I replied to.
:rolleyes:
Your post is fine. It's the 10 others telling him not to even try. :rolleyes:

[cdnputter]

I think Dan is trying to get an idea of how to get a chip to check up for a downhill lie. And I'm sure you're well aware of how hard that is, hence the advice of what to do from their prospective experiences. It can be a very hard shot, just like a greenside bunker shot that is short sided, very little room for error.

[Dan Twomey]

Here's a picture of my local practice green. Because of the dry summer it's pretty hard but the principles remain the same. It's a downhill slope away from the arrows where I normally practice chipping on.

http://ca.geocities.com/dantwomey1@rogers.com/images/Practice.jpg

Regards,
Dan

[landlord]

Dan, this whole thread is full of good ideas -- including the ones telling you not to even try this shot. ;)

In today's golf, though, I think you need the chipshot that checks up. If it's high-risk, so be it. You still need it. Anyway, see my first post in this thread for ideas. One thing I forgot to add is, if you're skulling or chunking them (and for maximum check), try moving the ball back toward (or past if you dare) your rearward foot. With a bit of practice you'll fairly quickly find the right ball position for you. You want to lay the leading edge of the club on the upper-rear quadrant of the ball -- between north-by-northeast and east.

I'm not a great golfer -- usually about a 12 -- but this shot I can do. Lazy SOB that I am, and given my low GIR rate, I typically approach the green with LW and putter in hand ... and that's all. If you are as truly committed to laziness as I am, you can figure out every possible shot around the green using only these two clubs.

One more caveat: once you learn to check them up, it's hard to stop even when you know a long rollout with a lower loft would be better. ;)

[MyGolfster]

When Chipping out of the rough from beside the green, its not a matter of spin but a matter of trajectory. You can not spin the ball very much at all, the only way is to have clean contact. Think trajectory, and how much you feel the ball will roll out.

Spinning the ball from 60-100 yards is another story all together. You need high quality wedges and you need to hit it crisp with a proper release and a clean divot!

[Big Shooter]

Here's a picture of my local practice green. Because of the dry summer it's pretty hard but the principles remain the same. It's a downhill slope away from the arrows where I normally practice chipping on.Regards,
Dan

Based on YOUR practice area, I would go with my 58-degree wedge, OPEN your stance, and have the club face OPEN to the line you want to hit it to.
(see David Toms in October 2007 Golf Digest);)

[xander.uk]

Another thing to consider in this..is the bounce of the wedge you are using.

From a tight fairway lie a high bounce club is not the best idea ( sand wedge )

Use your lowest bounce wedge ( gap wedge/lob wedge but usually not your sand wedge ) to enable you to clip the ball cleanly more easily.

It isnt an impossible shot....but it is a shot that requires practice.
As has been pointed out it is easy to thin it over the green if you execute the shot poorly.

It is however a good shot to be able to play and people play it in different ways so use your practice area and experiment with what feels best to you.

[JEBS]

You need to get one of those 73* wedges ;) ;) ;)

[bk51]

I'm not a great golfer -- usually about a 12 -- but this shot I can do. Lazy SOB that I am, and given my low GIR rate, I typically approach the green with LW and putter in hand ... and that's all. If you are as truly committed to laziness as I am, you can figure out every possible shot around the green using only these two clubs.

One more caveat: once you learn to check them up, it's hard to stop even when you know a long rollout with a lower loft would be better. ;)

I played with landlord at Osprey and I noticed how well he could get his short chips/pitches (choose your preferred word) to spin. He can do what he says.