What is the way to play a thirty yard pitch shot? How do you play it? What is a good ratio of carry to roll?

Question

What is the way to play a thirty yard pitch shot? How do you play it? What is a good ratio of carry to roll?

Answer 1

The way I play those feel type pitch shots is to imagine that you are going to throw the ball, under hand (like a softball pitcher), to the target. Then use that same motion and power to hit the ball.

As far as ratio, the lower the ball and the more the ball rolls is best.

Answer 2

That is really a feel shot.  I have found that if I take my gap wedge and take my back swing until my hands are about waist high.  With a smooth tempo and very little leg action this seems to be a good combination.

Answer 3

I would usually run it with a 6-7 iron - more run than flight.

Thirty yards is only 90 feet - more like a long putt not a wedge.

Answer 4

Well first of all remember to keep you head as still as

possible and don't take your eyes off the ball throughout the

swing. Secondly remember to let the loft of the club do the

work.

The set up at address should be: Hands forward, Weight forward

and the Ball played back in your stance.

Your hands should be in line with your left leg and the ball in

line with your back foot.

Once you have set up you should think of the swing as more of

an arms-and-shoulder swing, your body will naturally rotate in

time to your swinging of your arms.

Make sure you don't break or hinge your wrists too much, only

slightly on the backswing. Try and retain the angle in your  

wrists as you swing, which is needed for good contact with the

ball.



All through the swing your hands should lead, this creates a

descending angle of attack for a good chip shot. You strike

down to create the height you don't need to manipulate to get

the ball in the air.

This shot is worth a lot of practice, a good chip close to

the pin can help keep your score down.

I hope this article has been of some help to you.

Ali T

Answer 5

It depends on what is between you and flag in those thirty yards, but to get it close, get it on the ground and rolling like a putt as soon as possible.  If there are no obstacles (ie bunker) I would probably chip a pitching wedge trying to land it just short of the green - one hop then roll up to the hole from there.

Answer 6

Several factors are taken into consideration before determining which club will be used on a 30 yard pitch shot. Are there hazards in front or on either side of the green?  Is the pin on the flat or on a raised back portion,?  Are there hazards behind the green ? What is the severity of the slope of the green, if any?  Is the pin a sucker pinposition?  If the conditions are right I will use a bump and run with a 7, 8 or 9 iron. If I have to clear a hazard, the pitching wedge or 56 degree wedge will be used. If the pin is back and tight against a corner, I'll play safe to get as close as possible avoiding trouble and hope for 2 putts.

Answer 7

It depends where the pin is on the green and how much green you have to work with.

If the green is large and flat and there’s no false front and the pin’s in the front, I will take a W or 9 and chip and run it up there. Sometimes if there are some bumps and ridges, I’ll close the W a little bit, swing a little inside and hit what’s called a “hookie-spinny”. The ball should hook or release through the bumps.

If the green is uphill or false front and pin’s in the front, I will take my L wedge and hit it normally (which is high) and try to land it 5 feet in front of the pin. For me, my L wedge produces almost no roll and is like throwing a dart.

If the pin is in the middle, I usually hit a pitch and run with my 54 degree W. I try to keep the backswing at my hips and turn through.

If the pin is in the back and it’s half fairway and half green, I’ll do the same as when the pin is in the middle, but let my backswing rise up to 3/4. For some people this might be a lot, but I play with very clean grooves and a PV-1 ball. So, I usually have to account for some amount of check.

If you’re a high-handicapper, you probably shouldn’t do any of this until you practice each of these on a practice hole or practice green. For any of these 30 yard shots, you should pick one wedge, probably a regular W and hit half shots. Your goal should be to keep the ball in the middle of the green, regardless of pin location.

Answer 8

Pitching wedge half way, lob / sand wedge three quarters.