Im a huge fan of using one club. Not saying that I always do it because I use to practice short game a ton and learn alot of different shots but anyone who I ever help that isnt under a 10 handicap I would always advocate using 1 club. I use to do it and it definitely works.

As far as the putter, I always use it if its applicable to the situation. Would much rather putt than chip if given the opportunity and Im not even that great of a putter

Also, I think part of the reason I favor chipping over putting has to do with the course that I grew up playing (and to some extent the courses I play now). I grew up playing a rugged rural muni course. Not well maintained, ground conditions were inconsistent at best, and putting for further than a few feet off the green could have disastrous results. Even now, the public courses here seem to not like mowing and the fairway is often long enough for the ball to bury down in it. I'm sure putting is much better at a manicured country club.

Just to be clear, are you saying you should use 6/7/8/9/PW/52/56/60/64 (up to 9 clubs) depending on the situation...

Or are you saying use 3 clubs like 8iron, 52, 60?

Moving the ball position around for a guy that is flipping at it isn't going to result in more catastrophic mis-hits than just changing the tool in his hand and keeping the ball in one spot?


I'm sure Doc will agree with you. I'm sure you're both in the same school of thought on this. I'm just surprised, I guess.

Use whatever club fits the situation. Of course, someone with more experience is going to be better at making the proper selection based on the fine-tuning things like lie, the way the rough is laying and how you think the club will get through, the intended landing area, etc...

Ugh. let me get some MS Paint up in here. I'll be right back...

Crush anyone? All you've offered is a made up number of 20% and a lot of condescension not backed up by any substance.

FWIW I am a 1 club for 90% of shots within 50 yards kinda guy. I especially think this is much better way if you are like a lot of high or mid handicappers that have giant club head game improvement short irons and Vokey wedges or equivalent. It is just much easier to have decent feel with the wedge.

That's why I said the best thing to do is to work on your technique with 1 club, learn how to properly use the bounce and loft of the wedge around the green and then work on changing the trajectory with the ball position.

Just using more clubs to hit different shots with poor technique isn't helping anyone.

I basically have 3 shots I can hit with a 56. A regular pitching motion from just behind my front foot, a low check and run from behind my back foot, and a halfway open face shot. I practice these a lot off all sorts of lies and am real consistent with my balance and low point for each swing. I can't think of the last time I hit a shot less than 20 yards fat or the last time bladed anything other than the open face shot. I have practiced and would like to learn a smooth bump and run 8 iron but my distance control is nowhere near as good as it is with the wedge from back behind my foot. I attribute this to the 8 iron being a big cavity back club (which I benefit greatly from on full shots)

I hit all my chips with sand wedge unless I feel like I need to fly more rough/fringe and maybe go with the lob wedge. I tried everything from 9i, PW, SW, AW, LW and found the SW felt best and was most consistent. Open stance, feet about 2 inches apart and parallel to eachother. Ball about 2-6 inches behind back foot. 90%+ weight on left (front) foot. No wrist break. Turn back by rotating shoulders only, turning back more for a longer chip and less for shorter chip and then just make sure I accelerate through the ball. I make sure arms are fully extended before takeaway and also set the wrist a little such that my hands are well ahead of the clubface. But no wrist break during swing.

It's one of my best shots and way better than lag putting from fringe that's for sure. I do, however, have some issues with various uneven lies around the green which obv. happen more than I'd like. But on level lies I feel very confident I can get it closer to the pin than with any other motion or club.

yea not surprised you have issues with uneven lies when you have no wrist break.

I have wrist break on pitches, they just aren't nearly as accurate as chips.

I notice pros break their wrist when they chip but anytime I do that it brings trouble into the picture. I am a lot more consistent if all I have to do is turn my shoulders.

THey only **** their wrists on the way back, they're holding the angle and don't release after contact

NXT is actually talking about something different.. If you're learning how to chip, using one club is probably best while practicing and using that club while playing as well. I saw Padraig giving a playing lesson at the PGA Championship, and he was saying all amateurs should just learn with their pitching wedge.

If you're just a casual player that doesn't practice much , then I don't see how this advice is necessarily best.. Isn't this why we have different lofted clubs to begin with? That said, I have pretty bad feel with my wedges over 52*.

for me, when I was playing a lot, I used to practice chipping a lot, and i was quite confident around the greens. I felt when I had the wedge in my hands that I actually had a shot at sinking the chip.. Although unrealistic, that's how I felt.. Also, 99.9% of my rounds are practice rounds, and like NXT said, it's more fun chipping, and I also think it builds my confidence and skill level.. for the typical bogey golfer tho, no one's gonna argue with haney's advice.

-- Pound it.

I have found that when I am in the rough surrounding the green I use my hybrid to putt out of it. Works for me and do not have to worry about skulling it.

This. This. This.

8 iron and treat it like a long putt. I actually prefer it to putting when I can; for some reason I can control the speed easier. I guess that means I need to practice putting more.