what was the deal with your wedges Booker? pitchies, chippies, or full shots?

First par 3 I had a difficult pitch, about 15 yards over a deep bunker to a small elevated green. Very tight lie. Caught it on the equator, launching it about 45 yards. Coming back I hit the shot I wanted the first time which means it came up short. Putted it on from well off the green and made it to save double.

Next hole I ended up in a waste area about 15 yards short of the green. Beach sand. Caught it heavy, went about 5 yards. Next try, caught it heavy, went about 5 feet. Intentionally bladed the next one and managed to get it on the green, 2 putted from 20 feet for triple.

Not too worried about it. This was an experiment, it just did not work.

past performance is not indicative of future results
limited sample size and all that jazz

I know I've only had a couple of post recently itt. More on that later. But IMHO, 99% of amateur golfers play their wedge shots WAY to forward in their stance. Short wedge shots should be played off of your back toe (ish) and your lower hand should be choked up enough to be on the shaft. Close the face, trap the ball, let the loft of the club do it's work, which imparts spin on the ball.

Trying to be Phil Mickelson with a miraculous flop shot ain't in my bag. Likely not in yours either, which is why you hit it fat or blade it. It's going to feel real uncomfortable over the ball at first seeing the ball that far back in your stance. Especially on a tight lie. Puting the ball forward in your stance and trying to scoop it to get the ball airborne is bad.

Also a 58° 56° or even a 52° wedge are unnecessary on most shots. The higher the loft, the harder it is to control the distance. Start with your PW and work back from there when you get a better feel of how the ball works off of the club with that ball position.

I'll put up a too long didn't read post up if anyone cares.

FWIW. I played my first full round yesterday in about 3 years. Par 71. 42/39=81. Local country club is a goat track. Played the ball down except when it was on rock dirt and rolled it to the nearest patch of grass, but played it down from there. Only 1 three putt on greens transitioning from winter, so feeling good about getting back after it.

I disagree with this and it really depends what the shot is, There is a place for what you're saying but with what he described in his first shot where he has 15 yards over a bunker and to a elevated green. This isn't going to work, I would go the complete opposite to what you say, I would open the face and use the bounce, If it's super tight lie I would probably get a lob wedge out play it off my front foot and keep the club face more square instead of opening it up just to get some height on the shot and for it to land softly and note this isn't a flop or lob shot., This is just a normal pitch/chip. It's just going to come out higher and land softer,


Everybody see's everything different and that's what makes this game great. However I think exposing the leading edge on pitching and chipping is the wrong way to go about things. If you get this wrong you're going to be chunking or blading a ton. I'm sure you've heard this many times when you use the bounce you're able to get away with a lot more. It takes practice more so if you've been chipping and pitching with the leading edge but once you get it you'll have a lot more in your arsenal. I should as well have soft hands when doing this.

I do agree with you when you say people try to be like Mickleson to much, If you can keep the ball as low as possible for the most part. If you have green to work with then use it by taking less loft, His 101 chipping video is great though very simple but effective.

I actually find it quite weird that so many people have trouble with chipping and pitching but I have come to understand it more and more now when I go down to my local club before our roll ups or comps etc etc you will only find a select few chipping and pitching on the practice green and these people are the better players at the club. I'm not sure what it is but I'm guessing it's more about being embarrassed or something, They give the excuse saying the practice green isn't a replica of the greens out on the course (It's a astro turf green with what feels like just concrete under it and probably the fastest green you'll ever play on) I always say when I hear that if you can chip on this green you can chip anywhere.


On a final note, If you're out on the course by yourself and have time chuck a load of balls down and practice the up and downs you're supposed to get up and down from. See so many people when they do practice they neglect these shots and think they are to easy or something and don't bother with them. These are the ones you need to practice more and more. You obviously need to practice the tougher shots and playing out of different lies and changing the angles of the face, but don't neglect the simple ones. I'd say people lose way more on the shots gained stat on the up and downs they are supposed to make vs gaining shots on the shots gained stat on the ones they aren't expected to (think that made sense and think that is pretty obvious).


Not sure why but I can speak about chipping and pitching so much, it's the only real thing I'm actually good at on the golf course

^^^ I don't disagree in theory with what you said. But you mentioned the word practice about 8 times. Most weekend warriors don't practice near enough. Me included.

Sure. There are going to be times when you are behind a bunker to a short pin, and the shots you mention come in handy. But those take practice.

My point is that even in that scenario, most amateurs would be better off taking a club they feel comfortable with, playing it back in their stance, and just getting it over the bunker on the green. Even if that means being 20-30ft past the pin. You still have a chance at a 2 putt bogey.

VS. Opening up the face and chunking it into the sand trap or skulling it over the green. You obviously know this, but a big part of scoring is taking bogey when double or triple are easily in play.

You guys have any thoughts on the toe-down chip? I've been dabbling with this recently with some mixed success from various lies.

Basically, feet close together, ball back of stance, stand closer to ball, get hands higher than you might otherwise at address, chip with putting stroke and use the high hands to engage the bounce under the toe. Seems to be a little more idiot-proof (lord knows I need it)

is that the one Leadbetter teaches?

Yeah I do get what you're saying about the weekend warrior and like you say it's going overall it will be better if they can just get on the green and 2 putt and get out of there, If you're looking to improve though learning to use the bounce correctly is probably a game changer for high handicappers. Whilst I did say it takes practice imo it isn't that hard to learn and once you get the technique down it's like riding a bike in the sense you won't ever really lose it but I can only speak for myself. You can even practice this stuff on or around a tee box I generally do this on non serious rounds and waiting for the people in front I'll chuck a few balls down and just hit a few short shots, This would actually probably be better for someone learning this as you'd want to be learning the technique without a target. Then once comfortable introduce targets.



Yeah I do this out of funky lies sometimes and it works well for the most part.

I don't disagree with your comments, just noting that your suggested approach would not have worked with that particular shot. It required a lofted shot that stopped very quickly. 20-30 feet past the pin means over and off the green 15 yards coming back. Just no margin for error.

If I'd had my regular wedges I would have had a much better chance of pulling it off. Didn't have a feel for the bottom of the arc with the ones I was testing, leading to the equator hit on this hole followed by going too deep on the next hole.

If the bunker were not there it's a much easier shot, playable along the ground with a putter, hybrid or 8 iron.

I'll have to look next time I'm out there to see if there was anywhere else I could have played to safely in hopes of 'playing for bogey'. I kinda doubt it - everything on that side feeds into the deep bunker. The "safe" play is more or less where I ended up, hitting it long ... just not *that* long.

Walked a different course today and fired my second straight 90. No eagles, but again started double-double. Neither round was I able to have a warm up. Playing Thursday morning and again won't have a warmup, but hopefully can get off to a quicker start.

Needed par on 18 for 89 and had a 3w in for my second and hit a really nice shot to the fringe, left a 75 foot putt 9 feet short, then burned the edge.

I'm a 20.9 right now and in Arccos I compare myself to a 15, and I gained strokes against a 15 cap in driving (+0.8), short game (+0.2), and putting (+1.5). Lost 4.9 shots on approach, a lot of that coming from my worst shot of the day, a blocked shot into a hazard for my 3rd on a par 5 from 80 yards in the middle of the fairway.

Practiced a tweaked bunker technique at the range yesterday and hit my last 14 in a row onto the green. Had a chance to test it on-course, had a very short-sided kinda tough bunker shot, and hit a solid out to 30 feet for an easy two-putt bogey.

Finally put something together today in my 9 hole league match,

was 2 up after 2 back to 1 up on 3 made a good Par but he matched me and got a shot. Manage to get Par on the next 2 holes both of which are par 3's and he got bogey's putting me 3 up.

6th is the a long par 4 but playing a bit shorter today cause of the wind, First drive I've actually he well in what seems like so long. Had a slight draw on it and went a decent distance. He hit a decent one to, He goes first and hits a wood out right. I have about 200 to the pin and just hit rescue bit I hit a high spinny right shot which come up like 40 short into a bunker. He took his shot and went a bit long only to realise he has hit the wrong wedge. I haven't practiced these 40 yard bunker shots enough to know what I'm doing I get it out but a meh shot in the end. Chip on not a very good chip he chips on to, I have a putt for 5 but miss and decided just to give him the hole as he gets a shot on me. Back to 2 up.


7th short par 3, I thought he hit a decent shot but it stalled in the air and goes into the front bunker. I stuck with the same club I'd normally hit and just hit it a little harder only just crept onto the front. He then blades the bunker shot over the back. Messes his chip up, Say's to call it a day I said you may as well try and chip in, He gives it a go and nearly holes it (I won't be doing that again ) I just putt it up towards the hole nearly going in for a 2. I win 3 and 2.


Short game was on point today, Other than 1 hole, Hopefully it carries on.

I think I'm 3-0-1 for the league now. so should be trending towards the top. Only a couple of people are still unbeaten at the moment. Long way to go though I think we have 20 people if not more in this league.

Haha - nice to be a good sport, but in golf anything can happen so you want to accept all concessions

First league night didn't go well; started out solidly and then doubled the last 4 holes for a 46

Lost my match 3&2 and we lost the team match 2&1. Partner halved his match.

Typical "when it counts*" golf from me; get a little anxious - snap tee shots OB - get more anxious and let it snowball.



*It doesn't count for **** - it's a fun Wednesday night men's league but I am a headcase

Walked again today, Dad and I, got the pair up with 2 suuuuuper nice guys, but they were not particularly good and completely oblivious as to ready golf, etc. One would frequently stand by his ball 20 yards off the green, everyone else is on the green within 20 feet and he's just watching everyone expectantly to hit their putts.

Got pretty tilted, and then tried to use it as a mental composure test.

Course was pretty wet, bunkers were packed muddy and I did not play them well at all.

First hole is a 200 yard par 3, I laced a 3w drawing at the pin, lands and immediately stops 6 inches from pitch mark 30 feet short and I 3-putt for bogey. Would loved to have seen what happens if it wasn't super soggy.

Second hole, I melt a 3w, have 90 yards in, chunk it, hit a great pitch from behind the green in death spot giving me 15 feet for bogey and miss.

Third hole, 8 iron par 3, chunk again into terrible spot and make a triple.

Fourth hole, greenside bunker in reg, double.

Make a terrible quad on 6, guy walked in front of me right as I was about to pull the trigger to chip, I don't fully reset since people were waiting by now, hit a bad chip and that's when the monkey tilt set in, and I decided to use the opportunity to grind and focus.

Played the last 12 holes in +9, which included a silly short game mistake that turned a routine chip into a double, and then a tilt spot where I was greenside bunker in reg, thin it out, I just carry my SW and putter over there and then see it bounded waaayyy down this mound into another fairway. My bag is 50 yards away, and again people are waiting b/c my partners have to stand frozen over shots forever etc., so I can't go get the club I need. Tree is blocking a high pitch, so I try to hit a trapped low checking SW under the tree and make triple after being 40 feet from the hole in reg.

So eliminate those sequences, make those bogeys, and that's +6 over the last 12. Had 8 pars, and had my best strokes gained day off the tee since I've been tracking, so those are positives to keep moving forward. I'm also not good enough to be mad about a 92, esp when I was +12 through 6.

Guess I'll check in. First league night back after COVID went better than expected. 45 which was a very solid round for me, including my first eagle putt on a par 5. Won my match and team. Overall very solid, but chipping could use some work.

Took my Stealth driver out of the bag as I simply cannot control it. Put my old Titleist in and only missed 1 fairway.

Also took a new/old putter out to mix things up and it performed fairly well. Might have to regrip it and see if it continues to work. I normally play a ping newport 2, and this is some old Oddessey white hot mallet. Again, pleasantly suprised with the results from one round...

Miserable round all down to the fact it was just constantly raining. We were going to do something for the King's Coronation thing but we moved it to another day as the weather was so bad it made a lot of people not show up. So we just did a standard medal instead.

I went round in 80. As it was raining from the moment I got there I just wanted the round to be over so I tried to get round as quickly as I could. I gave up trying to keep everything dry as there was a bit of wind the umbrella was more hassle than it was worth, 1 Hole into the wind umbrella blew off about 3 times. I went through 3 gloves and by the back 9 I just went without one. Every swing the club nearly come out my hands. When I got to like the 15th I decided just to take way more club and basically pitch the ball to the green just so I the club wouldn't come out my hands.

Nearer the end of the round the greens were becoming unplayable.


After the round ran to the car to dump my stuff off. Took the waterproofs off and was just wet through, I wore shorts underneath so it was to bad on the bottom half. However I had a thick T shirt on and a thin jumper on the water added a lot more weight to me.


A guy went round in 72 +3 which is insanely good, He went round in shorts and a jumper without a umbrella and was carrying so maybe I missed the trick there


From now on I'm carrying an extra towel just for my hands, The guy I was playing with was ripping it I said to him are you not losing grip he said no. He was wearing a leather glove which he never took off. Never really saw him drying himself off either. If he could putt he would of shot a really good score.

sounds like a super fun time

I still remember the last round I played in the rain without rain gloves. Never again.

40-38-78. 2 birdies, 2 double bogeys.

Fun shortish course with some really difficult greens. Got up and down several times early that kept the round on track. Really really liking the Apex UW, it's performing insanely well.

oh yeah totally forgot about them will actually invest in a pair.




Played a scramble today had 2 other people on the team they weren't super good but we got round in -4 but lost to -7, problem with our group was when someone hit a good shot everyone else did as well the vice versa for the average and bad shots.

I did find something in that round that made it worth while to hopefully get me back playing good again mainly just set up stuff,

44-41-85. No birdies, 2 double bogeys.

Not sharp today, didn't hit many really good shots. Worked on my chipping, showed some promise but needs practice.

Was in the sand in the same spot I grumbled about last week, this time with a familiar wedge I had no problem getting it out and onto the green.

Was scheduled to play a match today but we decided to postpone it due to what the weather forecast was saying. I still went out and played it stayed dry for the whole round however it did threaten hard multiple times. Going back to my last post I thought I found something it was only a set up thing but it seems to have worked. I was hitting irons pure today and bit better with driver but didn't really get anything pure out the middle. The irons though were going like 10 yards further, I didn't score well because of this but it will take time adjust if it continues hopefully it does.


I'm really thinking about getting another wood either 3/4/5 wood to replace my 3 wood. I currently have the stealth the old version. I'm not super picky on how clubs look however with this 3 wood it has such a deep face it just doesn't appeal to me.

42 (par 35). No birdies, 1 double bogey, 1 triple bogey.

Overall wasn't bad. Saved some strokes with the putter, though I did three putt the last for double.

The triple was particularly grating. Long par 4 into the wind that I can't reach. Mediocre drive, excellent second shot left me 30 yards away in the fairway. But looking directly into the sun. Hoseled my pitch into a bunker, where it ended up against the back wall. No way to advance it. Had to pitch out sideways and back, hit a decent pitch on the green and missed the putt.

Saw one of the worst bounces I have ever seen - guy hits an iron off the tee on a short par 4. Hits a good shot. Straight ball flight. Lands in the fairway and somehow caroms 20 yards dead right into a pond. Never did figure out what he possibly could have hit to make the ball do that.