Having a good short game can save you a lot of shots around the green. It's important to be able to make some putts, but being able to chip and pitch it close to the hole will help you cut strokes much more consistently.
Ed Parkerson sent in a question asking if switching clubs around the green would be more advantageous than delofting a wedge by leaning the shaft forward at address. It's really a great question and one that allows me to showcase all the different ways in which you can play pitch shots around the green. I'll also show you a particular type of shot that I like to call my nibble pitch shot. It's a great way to play a shot when you don't have much green to work with and you've got to get the ball to check up.
Surge,
Rather than move your hands forward and slant the shaft forward to deloft the lob wedge and hit a lower trajectory chip shot, would it not improve the chance of hitting a successful shot to use a less lofted club and hit a more normal shot with less force???
Ed Parkerson
Greensboro, NC
Today's lesson is very visual, so you'll have to watch the video to see exactly how I execute certain types of shots around the green. Just remember that whenever you lean the shaft forward, you must then adjust accordingly so that your hands are still in line with the top of your sternum. If your hands are way out in front, you'll most likely hit behind the ball and chunk it. Good luck!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
nibble pitch shot
An old pro (86) gave me a tip with that shot you call
a nibble pitch.He said to take a pitching wedge and deloft
it by gripping the club at the lowest part of the grip
and just take a putting stroke and control the amount
by the length of the back stroke and the ball wont
run way off after it hits the green.
nibble pitch shot
Loved your explanation of the nibble pitch shot. Isn't that the "knife" shot you demonstrated in one of your bonus around the green shot videos? I have been using that shot very successfully for some time.
Keep the dailies coming. I look forward to them.
Similar
It looks similar to the knife shot, but you continue through the ball. If I recall correctly, with the knife you stick the club into the sand or deep grass with no intent that it will follow through. Great for impossible lies near the lip of a bunker. I've had occasion to use it myself. :)
Nibble Pitch Shot
Watched the final round of the LPGA Lotte event in Hawaii. The Korean golfer Seo 'chunked' a shot exactly like Surge mentioned could happen, and the ball travelled all of about 9"inches!!! At the start of the round she had been in contention. This was a divining moment for her challenge. I thought immediately of today's video when I saw her chunk it.
My chipping and pitching are in very good shape, but one of my problems has been with shots of this nature on unforgiving greens with slopes which can leave you off the green or a further away from the hole by a long way.
The hands in the middle were a 'light going on' moment for me.
As soon as the drought breaking torrential rain here stops I will practice it. Can't wait. Thanks Surge for enlightening us and me in particular.
NZ Nibbler
DH,
How are you pal? Good to see your post. Torrential rains and golf are not too compatible. My pitching and chipping has bright moments and others like Seo had. Chipping too short or too long as Surge says is a challenge many have. When I'm on it is 'happy time' and scoring is fun. I really appreciate Surges reminder because i am certainly guilty of getting my hands too far in front of the sternum. I'll work on this in the coming weeks.
Played 9 holes before 8am and work yesterday. An eventful 41 for nine that was a mix of two birdies (on both par fives) and two doubles bogies that both started off the tee with poor drives. On several holes the driver behaved very well. Trying a different shaft in the driver and still getting the feel and timing down. Both birdies started with purred drives both in the 275 range. One left only 170 yards and the other left 200. With a slightly down hill slope to the green on the par 5 #13th got the 170 yards out of a well struck 5 iron and on the par 5 #15 the 200 came from my 3 wood. Both on the green with 30 and 40 foot putts. The birdies were tap ins. The really primo thing about this 6:30am round was that as it turned out I had the entire back nine to myself. 65 degrees, no wind and the fairways and greens were freshly mowed (there was to be an 8am tournament) and the morning dew had not yet evaporated. Ironically it was on both of the par fives that I was hitting into a blinding morning sunrise. Told myself that without a companion to watch the balls flight I had to hit the fairway in order to find the ball. Hmmnn.... maybe I need to play blinded more often.
Hoping to play 9 before 8 on Monday. Let's see if those two doubles can be pars instead and I can get closer to 36 again.
Hitting Blinded
Robert, I think Surge has done a video on hitting the driver blind, maybe you could check it out and let us know what you "feel", LOL.
NZ Nibbler
Hi Robert,
Glad to see that you are getting out and about on the hallowed turf. Just as more of the wet stuff arrives here as I peck this out! Ho-hum!
Good golf to watch over the w/e. The Heritage,LPGA in Hawaii for us. The Spanish Open and the South American event. Winners from Northern Ireland,Norway,France and Angel Cabrera bounced back to take the South American one.
Good to see that you had a great outing and were hitting them pure with the big dog. and the 3W doing the business as well for you must have been quite satisfying indeed. My short game is on song and getting better. The Nipper will be experimented with as soon as we are able. The straight left arm at address was a revelation and the increased distances without losing accuracy was comforting. My 4 and 5irons were a surprise too. The big head scratch at the moment is choice of longer clubs below the driver! They all began to perform well, which means I have several clubs which could do the same job!!! A nice problem to have I suppose : - )
Managed a brief swing session twice during the past four days. Have to be thankful for small mercies I suppose. The sky has just darkened considerably and we know what that means. Batten down the hatches hahaha! Have a great week. ANZAC Day on 25th and a personal memorial day for Dick Lee and his son on the 26th. It was quite moving to see the players and caddies at the Hermitage shaking hands and talking to the Servicemen. My wife has gone off Webb Simpson after seeing him hardly acknowledge them. His caddy was by comparison, a gentleman.
Noted a sign at the Hermitage, which said "D.J.Trahan top tour putter at 15%" or was I dreaming?
DH
Battened hatches
Still weathering the storm DH? Hope it is clearing up and you can hit the links again soon.
Cindy was able to join me for nine before eight am today. I'm at work now (between clients) but reflecting on the morning round. Cindy played well hitting many good shots (aren't we all?). We have been looking for the right fairway wood for her. She is just looking for a bit more yardage off the tee and on her second shots. A few months ago I built her the driver and 5 wood using the Lady tech 15* driver and the 21* both with the LL shaft from Ralph Maltby and Golfworks.com. She has done very well with the driver but hit and miss with the fairway metal. We ordered and got the Adams Speedline LP Fairway Wood 21*. We cut 1.5 inches off it and added her Golf Pride Jumbo tour wrap grip. So far she loves it and is getting a bit higher Trajectory and a healthy 130 yards. She gets around 150-160 with her 15* driver so with these two she's close or on many greens now.
Back to the morning round, I was one better than Saturday morning with a 40 playing the back nine. Started a little shaky with a bogie and a double on #10 and #11(both par 4's).
The double again started with a wayward drive. Long but left and had an 'opportunity' to hit a 7 iron under the limbs of one tall tree and then clear the height of the next big tree. It required absolute precision. Didn't happen this time:( Came off too high and never made it past tree #1. Still had tree trouble and had to hit one about 3 feet above the ground for about 20 yards to clear a tree and then a cement barrier that lines the cart path. Hit the edge of it square shooting the ball back at me and to the tee area of the following hole. Great! Three swings and still not on the green! Finally made the green and two putted for a 6. Parred the next six holes making some good shots and several one putts. Putter was going good as I sank putts of 5,6,25 and 30 feet in that span from #12- #17 (none for birdies but several par savers). Was+3 with #18 to play. Lovely par four of about 395 yards. Tee shot down the middle 260. 132 by laser left and I choose the 7 iron which hit the center of the green but left me a slick 45 foot down hill putt. Slid the first by 8 feet and missed the come backer for my only 3 jack with the putter. No birdies today and a 4 over 40. Felt good considering the earlier tree trouble. Have to say we are having absolutely gorgeous weather. It was about 72 degrees and sunny with no wind. It'll be 89* later today. Those of you thinking about a trip to Las Vegas, now's the time
Pray for better weather in NZ pal:)
Around the Greens
Surge, perfect timing, played in an annual 3 day comp over the weekend and finished equal leader with stableford scores of 37, 38,40, all under my H/C
4 years ago I came last, last year was runner up, next year who knows.
Just want to let you all know that the PPGS is finally working for me, every one now calls me the "The Recovery Man" because I have worked very hard on my shots around the green and putting. The shots that Surge has shown in this video are exactly what I work on at least 3 times a week, with the only exception is that I have 5 wedges and know what each one does. My aim this year to get rid of the errant shots that keep popping up now and again.
Nice playing
Neil,
Good job! "Recovery Man". Got a nice ring to it. Golf is constant correction and recovery. If you are becoming a short game wizard you'll be taking the coins from all your laddies there! Well done.
Nibble shots
Hi Don. Just on this one subject, I believe that you have fallen into the 'Pros' trap of assuming that most amateurs can do what you can. This type of shot is much to difficult for a mid to high handicapper to be trying, without tons of practice.
As you know, little wedge shots around the greens; those which stop quickly, depend on a very crisp contact and this contact is simply beyond the vast majority of players to achieve. Much safer, in my 45 years
experience to use a straighter faced club, from 6 to 9...and just concentrate on getting the ball onto the green.
For some reason not yet understood, wedge shots of this type , using the same precision contact, produce varying results in that some have a lot of spin and others do not. They are very risky shots, even the top Pros make a botch of these shots, from time to time
Ted
Short game shots
I don't think Surge is falling into any "trap" here. He is just showing how he would perform the shot. Whether somebody is good enough to use it, or how often, is up to them.
Two things that can take strokes away are trying the more risky shot when it's not necessary AND being afraid to use the risky shot when it's the ONLY chance to score.
Two things that can stop a ball are trajectory and spin. Best to depend on as little of either as possible on any given shot but sometimes one or the other (or both) are the only chance to get it close.
Sometimes there are even shots where there is a lot of green to work with but the break during the rollout is so hard to judge that the higher percentage shot is to take part of the rollout out of the shot by flying the ball closer to the hole. That comes into play a lot on greens with steep and/or multiple slopes.
Each shot is different and has to be approached that way and the more weapons a player brings to the table the more viable options they have.
For those people that never use a flop shot or a high spin rate shot it must be a helpless feeling to have a shot with no way possible to get close enough for an up and down. I know a guy that uses a special chipping club that he is very good at playing on most shots but on some downhill and short-sided shots he is simply out of luck and has no option that has any chance of working for him.
Nibble shots
Hi Don. Just on this one subject, I believe that you have fallen into the 'Pros' trap of assuming that most amateurs can do what you can. This type of shot is much to difficult for a mid to high handicapper to be trying, without tons of practice.
As you know, little wedge shots around the greens; those which stop quickly, depend on a very crisp contact and this contact is simply beyond the vast majority of players to achieve. Much safer, in my 45 years
experience to use a straighter faced club, from 6 to 9...and just concentrate on getting the ball onto the green.
For some reason not yet understood, wedge shots of this type , using the same precision contact, produce varying results in that some have a lot of spin and others do not. They are very risky shots, even the top Pros make a botch of these shots, from time to time
Ted