DEBATE: Rule of 12, Good or Hogwash

[Richie3Jack]

Check out the Manzella video on the Rule of 12 for chipping help.



Who has experience with the Rule of 12? Has it been successful for you?

If so or if not...then why?






3JACK

[mudball]

Hi Richie,

Really pleased you set up a Forum - looking forward to lots of good debate.

Rule of 12 - I've not got it working yet but will keep at it for a bit. At the moment our greens are so unpredictable - what with standing water and squidgy heel marks one day and then icy hard patches the next!

Up to now I have had a lot of success with a very simple system. I take a 7 iron and bunt it 25% of the way in the summer and let it roll out 75% or a pitching wedge and 50% - this time of year I allow another 5-10% carry and less roll.

But - I'm going to give this 'rule of 12' a go once the weather evens out in the spring.

[gmbtempe]

The Rule of 12 concept has single handily taken me from scared chipper to very solid chipper in a few months. I actually chip a lot more then texas wedge shots. The only thing that has bitten me a little is the softness of the greens. If I am playing with a Pro V or other premo ball and the greens are "grabby" then I have to drop an additional club.

[kevcarter]

I think it's a wonderful technique. I learned a very similar system from Phil Rogers back in 1981.

Kevin

[jerryg]

I find it a little time consuming, but generally works pretty well if I am on a fairly flat surface. If my math skills were better it probably wouldn't take so long.
I also find taking some consideration of elevation a little difficult using this method. Sometimes I find myself having better luck just sticking the information in the computer, pulling a club and making the shot. Art for art's sake?

[Richie3Jack]

Jan 17, 2010 13:01:45 GMT -5 jerryg said:

I find it a little time consuming, but generally works pretty well if I am on a fairly flat surface. If my math skills were better it probably wouldn't take so long.
I also find taking some consideration of elevation a little difficult using this method. Sometimes I find myself having better luck just sticking the information in the computer, pulling a club and making the shot. Art for art's sake?

There's a quick, easy way to do the math.

1. Pace your self from the ball to the 'safe zone.'

2. Then pace the entire distance from the safe zone to the cup.

3. Then, you go #2 / #1

For instance. Let's say the pace from the ball to the say zone is 5 paces. Then the total distance from the safe zone to the cup is 15 paces.

15 / 5 = 3

12-3 = 9 iron






3JACK

[fearlessgolfer]

Of course take in the consideration for Uphill or Downhill, Into the grain or Down the grain plus the speed and hardness of the green....wink*

I think it's always better to have a system then not.

I know Payne Stewart used to work on his SPOT chipping alot with Chuck Cook.

[begolfpro]

Jan 18, 2010 17:54:25 GMT -5 fearlessgolfer said:

Of course take in the consideration for Uphill or Downhill, Into the grain or Down the grain plus the speed and hardness of the green.....

But that will come with practice! That is why the professionals take their practice rounds to figure out the course and make notes about the greens and shots they may face on the course.

Remember practice with a purpose and always makes notes when you practice...

"FEEDBACK IS THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS"

[Richie3Jack]

The Rule of 12 has helped me tremendously, although I found it to take some practice. Not only to practice it so it's not too time consuming, but for years I chipped with a SW or a GW, so it took awhile to get used to using other irons to chip with, like a 7-iron or a 5-iron. It also greatly takes away the guessing game out of chipping. Much less of a question as to where to land it and will it roll the proper amount.

I find that you do have to pay attention to the lie. I was showing it to one of my blog readers at Woodmont GC outside of Atlanta, but I was up on a hill and the ball hit the green and just didn't roll because of the topography. I also find that uphill lies on chips carry much further than you think, but roll less. So when I get the idea of having to carry it more, but not too far and that usualy suits the shot just fine.



3JACK

[TeddyIrons]

I like the rule of 12 and it has made me re-think my approach to chipping from just off the green. I believe the rule is pretty much sound from my limited experience of using it, not taking into consideration the speed of the greens or the incline, of course.

However, myself I prefer to use it down as far as a 7 iron - anything lower and I will need to go out and practice hitting chips with a 6 iron, 5 iron, etc, because I'm not used to the trajectory. That would be no bad thing, actually, to go and practice with all irons.

[Richie3Jack]

I rarely need anything more than a 7-iron when using the rule of 12. To need to use something like a 5-iron, you have to have an extremely long chip and be just off the fringe. Even then I don't feel too comfortable using a 5-iron when I could putt the ball.




3JACK

[golfbaka]

Having been very much a Gap Wedge chipper for all of my golfing life I've decided to give this rule of 12 stuff a real go.

I was experimenting last night on the course and found a Paul Runyan style of chip putting worked the best. What have other peoples experiences been with the rule of 12 and technique?

I also found the unless your safe zone is at least two steps the system would be telling you to chip with your driver for very long chips... What is the lowest club everybody'll go to? 5 iron, 4 iron, 3 iron...?

Thanks