Steep Green (7-8%)- Bump and Run Shot

[cwdlaw223]

What's the best way to play a bump and run shot into a steep green? I had a shot yesterday where the rule of 12 didn't work that great. If I took a lower lofted club out the ball would hit into the slope and bounce up and I couldn't get a nice roll. If I hit a lob wedge I might not have gotten it to the hole.

The slope was probably in teh 7-8& range that I had to roll the ball over until it flattened (somewhat) at the top.

[Richie3Jack]

The Rule of 12 requires the golfer to use some judgement. If you have a steep slope like that and the Rule of 12 says a 9-iron, you may want to take an extra club.

You may also want to leave the shot below the cup.

I had a putt like that on the fringe yesterday at Shingle Creek. The slope had to be about 6%, but AimPoint doesn't go to 6%. I decided to make a bit of a conservative estimate and focus more on my speed. Figuring I don't want to miss and leave it high and have a 3-footer that breaks a ton. I'd rather have a 3-footer left that is uphill.

Anyway, Rule of 12 requires some judgement.






3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

I probably would use the SW if I had to do it over again. I definitely wanted to stay below the hole. If I used a 7 or 8 iron it would be too hard to guess the role after the ball hits into the slope and pops up slightly.

[Richie3Jack]

I'm a firm believer in being 'conscious' of where being below the cup is. I think if you can do that with some success in a round of golf, you'll start scoring better. Your friends will remark that you're putting better...but the reality is that you're just leaving yourself with more makeable putts.

Sometimes you have to get over the urge to try and make everything and instead focus more on thinking 1 shot ahead.








3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

I'm doing that with my chip shots now. I almost never chip the ball in the hole and keep going for a chip in to the detriment of a makeable comeback putt.

[Richie3Jack]

Yep. I used to make the same mistake and I used to be a great chipper and pitcher of the ball.

But, I don't think you can never go for the hole either. Otherwise you are taking away those tap ins or shots that actually go in the hole. It's a bit of assessment.

#11 at Shingle Creek yesterday. I had 128 into the flag. Very wide green. Pin was cut back left. Bunker short of the green. Not a ton of room to hit into the green, north-south wise...but a wide...east-west to hit into.

The 1st thing I tried to assess is trouble short or long. Well, it was best to avoid the bunker short. However, the only way to avoid that is aim well right of the flag. If I hit it over there, I'm safely on the green. But, I'm left with a 40 foot putt.

If I miss left of the green, it's probably an easy up-n-down, maybe even a makeable chip.

So even though I didn't quite like the prospects of aiming at the stick because of the bunker short, it:

- was a pitching wedge, so my distance control should be pretty good.
- if I went for the flag and missed right I was putting.
- if I went for the flag and missed left, I had an easy up-n-down
- all I had to do was hit a PW pretty well and hope that I have the club and no wind gusts up.

To me, I went for it because I should be able to hit a PW pretty well and if not...well, I deserve to go in the bunker. And even that bunker wasn't the end of the world.

So I got up there, flushed it at the flag to about 10 inches and kicked in for birdie.

I think the zenith is to be able to consistently eliminate the bad leave and put yourself in situations where you are basically hitting shots at the flag or leaving them on the good side. But, that takes some real skill to do that.

Anyway...the key point to all of this is to try and think 1 shot ahead.





3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

It takes a lot of experience, age and emotional control to be able to play the percentage. Ego golf is so satisfying until you don't execute. The older I get the more I have to use my mind to play good golf. Aimpoint has helped me so much in getting the ball in the hole and improving my chipping.