Lob Or Chip n Run ????????????

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Was actually talking about this with my mate yesterday and came to the conclusion that on a lot of courses you have to be able to play a higher chip shot or lob to get it close to the flag unless u miss the green on the opposite side to the flag. So really u have to be able to play both. I think to be a really a good short game player u have to be able to play a variety of shots around the green.
Mike

 

[Nikki]

I agree with you all. Me being a youth I really like to play the lob, but i know that running it in is the best. So i practise that one the most.

Although i practise the chip and run more ften than the lob, it is a very good idea to practise the lob, it is the only shot you can use if there is a bunker (or some sort of hazard) up front.

But we'll all have to accept that a perfectly executed lob much cooler is than a perfectly executed chip and run...

 

[Twire]

I played with a couple of juniors last Sunday, and I must say one of them was simply stunning from 50 yards in. He would throw the ball up, a couple of bounces..bit of check..then release to the pin, pity the rest of his game wasn't as good.

Me, I prefere the % shot, which is normaly chip and run.

 

[tincup]

I have always been taught to get the ball running on the green as soon as possible, but there are obviously circumstances where a lofted shot is the better option

 

[rookie]

Cheers guys, good common sense replies. Unless theres an obstacle ill be chip n running from now on as it makes alot more sense from what you are all saying.

A lower Handicap is cooler than being able to Parachute it in.

 

[TonyN]

Smiffy makes a good point about learning to chip with the 7,8 and 9 iron.

Me, I only ever chip with my 7 and PW because it means I have to remeber less shots over time.

The way I see it is, when chipping, there are 3 main shots with each iron.

* 1/4
* 1/2
* 3/4

To learn the distances of each one of these with 4 irons (7,8,9,PW) is trying to learn, master and remeber 12 different chip and runs, far too many than I would ever need.

All I have to remember is different lentgh shots.

3 with the 7, 3 with the PW. Plenty to cover all options in my book.

If I need the ball running a long way (up hill maybe) its a 7.

If I need to ball to pull up quickly (down hill maybe) its a PW.

Going to get far more consistent using only the two irons often, rather than 4 irons not so often.

Seve used to practice with just a 6iron(?) and hit different lentgh shots with it to guage feel for distance control, so who better to learn from.

 

[andiritchie]

I do prefer to fly it at the hole and stop it with my 56 it just comes from the days of playing on the field with only a sandwedge.

If the green is quite flat ill chip and run though i use a rule of thumb of

6 iron carry 1/3 run 2/3

9 iron carry 1/2 run 1/2 it depends if uphill, downhill so i adjust to suit

 

[ademac]

chip and run for me. I love using my 7 iron for this type of shot and have holed out with it twice! not a lot for some people but I'm proud of it! I can honestly say I've never really got close with a lob shot!

 

[Smiffy]

chip and run for me. I love using my 7 iron for this type of shot

And that's basically what a "chipper" is...a 7 iron loft on a putter shaft. But use one at your peril. You'll have maps of Africa on the front of your chinos next...
If you can master a 7 iron around the green, you'll get on just fine.

 

[Herbie]

I agree with you all. Me being a youth I really like to play the lob, but i know that running it in is the best. So i practise that one the most.

Although i practise the chip and run more ften than the lob, it is a very good idea to practise the lob, it is the only shot you can use if there is a bunker (or some sort of hazard) up front.

But we'll all have to accept that a perfectly executed lob much cooler is than a perfectly executed chip and run...

Not really correct there nikki, I cant think of many courses I have ever played in more than 30 yrs where I have NEEDED a Lob shot, Ive used it yes, I have sometimes prefered it, thats true also, but NEEDED it? no! How high are these bunkers and hazards you mention?

You are right that in the minds of the naive, the lob shot well executed may look cool but to suggest it looks cooler than a well executed chip and run or pitch and run is like saying Tigers most publicised shot ever on the 16th at Agusta would have looked better with a lob shot to the pin???

 

[TonyN]

Herb you must be pretty straight,

I need them quite often when I am on the wrong fairway behind 'trees, bushes and high graaaas'

 

[rookie]

I agree with you all. Me being a youth I really like to play the lob, but i know that running it in is the best. So i practise that one the most.

Although i practise the chip and run more ften than the lob, it is a very good idea to practise the lob, it is the only shot you can use if there is a bunker (or some sort of hazard) up front.

But we'll all have to accept that a perfectly executed lob much cooler is than a perfectly executed chip and run...

Not really correct there nikki, I cant think of many courses I have ever played in more than 30 yrs where I have NEEDED a Lob shot, Ive used it yes, I have sometimes prefered it, thats true also, but NEEDED it? no! How high are these bunkers and hazards you mention?

You are right that in the minds of the naive, the lob shot well executed may look cool but to suggest it looks cooler than a well executed chip and run or pitch and run is like saying Tigers most publicised shot ever on the 16th at Agusta would have looked better with a lob shot to the pin???

Nice one Herb, i forgot that 1 of the most famous shots ever was a chip n run.

 

[Imurg]

Not really correct there nikki, I cant think of many courses I have ever played in more than 30 yrs where I have NEEDED a Lob shot, Ive used it yes, I have sometimes prefered it, thats true also, but NEEDED it? no! How high are these bunkers and hazards you mention?

Herb, What about the situation where you are in the short rough left of the green with the pin cut on the left 3 yards from the edge and a bunker between you and the green?

I can't think of a better time to play a lob shot.

 

[Herbie]

Tony & Imurg, I do use this shot and there are times like both of you mentioned for example where its needed, my reply was based purely on the preference issue or the need issue, but in answer to your notes, I try very hard to avoid using the lob unless forced to do so even going as far as punching it under trees rather than over, I dont remember many times Ive needed a lob shot specifically but then again I can create flexible shots with PW and 9iron, as for the scenario you mention Imurg, tough one yes but I have often still used the chip or short pitch and run shot even if it means running past a bit as Ive seen too many lob shots in that same situation finish in the bunker.

 

[Macster]

A Lob shot is an invaluable shot when you are greenside, with a Bunker between you and the pin with little room to spare.
Float it up, watch it drop and run a few feet, hopefully next to the pin, lovely.
Its a very satisfying shot to play, and I love it.

However, if there isnt anything to go over, chip'n run with an 8 perhaps is my favoured route to the pin.

 

[Cernunnos]

My Pro keeps banging on about High lob shots being a high percentage shot. In other words what he means its got a higher percentage of failour than most amatures. Now although he has a point, he also does try & teach the right shot for the right occasion, so there whould be a time for a lob, time for a chip'n'run & everything inbetween.

So just as we should all have that favorite club or clubs we can rely upon for certain shots, or even all the close in shots, we must also be able to learn & practice all the close in shots with all clubs we can think of.

Really there is no single solution to most things around the green. But where there is trouble infront & behind, with little choice but to be able to play that lob shot & the high cut floater lob. Ironically he'll tell me off for using the latter, but seeing as that's the more natural I know that against convention it can sometimes be the one to reach for. Something that lessons have generally taken away from my game.

So lob or chip'n'run, well it depends upon the player & the conditions really.

 

[DCB]

The most important factor is that once you have chosen the shot you want to play, you have to commit to it completely.

IMO that is the simple solution to greenside shots, choose the shot and commit to it. It doesnt matter whether it is a chip & run, a full pitch or a floaty lob shot, commit to it fully and you have a far better chance of the shot being successful.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree 100% with DCB. Most fluffed chips are caused by deacceleration caused by a lack of conviction in the shot selection or club.

 

[Cernunnos]

The most important factor is that once you have chosen the shot you want to play, you have to commit to it completely.

IMO that is the simple solution to greenside shots, choose the shot and commit to it. It doesnt matter whether it is a chip & run, a full pitch or a floaty lob shot, commit to it fully and you have a far better chance of the shot being successful.

Speech..! Yep. Choose & commit.

Lack of commiting to a shot is as an amature our cardinal sin. If we're not sure whether to do one thing or another, we're as like to do neither & both at the same time & its DB, or TB time.

 

[mrmotorbikeman]

i've decided that i must be a bit odd, as i very rarely chip and run, as i almost always find the ball comes off the face far too fast and shoots past the hole, whereas with a higher, floaty shot, i can normally get the ball pretty close. i'm not sure if that is just due to playing that shot more, and therefore getting better at it, or if its just what my chipping technique works bets with, but it does seem to be against the grain of most comments above.

i dont own a lob wedge, and my SW is fairly un-lofted at 54 degrees, but almost every time i am off the green, that'll be the club i use. i do still get some element of run, its not all throw it up, and watch it stop like it stuck on chewing gum, probably 3 or 4 bounces and about 2 of 3 feet of roll, but i can reproduce that fairly consistently, so its always my percetage shot