Shots off hard pan/sandy lies

[Amelicus]

Hi guys,

As the title suggests, I wanted to ask for opinions of the best way to play a 60 yard pitch shot off a hard pan lie.

I'll give a brief background, there is a hole on the course I regularly play, where the green is over a water hazard(narrow green), with a bunker over the back of the green. My tee shot usually leaves me with a 60-70 yard pitch shot for my 2nd. The fairway is hard with little to no grass and the lie is hard pan/little sandy.

What's the best way to play this shot and get the ball to stop quickly? What club to use, what bounce? Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

It’s going to be individual in preference and practicing different shots to find what works best for you.

But I’d probably play it with a 52° wedge with less bounce, ball position back from centre with my weight predominantly on my left side to promote a downward angle of attack ands hands forward to ensure ball before turf contact.

I’d try to make a short swing with left wrist action and maintain speed through the ball with a short fairly aggressive follow through, to ensure I didn’t quit in the shot and got enough spin.

But if you had no obstacle to carry I’d go for a chippy 8 iron.

 

[Oops!]

Alternatively, you could play the first shot with a shorter club and then play the second shot from a potentially better position with a wedge and a “normal” (full) swing?

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Alternatively, you could play the first shot with a shorter club and then play the second shot from a potentially better position with a wedge and a “normal” (full) swing?

Simple, effective and smart course management. I like it

 

[Neilds]

I'm with @Oops! on this one. Use a different club off the tee and use a full shot from, say 100-120 yards into the green. A good tip I was given was to work your shots back from the green, not forward from the tee. Leave yourself a comfortable distance in instead of trying to fiddle a half shot.

 

[Orikoru]

Horses for courses, but a 60 yard shot for me is normally a half-swing AW (46°). Alternatively I could hit a gripped-down but full swung 60° - but maybe not a confidence-inspiring option off the lie you describe.

Agree with the other shouts saying hit less club off the tee - if I did that and left about 90-95 yards I could hit a full 50° which is a shot I'm very comfortable with, plus has the height to stop on the green nicely. In fact I do try and leave myself this shot on the 18th at my place (elevated green that slopes to the back and has a killer bunker in front of it).

 

[clubchamp98]

If you must play from this yardage I would suggest a 52* low bounce wedge.
I have a 4 degree bounce one for bunkers in winter it’s a great club