Do u play chip n runs in USA?

[EnglishGolfer]

It has long been stated (over here at least) that American golfers usually play high flighted shots into greens even from the green fringes, even Colin Montgomerie said it at the weekend on the Golf Channel. Unless I have an obstacle to go over, I and most people I know would never play these shots and would use anything from a 6-9i to chip and run it up to the flag which is an absolute doddle of a shot and leads to many par saves. I'm not sure why you would choose to play the riskier high flighted lob/flop shot except that it looks a lot more impressive.

On the whole you generally have faster and better greens over there so would it not make sense to get the ball rolling like a putt asap?

I'm sure there is an obvious reason that I'm missing here so please feel free to enlighten me.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by EnglishGolfer

It has long been stated (over here at least) that American golfers usually play high flighted shots into greens even from the green fringes...I'm sure there is an obvious reason that I'm missing here so please feel free to enlighten me.

I don't know if it is wise to generalize about this across the US, but at least in my home state of Florida, we have a lot of small, elevated greens, with overseeded bermuda fringe areas. This makes it difficult to play the chip and run shot, as the ball tends to get hung up in the grass. So you really need to fly the ball onto the green. I found the same to be true at the courses I played in the midwest states, although the problem there is even stickier bluegrass rough. The difference, I would think, between play on a parkland course, and a links course.

[longiron]

eracer has got it right. Here in Indiana i can think of maybe 3-4 courses that i have played where a long chip and run is possible. I agree with you EG it is a great shot to use when you can but its not for every course.

[EnglishGolfer]

Originally Posted by longiron

eracer has got it right. Here in Indiana i can think of maybe 3-4 courses that i have played where a long chip and run is possible. I agree with you EG it is a great shot to use when you can but its not for every course.

I'd be off about 10 shots higher handicap over there! I rely heavily on chip and runs followed by one putt whether for par or birdie on short par 4's and 5's. If you play high shots under 30 yards from the green over here people just think you are trying to show off, what a difference in games between here and there.

[Highdraw34]

I play mostly on the East Coast, mainly MD and NC. I use the chip and run every time I am greenside or within 20 yards. I'll do it with anything from a 7-9 iron. I love the shot. I actually think it is more pleasing to the eye than a flop or a lob. I love nothing more than seeing the ball roll towards the hole like it was laser guided. I've also never holed a flop or a lob and I've holed numerous bump and runs.

[ualtim]

Originally Posted by EnglishGolfer

It has long been stated (over here at least) that American golfers usually play high flighted shots into greens even from the green fringes, even Colin Montgomerie said it at the weekend on the Golf Channel. Unless I have an obstacle to go over, I and most people I know would never play these shots and would use anything from a 6-9i to chip and run it up to the flag which is an absolute doddle of a shot and leads to many par saves. I'm not sure why you would choose to play the riskier high flighted lob/flop shot except that it looks a lot more impressive.

On the whole you generally have faster and better greens over there so would it not make sense to get the ball rolling like a putt asap?

I'm sure there is an obvious reason that I'm missing here so please feel free to enlighten me.

I play chip and runs whenever I can. I find it an easier shot to control into the green from 100 yards and it. I feel the main reason you do not see a lot of chip and runs here in the States is the golf course set up. A lot of courses in the US have elevated greens or some form of hazard fronting the green that limits the chip and run and foreces you to fly a shot into the green. If you get used to that style and have more practice with that style, your going to use it more often as your comfortable with it. Just like links style courses with traditionally strong winds favor the ground game, the so call "Target Golf" courses favor the high flying approach and that is what player become accustomed to.

Besides, that is what we see on TV most weekends as most of the Tour courses are definitely target courses and we try to emulate the pro's.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Quite simply, with the courses I play, I usually have to rely on whatever shot can find just past the fringe on the green and roll out to the hole. There are not many cases where the ball will turn out positive if it does not hit the green first. Ideally, I like to use an 8i to chip with, however I would say that the majority of my chips require a 52* Gap wedge or higher. 52* being my predominent chipping club on the greens up here. Realize that the faster greens only make this more of an issue. If I hit my 8i into what you may see suitable, it may get caught up before reaching the green, or if it finds the very front of the green, that faster green is going to put it off the back. If I am not within a few feet of the green, my 8i will not hold most of the greens up here. The bumpy, nasty rough and even sometimes the fringe is like chipping over a bed of marbles. It is sometimes the case that you need to generate some kind of spin even with a SW to get the ball to check up so as not to run way past the hole.

[Matthew_22]

Well, I have always used the lob shot, just because it looks better. But as I start taking my game more seriously now, I am in the transition phase of using more chip and run shots over a lob shot.

So far there has been no clear difference yet (they are both not perfect) but I suspect a bit more practice will get me used to this new type of shot.

[EnglishGolfer]

Originally Posted by Highdraw34

I've also never holed a flop or a lob and I've holed numerous bump and runs.

Me too, I reckon from greenside i get up and down 9 times out of 10 and hole about 1 in 20 (ish) with chip n runs but I can't recall ever holing a lob shot. It seems crazy to me that if you had the choice you would opt for a lob shot as probability dictates that you are better off with a chip n run as it spends more time on the ground and therefore has a greater chance of hiting the hole and dropping (plus you can thin the odd one and get away with it , if you thin a lob shot you're going to have further to go on your next shot)

[Scotty01292]

I'm still relatively inexperienced. As you may know, I play a quite good links course and a shitey parkland course in the southwest of Scotland. I know for a fact that the parkland one is impossible to play a chip and run on. (The reason I say it's shitey is because the greenkeepers spike the greens all year round. Even in Summer) The greens are slow and the fringes are seriously muddy.

The links course is good for chip and runs, but up till last summer, I never played a chip and run and always played a high lob wedge. I've recently developed a chip and run which is accurate enough, I still need to work on my distance.

[trob]

I do as much as I can. I like to get the ball rolling as quick as possible. I do keep a lob wedge in the bag but it's only for those bad situations where I gotta get real high real fast.

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by trob

it's only for those bad situations where I gotta get real high real fast.

I suck neat Vodka through a straw for those situations....

[goatster]

most of the courses i play(up here in the lovely NNY)you can play chip and runs.at my home course there is only two greens that you need a lofted shot for 1 is short by 5 yards then you would have to play a lofted shot because of a steep hill infront.the other is if you miss 5 to 10 yards left or right.

[brahma05]

I try to use a bump n run whenever possible....If I come across an elevated green or a situation that calls for something else besides a bump and run I usually go for the Look n Toss....How this is done is you get up to your ball look to see if anyone is looking....Then you take an identical ball out of your pocket toss it on the green (preferably next to the flag) and then brag to your playing partner about how much better you are after you get warmed up.....

[trob]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

I suck neat Vodka through a straw for those situations....

Ya know as soon as I hit submit I knew that statement would bring out the smart ass in the group.