Delo’s Divots: I know the old saying was
”
putt for dough.
”
But let’s face it, if you chip the ball really close, you don’t
have to be a good putter.
I know the old saying was “putt for dough.” But let’s face it, if you chip the ball really close, you don’t have to be a good putter.
The best way to be deadly around the greens is to have a good arsenal of short-game clubs. Don’t worry about spending $300 on the latest bomber of a driver that might get you a few extra yards. Instead, spend $100 each on three good wedges and your score will reflect your investment.
Every bag should have a pitching wedge that is around 48 degrees in loft, and two other “sand wedges” or “lob wedges” or “gap wedges” between 52 and 60 degrees. The reason for the different names is different manufacturers call them different things. Bottom line is they all will do the job no matter what they’re called. Having the correct lofted club for the situation just makes it much easier to hit the ball close.
The other saying of, “Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight,” fits here as well. If you have a chip shot that requires a lob where the ball has to drop and stop, don’t get upset when the ball skips 30 feet by the hole. Use the club (highest loft) that will get the ball to do just that — drop and stop.
When you have a flat chip where the hole is 40 feet away, use the pitching wedge (low loft) that will have a lower trajectory and therefore skip and roll to the hole.
So check your golf bag. If you don’t have three wedges you are costing yourself strokes. Talk to your local PGA professional and he or she can advise you on what you’re missing.
