Choosing a Club Around the Green

When you find yourself around 150 yards away from the green, you have a clear understanding of the shot you need to play and the club required.

Yes, there may be hazards to cross and the wind may be blowing but you still know, if you are on the fairway with 150 yards remaining, what club to use for the shot.

However, when you have landed just off the green, something like 10 to 20 yards away from the putting surface, you have several options available for your next shot.  Should you chip, putt or even pitch the ball?  Which club are you going to use?

Choosing a club around the green and playing a shot can be the difference between gaining a shot or dropping shot, that’s how important it is to make a correct decision.  So, how do you decide what shot and what club you play around the green?

Firstly, look to see what is between your ball and the green.  Is there a hazard to carry such as bunker?  Is there rough between your ball and the green or is it fairway?

If you have something like a bunker, which you need to carry then this makes up your mind for you and will need to play a pitch shot with a lofted wedge.  However, if there is not a hazard between your ball and the green then you have a couple of other options.

Having noted there is nothing to carry, you must decide where you would like the ball to land.  Does the ball need to land on the green and if so where?  If the grass between the ball and green is short, can you keep the ball on the ground the whole way or is the grass too long and a higher shot required?

In addition, you must consider the undulations of the land and if there are many ups and downs between your ball and the green, it may be better to avoid these by carrying the ball over them.  Furthermore, if the ball is buried slightly, the putter is not going to be an option and you can eliminate that club from your thoughts.

So, if having weighed up the options, you have decided you cannot use the putter to play the shot and need to make a chip, what club do you use?

You need enough loft on the ball to reach the putting surface but no more than that so if minimal loft is required to Reach the green, you could use a fairway wood or hybrid club.  If you need more loft and less roll, then a wedge would be the better option but you always want to aim for minimum air and maximum roll when playing shots from the edge of the green.

When choosing a club around the green you have several options depending on what lies between your ball and the putting surface.  Don’t be afraid to assess your options and think about every club in your bag, not just the putter and wedge.