[papadopul]

Depends how much real estate is between the ball and the pin. For a shot that is maybe just 3-5 yards from the edge of the green I will always hit basically what amounts to a lag putt with a 52 or a 56 wedge. Slightly closed face and about a 1/4 'lag putt' type stroke with no significant opening or closing of the clubface going back and through, you have to stand about the same distance from the ball as you do with a putt also. And choke down some. If you take the club back away from the ball on the exact line you want the ball to travel on - just like a putt - you can make these from time to time. For a longer shot I will use a lob or sand wedge and keep the ball in the normal position for any pitch shot and just make a mini pitch swing on the ball. This eliminates the chance of blading the shot by trying to slip the club underneath the ball cleanly if the lie is extremely tight and also prevents popping the ball up and leaving it way short if you are on a fluffier lie. If you set up normally and hit down slightly like you do with any pitch shot you can adjust your backswing length and speed through the ball to change the length of the shot and hit this shot anywhere from 15 yards up to 40 or 50 and have it land and stop quickly. This longer shot you are just trying to get close enough to have a makeable putt.