[pimbertiemoft]

You might try choking down to take some speed off of your chip shots. Depending on how close I am to the hole I may choke down to the steel.

[agiopwer]

That's interesting. It's the opposite as to what Phil Mickelson says. Not that he is right, but just interesting.

I think I had too much tension in my arms for the shot, which (I think) was causing the club face to shut at impact. By using a relaxed swing (at least what feels like a relaxed swing), I can generate a fair amount of spin.

Plus, what does that Mickelson guy know anyway? What's HE ever done???

[nebrarlepleme]

Isn't a chip shot by it's nature, not intended to hit and stop? Aren't they intended to hit the green and start rolling to the pin?

[opelonafqe]

I think choosing one club for around the green is a mistake. Different situations will require different clubs. Depending on the lie, slope, green, landing area etc etc determines which club to use.

Putting spin on the ball is tough on short little chip shots because its tough to control the distance and have a descending enough strike to impart much spin. I think playing spin is more important on a 20-50 yard shot as you are able to take a more aggressive swing and really throw a dart. Play it back, keep the wrists quiet and really push that ball to your spot. Learn the characteristics of each of your club (starting at 7i and down) and practice!

[NicolasOL]

I'm not disagreeing with you, but there are instructors out there who swear by the "find one club and stick with it technique". I personally only use my 60* around greens and seem to do fine with it. I have learned how to hit all kinds of shots with it. I have and will hit other clubs around greens, but not that often.

And those instructors can teach what ever they want. What is your percentage of up and downs?
I shot with nothing but green in front of you requires a different shot then say a shot over a green side bunker. It also requires a different club.
You may have mastered your 60* but think if you had that mastery over every scoring club in your bag. It would be a no brainier. Use what ever gets the ball in the hole the fastest but you also have to be creative around the greens to get that done sometimes. I'm of the school that you need more than one wedge around the greens.

[Gudronich]

Personally, I think predetermining which club you are going to use will limit the variety of shots you can play. I would say that you should assess what the lie is, how much green you have to work with, is it downhill/uphill, carry distance, etc., THEN decide on which club you want to hit.

However to answer your question, getting spin on the ball requires descending blow through the impact zone. Think of it as if you have a golf ball just sitting on your desk/table,etc. Put your finger on the top of the ball and press down hard as you move your finger back towards yourself. The ball will shoot out and have backspin on it. The harder you push down on the ball the more backspin it will generate. The same idea applies to the golf swing.

I tend to agree Mulligan about club decision. I often go up to my ball with a 50', a 60' a putter and ... my hybrid! Sometimes what you see getting out of the cart or from a distance looks different up close. I find if I stay proficient with those 4 clubs around the green, my short game stays up to par. Pun intended!

[rxnixoncom]

I'm no expert but when I need to stop the ball quickly because I don't have much green to work with I would usually open the clubface a bit more and stab at it a bit and that works fine for me, it all depends on what ball you play as well as balls like the Pinnacle aren't made to control themselves around the greens.

[r9tbayfC]

Descending blow, clean lie, urethane ball, and good technique all play a part.

I know it looks cool, but you will see just as many guys on tour hitting chip shots without much wrist cock and rolling the ball out because the ball is more predictable on the ground. When you introduce a lot of spin it can easily cause the ball to go left or right instead of straight.

Ditto. I play a course with really small greens, so I have to hit a lot of high shots, with a lot of spin if I want to place the ball. It is not a preferred shot. I would much rather chip the ball and let it run most of the distance. Even when I hit the high shot well, the spin will kick it left or right about 3 feet, and almost never straight.

~Rock

[KraskiNetu]

I have always had/used spin around the greens and it's mostly just the way I desend into the ball. Like Hawk, Tadashi and others have said, a decending blow is key. I think I started this back in high school and have been fighting to change it a bit even today. I wish I could roll the ball out more than I do. Heck, even my 9 iron bump and run checks. But to answer your question, having the right ball and a decending blow with a closed club face will do wonders.

[NEronchik]

And those instructors can teach what ever they want. What is your percentage of up and downs?
I shot with nothing but green in front of you requires a different shot then say a shot over a green side bunker. It also requires a different club.
You may have mastered your 60* but think if you had that mastery over every scoring club in your bag. It would be a no brainier. Use what ever gets the ball in the hole the fastest but you also have to be creative around the greens to get that done sometimes. I'm of the school that you need more than one wedge around the greens.

If I am able to consistently hit a bump-and-run, pitch, chip, flop, or anything else from all different types of lies, why would I need other clubs? To each their own, but if I'm not mistaken Jack Nicklaus used his sand wedge almost entirely around greens. I would not tell Jack Nicklaus he was wrong. Personally, I feel confident with that one club from almost anywhere. My average this year is 74%.