[spapsinee]

There are a few holes where I can't decide which clubs to use and usually go with the under club and just full swing that rather than having a higher club and half swinging it. What's your advice when you're between clubs? I guess it just comes with practice and experience as well....

[Goalseexere]

I will go with the longer club because, as noted in a couple other threads, I end up short more often than long on approach shots anyway.

[sandracuk]

Personally, playing the shorter club and trying to jump on it usually results in a pull to the left, so I've learned to choke up a bit on the longer club and take the normal swing. So far it's been helping.

[en-druzhba]

Have you tried gripping down on the club?

This is what I usually do myself and seems to work good for me. 2-3" further down on the club will usually take 5-10 yards off my distance.

I for some reason have a 20-30 yard gap between my pitching wedge and my 9 iron. I was originally trying to just smack the ball to death with my pitching wedge to get the extra 5-10 yards but have found I'm far more consistent just going to my 9 iron and grip down a little bit.

[Todilrdc]

It all depends on what you feel more comfortable doing. For me I feel more comfortable swinging hard with an under club rather than swinging light with a club up. I guess it all depends on how much you can control your swing based on the speeds you swing at.

[spapsinee]

Have you tried gripping down on the club?

This is what I usually do myself and seems to work good for me. 2-3" further down on the club will usually take 5-10 yards off my distance.

I for some reason have a 20-30 yard gap between my pitching wedge and my 9 iron. I was originally trying to just smack the ball to death with my pitching wedge to get the extra 5-10 yards but have found I'm far more consistent just going to my 9 iron and grip down a little bit.

Hmm....haven't tried choking down on the club, will have to try and see how it pans out!!

[Intiltern]

I guess it just comes with practice and experience as well....

That is 90% of it probably.

All things being equal (no wind, level ground, no trouble, etc.) I prefer to use the longer club and adjust my grip and swing. It does take some practice to get used to it. Although sometimes the shot just feels right to take the shorter club and swing all out.

A lot depends on how much you want to take off. If you would rather take a normal swing, try gripping down an inch, or two, or three and swing normal. You will be surprised as to to how much distance you can take off, even swinging normally. Once you do it a few times, you will get a grasp as to how much you can take off by adjusting a few little things.

[7kitthuptarill]

Personally, playing the shorter club and trying to jump on it usually results in a pull to the left, so I've learned to choke up a bit on the longer club and take the normal swing. So far it's been helping.

This was recommended to me by a world famous ( ok maybe not world famous but famous on this site) teaching pro and it has helped me tremendously.

[spapsinee]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

[Krruqgwt]

I personally go with the longer club and swing normal vs. shorter club and swinging harder. Especially since most amateurs leave the ball short anyway

[Yarikoff]

I usually go with the shorter club then once my ball lands I tell myself "should have used the other club stupid". Then I argue with myself about the club choice. Sadly I usually lose that arguement.

[DoctorTDent]

A tip I got from my coach was to always play for the back of the green as usually there is very little trouble there, and most people leave themselves short.

[Gskdmidd]

I usually go for a choked-up longer club. 1 inch of choke = about 3 yards shorter for me (on my short irons and wedges). Of course, it is the execution part that I worry about.

[blodwarttufla]

A tip I got from my coach was to always play for the back of the green as usually there is very little trouble there, and most people leave themselves short.

Why would you not aim for the middle? If you're short, you're at the front and vice versa if long. If you aim for the back, and DO end up hitting it flush thus flying the green or rolling off the back edge into trouble, isn't that more risky?

[en-druzhba]

Some good tips in this thread.

I've really been working on my aiming when it comes to my approach shots. Right now I've just been concentrating on making it in the center of the green regardless of pin position front vs back.

[poRmawayncmop]

There are a few holes where I can't decide which clubs to use and usually go with the under club and just full swing that rather than having a higher club and half swinging it. What's your advice when you're between clubs? I guess it just comes with practice and experience as well....

For me, it depends on where the hole is cut. If it's front, I'll usually take the longer club, if the hole is back then I'm more likely to take the shorter one. I also will choke down sometimes too, or hit a punch with a 3/4 swing.

There are lots of ways to get the job done, but first you have to determine where you don't want to end up, and plan the shot that is least likely to put you there. If the pin is in front and right over a bunker, then I'm not going to mess with it... I'll take the longer club and accept that I may have a longish downhill putt, but at least I'll be putting (assuming that I hit the shot I plan... not necessarily a given ).

[Slonopotam845]

Lots of good advice here. If I'm between clubs, I'll choose the longer. The easiest way to whittle off distance for me is to grip down a few inches and take my normal swing. If the flag is in trouble, go for the middle. Otherwise take dead aim.

(Someone has been reading too much Harvey Penick this winter!)

[spapsinee]

So is it easier to choke down and full swing rather than up a club and a lesser swing (1/2 swing)?

[Krruqgwt]

So is it easier to choke down and full swing rather than up a club and a lesser swing (1/2 swing)?

total preference and depends on what clubs you're between

[Slonopotam845]

So is it easier to choke down and full swing rather than up a club and a lesser swing (1/2 swing)?

When I try the half swing, I will sometimes decelerate on the downswing which causes a fat / thin result.

Instead of going half power, I use the same club but grip down 2 or 3 inches.

But, like others have said, there is more than one way to play a shot. Whatever keeps you in your comfort zone will yield the most consistent results!