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Re: Green Slope On Approach

• Tracer773 5 Posts

  Sun, Jun 3 2018 8:21 PM

  Does anyone have any rules of thumb for calculating how the green will affect the approach shot?

  I am trying to get closer to the pin and am finding it difficult to forecast how the ball will react after the first bounce. I am doing well with accounting for wind and elevation. It is the slope of the green I haven’t figured out yet.

• SidersBest 873 Posts

  Mon, Jun 4 2018 11:41 AM

  The Rule of Thumb is:

  Know your Green's Speed

  Know your club's distances

  Know the slope of the green you're hitting to.

  But last and not least - practice, practice, and more practice  and take good notes!

   

  Siders Best

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Mon, Jun 4 2018 12:15 PM

  Tracer773:

  I am trying to get closer to the pin and am finding it difficult to forecast how the ball will react after the first bounce.

  Part of the reason is you're using Med/High lofted clubs and without a great deal of back spin or a head wind, you're going to roll pretty good on just about every green. High lofted clubs make this considerably easier because the ball comes in at a steeper angle and lands softer on the green. Combined with back spin you can stop the ball nice.

  One of the best early level sets of High lofted clubs are the Ping G25s, available at your level. I would highly recommend giving them a look as I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised. They will fix your problem.  :-)

• Luckystar5 1,641 Posts

  Mon, Jun 4 2018 1:16 PM

  Since your playing mobile, I assume your having most problems in the coin rooms?  That being the case, you can only guess as to the speed based on your opponent tier, and level.  The rooms play a big factor to your speeds also.  

  When I play coin rooms, best rules of thumb is this: 

  Longer irons, full back spin, pin in back of green, or added tail winds, I aim for middle of green. 

  Middle of green, pin placement, aim for front of green, again full b/s. You're going to get roll out no matter what. 

  Shorter irons, no spin, let irons do the work for you. Wedges of course, fire at pin., no b/s. 

  With head winds I aim 4 to 5 yards short of the pin. 

  Tweak for your ball and iron combo, it should get you closer. 

  This has worked for me, hopefully others will give you  advice also, and maybe you can refine all ideas to fit your game style.     Good luck. 

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Mon, Jun 4 2018 5:26 PM

  Tracer773:

  Does anyone have any rules of thumb for calculating how the green will affect the approach shot?

  Sadly each green will be different and largely depends on the gradient of the green.

  Obviously experience and knowledge helps, but you can you pitch view to see the red/orange/blue areas denoting the slope.

  Then it is about knowing the distances for your club/ball combo and the different spin applied.

  As pointed out, your clubs are not high trajectory and therefore the longer the shot, generally the more roll out you will have, especially to elevated greens. The G25's are good clubs and can take you to legend.

  Above all, good course management will help - do not go for the miracle shot to get close - at times play for the centre of the green and try to make that longer putt, but it is a better option than playing from deep rough or sand........

  Have fun in your WGT journey.

• FRESHCHOPS 16 Posts

  Sun, Jun 10 2018 1:31 PM

  In addition to all of the notes and advice mentioned above, I've also been learning more recently about how the ball plays based on the green's amount of overall elevation.

  This factor directly pertains to the loft of the iron / wedge, speed of green, slope of green and wind speed / direction, but is another factor to consider.

  For example: if you're approaching a green that is 30 ft. elevated, you have to account for the added height to the distance.  So, add about 10 yds more to swing.  However, the ball is going to hit the ground sooner in it's arch / loft, so it looses it's ability to slow and come to the ground with more natural drop and fall... therefore, the roll after the initial hit is going to be more intense, so more backspin is required.  The same goes for pitching and short approaches onto the green.  If it's elevated, it will roll further and faster since the ground appears in the shot shape before the ball can loose more of it's direction in the arch of the shot.

  Lastly another factor is the amount of power used per club.  This also effects the loft of the club. If you're hitting for 50 yds and using a 100 yd club, hitting half power doesn't get the same loft on the ball that the full-power (100 yd) swing would.  You are going to loose a lot of your loft / arch, which means it's going to come in towards the green lower, faster and with more roll.  If lower powering a swing on a club for significantly shorter distances, it's best to apply more or maximum back-spin on the ball.  Just remember, the more backspin, the shorter the shot too, so apply approx. 10% more power / distance to the swing.