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Using wedges in the putting Blitz

• 9,041 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 6:16 AM

  Tightrope:

  A putt is a putt is a putt. That's what you do in a putting competition.

  Not really.....if you were in a driving comp and someone pulled out a 3w you wouldn't complain ? in fact you might fancy your chances a bit better ?

  Now that 3w hits downslope and rolls out for 80 yrds whereas your drive stops dead on upslope.....ooops, it's called 'management' 

  The game is to get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of strokes using whatever is at your disposal whilst staying within the rules. period

  Andy

• Romax 1,876 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 7:04 AM

  Tightrope:

  A putt is a putt is a putt. That's what you do in a putting competition.

  wgt.com/replay.aspx?ID=f8f81d9d-4f7e-4f49-b99e-a21800d951a5  The scorecard said " ace". Would it do that if it didn't count ??   Hmmmm  :))

• BigInigoMontoya 208 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 8:11 AM

  Well.  Couple weeks ago I was on the 17th at St Andrews.  I typically try to take the bunker out of play here, and play a conservative 2nd shot to the green.  I aim for the front right portion of the green at its widest point just above the large ridge.  I played a 3 iron into a strong tail wind, but I needed more club.  I wound up in the 'Valley of Hell,' as I like to call it.

  http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2044/mfry.jpg

  I didn't think I would have a snowballs chance to 2 putt from there, so I thought I'd be creative and try to use a wedge to knock it up on the 2nd level of the green.  I attempted a flop shot with around 95% power IIRC, but the ball basically moved an inch or two.  It was essentially a one stroke penalty.  So I then attempted a putt, but it couldn't even hold the green.  I had to get up and down from the rough just to 'save' a double.

  So I guess my question is, what is the proper technique for using a wedge on the greens? Clearly a flop shot did not work here, but will that always be the case???  Is the proper technique to blast it full power with a full swing, or would a punch shot work better?  And would a lofted club such as an 8i or 9i work better, or do you have to play a wedge for the shot to work? 

• Jimbog1964 8,378 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 10:55 AM

  Tightrope:

  A putt is a putt is a putt. That's what you do in a putting competition.

  If it's a simple point of order you are after then you could suggest WGT allow the option in conjunction IMO with the current set up in product suggestion's.  For me I would not be a supporter of it.

  If (and I am assuming here) you are concerned that people gain an unfair advantage with a wedge then I disagree. In my CC we sometimes have a putting contest.  I invariably choose to putt, but I know others also wedge a fair bit.  I respect their skill with the wedge, the end results are always tight, and all great fun.  I accept none of us are the best on WGT, but the standard ain't bad either.

  Now if some one prefers to putt and they are always getting beat by some one wedging, I would suggest they work harder at their putting, not complain something is unfair. I accept I am assuming!

  Each to their own preferred weapon for getting the ball in the hole IMO..............I simply don't get the perceived problem here.

• DRogers5864 368 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 11:48 AM

  Its like using a bazooka to swat a mosquito!

• Dubfore 4,350 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 11:59 AM

  ZZZZZZzzzZZZZZzzzzzzz..........

• TarheelsRule 5,566 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 12:04 PM

  While I don't particularly like the use of a wedge in the best of putting challenge, it is within the rules and frankly should be allowed.

  My only response would be that if we have the ability to hit a wedge on the greens, it needs to be as difficult to do as it is in real golf.

  My first experience at this was in a golf school in Orlando many years ago.  I was one of 3 students in my group and the instructor who had played in 5 US Opens wanted us to work on picking the ball off a tight lie so he put us on the green to hit a pitch shot to a pin about 55 feet away.  Your first few shots are predictable skulls, in which you belly the ball and that 18 yard pitch goes about 50 yards.  Once you get the hang of it then you can do it but to me I could always putt better, however the purpose of this drill was not necessarily a wedge off the green, but a wedge from a very tight lie.

  The fun part was that once you got comfortable doing this, invariably one of the students would get too comfortable and hit one fat, taking out a chunk of green, maybe WGT needs to build the skull and fat shot into the wedge off the green putt.

• Tightrope 1,072 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 12:19 PM

  Romax:

  The scorecard said " ace". Would it do that if it didn't count ??   Hmmmm  :))

  For the millionth time - IT IS *** LEGAL BUT SINCE IT IS A PUTTING COMPETITION IT SHOULD NOT BE.

  Next person who quotes the PGA rule book will get a virtual Cleveland 64 between his ears.

   

  And no, it is not about unfair advantages, anyone can use the wedge, it is about keeping, or making, putting competitions interesting. To give them some appeal. If each putt that the creator of the competition have put some effort into making interesting is met with a "oh, this is tricky, I'll wedge it", then it wont be interesting no more, will it?

• Romax 1,876 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 12:33 PM

  Tightrope:

  Romax:

  The scorecard said " ace". Would it do that if it didn't count ??   Hmmmm  :))

  For the millionth time - IT IS *** LEGAL BUT SINCE IT IS A PUTTING COMPETITION IT SHOULD NOT BE.

  Next person who quotes the PGA rule book will get a virtual Cleveland 64 between his ears.

   

  And no, it is not about unfair advantages, anyone can use the wedge, it is about keeping, or making, putting competitions interesting. To give them some appeal. If each putt that the creator of the competition have put some effort into making interesting is met with a "oh, this is tricky, I'll wedge it", then it wont be interesting no more, will it?

  Now,,, now Ropey, I told you at least a million times not to exaggerate,,,.lmao. I'm just having a little fun is all. Chill pills  >>>>>>> thataway.

• tillysurvey 3,098 Posts

  Mon, Aug 12 2013 1:20 PM

  Romax:

   ww.wgt.com/replay.aspx?ID=ebe691d9-7a7f-4c21-86ca-a1720122be30

   

  Darn - so that's why I can never get close, using the darn putter all the time :)