Help for chipping onto a "fast" green

Played 18 yesterday and I played well (I think) except for my short game. On most of the holes I was in position to make GIR, but my chip/pitch shots hit the green and rolled all the way across and off the green. In the past, I either hit these shots short or over the green; now I'm hitting onto the green and they are rolling off. These shots were within 70 yd of the green, and I used either a PW or LW. I liked where the ball initially landed on the green and I want to keep the ball in that area, which was within 5 yd of the hole. Any advice? (Also, I noticed that when I putted that the greens were fast, which hasn't been the case for this course during my previous 4 times playing there.)

Well, the obvious answer is adjust. If your chips are running away, either chip with a more lofted club (less run), or land shorter and compensate.

Another consideration are slopes. If you pitch on and hit a downslope, your ball will run further than normal.

A third consideration is identifying the safe zones on the green. Perhaps you had a bunch of tough pins guarded by subtle undulations. Pitch (or chip) to the flat part of the green, then let your flatstick work twice (or once) to finish.

I agree w/your post. I used a LW for loft; my problems were with upslopes, for the most part; and I had putting difficulties--my putts were 'fast.' During my round, I considered all that you said, even though I didn't play well. I have played less than a year, maybe a dozen times total, and I scored from 98 - 102 during 5 of my last 6 rounds (w/the lone exception where I scored over 120). I am improving, but I want to be fundamentally sound. For the most part, I am "thinking" too much instead of just playing, I think. In order to just play, I practice daily and concentrate on the fundamentals. Eventually, I want to be able to learn and use the various nuances that make for consistently sound golf play.

Just a thought on my part. Did the course conditions/lay out not allow for a bump, and run shot? Sounds silly I know, since you are already trying to stop a ball on a fast green with higher shots, but in some instances running the shot up to the green will slow the ball down before it gets on the green.

Perhaps another option would be to use more of a flop shot than a chip, or pitch. A ball falling with more of a straight down fall will move less after impact on most greens.

There is hole on my home course that the green is raised, and slopes away from approach shots. I use to lay up, and try to stop the ball on the green with my next shot, while hoping for a one putt par. I found a better way, which was to fly the ball past the green giving me two up hill shots to work with for par. Just some thoughts to ponder. GJS

I had problems w/bump and run, too. The run was more than I wanted.

One consideration not mentioned maybe the type of ball you are playing. On fast greens you want one with maximum feel and spin.

I was going to mention the ball, but also you might want to play to a yardage where you can hit a full wedge. Partial shots just do not let you spin the ball enough to stop it some times. While a full wedge should maximize the spin throw the ball higher and help it stop sooner.

Bob